Candle Warmer Vs. Burning: What Are The Differences?

Do you love the idea of scented candles and a cozy glow filling your home? Candles certainly add a warm ambiance to a room, but many people get nervous about having an open flame. Warmers offer an alternative, but what exactly is the difference between using a candle warmer vs. burning a candle?

When you burn a candle, you light the wick, and the flame heats the wax. The melting wax releases the fragrance, and the flame’s heat also causes the wax to evaporate. A candle warmer uses electricity, melting the candle more slowly. When the candle wax melts, it releases the fragrance, but there’s no flame.

Everyone has their personal preferences, and some prefer burning candles to using warmers and vice versa. Before deciding which you like more, take a closer look to determine the difference between a candle warmer and a burning candle.

The primary difference between burning a candle and using a wax warmer is the flame. A traditional candle features a wick that you light. When you light the wick, it produces a flame that heats the wax of the candle.

As the flame burns, the wax melts and proceeds to evaporate into the air. The melting wax also releases any fragrance the candle has, sending it throughout the space.

A candle warmer also melts the candle wax, releasing fragrance, but it doesn’t use a flame. Instead, candle warmers use electricity to heat up the wax. As the bulb heats up, the wax melts, although slower than it does with a flame.

You can find candles and candle warmers in various styles. But if you want to burn a candle, you will always need to light the wick and have a flame. Warmers work in a couple of different ways.

A candle warmer comes in different forms, like a lantern or lamp that features a light bulb. You place the candle inside the lantern or under the bulb.

The light bulb then melts the wax, allowing it to release its fragrance into the room. Other warmers consist of a heat plate that you plug in and place the candle on, melting it from underneath.

Candle warmers can cost anywhere from $5 to over $30, depending on the style. But you can use the warmer over and over again with different candles.

A candle warmer is typically safer than burning a candle since there’s no open flame to worry about. However, as with a candle, you should not operate a candle warmer for more than four hours. Using it longer than this can waste the wax in your candle and lead to tunneling.

Tunneling describes the phenomenon when the center of the candle burns down and leaves a ledge around the rim. Basically, it creates a tunnel through the center of your candle.

Also, you shouldn’t leave the candle overnight. You still have hot wax to be conscious of, too, so it’s best to keep the warmer out of reach of kids and pets.

But overall, you’ll find a candle warmer a safer alternative to burning candles. Many warmers possess safety features, like an automatic shut-off or timer option.

You can set the timer or auto-off feature, so you don’t have to worry about the warmer burning too long. This can be beneficial in reducing the risk of house fires from candles since many occur from unattended candles.

Using a candle warmer will give you a more accurate scent than when you burn the candle. This quality is mainly because of something candle pros call the scent throw.

The scent throw is basically the amount of fragrance the candle “throws” out. It has a specific scent throw when it’s cold (not lit or melting) and typically a stronger scent throw when it’s hot.

Of course, you want to choose a candle that you like the smell of when it’s unlit. Otherwise, you definitely won’t like it once you start to use it. You’ll just end up with a more intense version of the cold scent throw.

But, when you burn a candle, you don’t just smell the fragrance. You also will smell some slight essences from the burning wick and potential chemicals as the wax evaporates.

But with a candle warmer, you won’t have these extra odors mixed in (as faint as they are). Therefore, the hot scent throw will be closer to the smell you fell in love with at the candle store.

A candle warmer melts wax more slowly than burning a candle, so using a warmer means your candle will last longer. In general, you can expect a candle to last about three times as long if you use it with a warmer.

This slower melting also means your fragrance will last longer. If you use a warmer with a bulb above the candle, you’ll likely also notice fragrance faster than you would when burning.

Plus, if you love the idea of burning candles, a warmer can save you a lot of money over time. High-quality candles aren’t cheap. So using a warmer will help your dollars stretch a little further.

A candle warmer and a wax warmer are not precisely the same things. A candle warmer actually uses electricity to heat up a candle. You can find it as a lamp, lantern, hot plate style, etc. But a wax warmer is designed to work with wax melts.

Wax melts are also a safe alternative to burning a candle. These small wax shapes rest in a dish or something similar that is part of a warmer. They also typically feature a light bulb that heats the wax melts to release a fragrance.

If you’re trying to decide between a candle warmer or simply burning a candle, it’s best to know the differences between the two. The main thing is burning a candle gives you a flame, but a candle warmer uses electricity.

Whether it features a light bulb that heats up the wax or a hot plate, the electricity melts the wax. Then as the wax melts, you start to smell the fragrance. Using a candle warmer will help candles last about three times longer than just burning them.

If you’re worried about an open flame, a warmer might be better for you. Plus, many come with auto shut-off features, so it reduces the risk of house fires from candles.

But no matter if you choose to burn a candle or use a warmer, be safe. Don’t let it burn for more than four hours, and make sure everything is off before you go to bed at night. And enjoy the pleasant fragrance and glow.