Warning Concerning Candle Warmers

A growing number of people want to avoid having a lit candle in their office or home. To accommodate this market, a whole new market of candle warmers have been introduced, under a wide variety of names. Originally, these devices were coffee cup warmers. Coffee cups are made from Pyrex or ceramic, both of which are specifically designed to tolerate high heat applied to top, sides, or bottoms of the container.

No candle glass containers were ever designed to tolerate high heat from the bottom. In fact, many have a slightly concave surface which would trap and heat applied, raising the temperature even more.

As a consequence of the above facts, I am hearing more and more reports of candles that have broken while being used on a variety of candle warmers or heaters. Heat builds up on the bottom, and there is a measure of pressure developed in the jar due to melting from the bottom up. It is a matter of physics: heat causes materials to expand. It doesn't happen every time, and it may take 10, 20, or even 100 candle before you experience a jar that breaks - but if it happens to you, it can be a real mess! The only good news with soy candles is that our wax is water soluble, and will clean up with hot soapy water. Paraffin does not enjoy the same clean up process.

If you want to be safe, and avoid the disaster described above, melt the wax in the jar, then pour it into a Pyrex or ceramic container, THEN use it on the warmer. You can find a wide variety of decorative heat-resistant containers at gift shops that carry Pyrex or ceramic coffee cups and mugs.

To my knowledge, no manufacturers of these warmers have promulgated a warning to their retailers/customers about the possibility of a candle breaking on their devices. I have learned about this from people who have had this happen to them (20+ reports in 2002). Of the thousands of warmers sold, is that enough to warrant a warning label or notice? I'm not a lawyer, so I have no idea - I just don't want it to happen to me or my customers, thus the reason for this page.

If you can't have a flame, through personal preference or by statute (gov't offices & day care centers, for example), what is your alternative?

Electric Simmer Pots

Potpourri pots were designed to maintain a high heat level that may actually may simmer its contents. They were intended for liquids with leaves etc, not for any type of wax.

Electric simmer pots use a low wattage light bulb (25w to 40w) as the heat source. On top is a cup-type container. Place the wax in this cup, turn on the light bulb, and you have a wonderful scent that flows throughout your office or home. No flame, no breaking danger, and as an added benefit you can put it on a timer so that it turns on and off automatically. We carry them, or you can find them at gift shops. There are several manufactures, and come in a wide variety of styles to match your decor or the season