How to Use an Oil Burner with Wax Melts or Fragrance Oil
An oil burner is a simple way to add fragrance and atmosphere to your home. A small tealight warms the bowl above it, gently releasing scent into the room. Depending on the type of burner and product, you can use it with wax melts or with water and a suitable fragrance or essential oil.
If you have one tucked away in a cupboard and are not quite sure what goes in the top, this guide explains the basics.
What is an oil burner?
An oil burner, sometimes called a fragrance burner or wax melt burner, usually has a small bowl above an opening for a tealight. Heat from the candle warms the contents of the bowl and helps release fragrance into the air.
How do you use an oil burner?
Place the burner on a stable, heat-resistant surface away from draughts, curtains and anything flammable.
Choose whether you are using a wax melt or a liquid fragrance method suitable for your burner.
Add the wax melt to the dry bowl, or add water and a small amount of suitable fragrance or essential oil for an oil-burner method.
Place an unscented tealight underneath and light it.
Allow the bowl to warm gradually and enjoy the fragrance while keeping the burner in sight.
How to use an oil burner with essential oil
For a traditional oil-burner method, fill the bowl with water and add only a small amount of essential oil, following the oil manufacturer’s guidance. The water is important: do not pour neat essential oil into the bowl and heat it directly.
Check the water level while the burner is in use and extinguish the candle before the bowl boils dry. Let the burner cool completely before refilling or cleaning it.
How to use an oil burner with wax melts
With wax melts, the bowl stays dry. Place one appropriately sized wax melt in the top and light the tealight underneath. As the wax melts, it releases fragrance. Do not add water to a wax melt unless the product instructions specifically tell you to do so.
Use only the amount that fits comfortably in the bowl without overflowing once melted. Different burners vary in size, so follow the instructions for both your burner and wax melts.
Wax melts or fragrance oil: what is the difference?
Wax melts are solid pieces of scented wax that liquefy as they warm. Fragrance oils are concentrated scented liquids. Not every fragrance oil or essential oil is intended for heating, so only use products that the manufacturer says are suitable for this purpose.
How much oil should you put in an oil burner?
More is not necessarily better. Start with a small amount in water and follow the manufacturer’s directions for the particular oil you are using. A gentle scent is usually more pleasant than an overpowering one, and you can always adjust next time.
How long can you use an oil burner?
Never leave a tealight burner unattended. Keep an eye on the water level when using oils and follow the candle and burner manufacturer’s instructions for burn time. Extinguish the tealight before leaving the room or going to bed.
Where should you place an oil burner?
Choose a flat, stable, heat-resistant surface with plenty of space around it. Keep the burner away from curtains, shelves directly above it, draughts, children and pets. Remember that the ceramic or glass can become very hot during use.
Frequently asked questions about oil burners
1. What do you put in an oil burner?
Depending on the burner, use either a suitable wax melt or water with a small amount of suitable fragrance or essential oil. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
2. Do you put water in an oil burner?
When using essential oil in a traditional oil burner, yes: add water to the bowl first. For wax melts, the bowl is normally used dry.
3. Can you put essential oil directly in an oil burner?
Do not heat neat essential oil directly. Use it diluted in water and follow the manufacturer’s safety guidance.
4. Can you reuse wax melts?
Yes, while they still release a scent. The wax may remain in the bowl after the fragrance has faded, at which point it can be removed once cool.
5. Is an oil burner the same as a candle warmer?
Not quite. A traditional oil burner usually uses a tealight beneath a bowl, while many candle warmers use an electric heat source or warming lamp.
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