Does anyone own an electric candle warmer?

[frannn]

I bought this after I read about it here, on the DIS. It is supposed to warm jar candles like a hotplate, making them last twice as long than if you lit the wick (allowing the yummy scent to last twice as long). I bought the warmer at Walmart for under 5, but after leaving the Walmart jar candle on it for an hour, I still couldn't smell the scented candle at all. Am I doing something wrong? Does it take longer for the scent to come out, or does it only work with "better" candles, like Yankee candles?
TIA!

 

[christinadei]

Was the candle totally melted in the jar? I have one and it worked really well for a while, but the scent was gone from the candle after a few months. I don't use it anymroe, because it seems like the candle will last longer without it. It did seem to make the scent stronger though, while she scent lasted. It wasn't a yankee candle, but a good candle from Atlanta Custom Candles.

 

[Sandcass]

I got one for Christmas as a gift. I tried it once and didn't smell the scented candle AT ALL. It also kinda ruined the candle, because as it melted it all down the wick got buried under wax.

Maybe there's people that love them. Mine kinda went in the trash. (Don't tell the person who gave it to me, please! )

 

[LisaNJ25]

I have one and love it. I use it with my yankee candles. I buy the large jars and there is approx 1/3 left I use the warmer.

Sandcass,

Yes, Anytime you use these the wick will move and you can no longer light them. Thats the whole point

 

[mickeyfan2]

I tried on and I hated it. I bought mine from YC. The smell would take forever (until the candle melted), the wick then fell and was no longer useful. After a short time the scent was gone and most of the candle remained. What a waste of money.

 

[LIZZIEANDTOMMYSMOM]

I sell soy candles and the warmer works great. The soy melts faster than std parrafin wax so the smell comes out better as well. The candles I see are triple scented though so there's lot of good smells there.

 

[~Kathie]

I have a Pfaltzgraff one for a votive. It came with a glass holder for the votive or if you remove the glass it fits a small Yankee Candle Jar.

I like mine. There is an on/off switch on the cord and one of those dummy lights to tell you that it is on. I need that!!!

I usually use it with a votive in the glass. Doesn't take long at all to melt and get the scent and I don't feel like I'm wasting a large candle. I usually burn several candles at the same time so a small one works for me.

Not sure if Pfaltzgraff has any left after their big sale, but if you buy the bigger one online.....they include a free candle with it.

 

[rockyroad]

I have one.

I tried it out with a candle that was missing the wick. The candle has to melt completely for much scent to be released.

I'm kind of afraid that the candle could somehow spill and what a mess that would be.

I do agree that it would be good with jar candles that are getting down. If you let a candle burn down to the bottom it can break the jar.

Also, last year my daughter was making candles and this candle warmer would have been a great way to melt the wax for that. Much easier than a double boiler and you could probably use a heat proof glass measuring cup and have a handy pour spout.

 

[LIZZIEANDTOMMYSMOM]

I can see how you would be worried about them spilling. It's hard to keep them out of the reach of little fingers. The cool thing about my soy candles is that they clean up with soap and water. I can't wait for my new box to arrive today!!

 

[fmed845]

We use the beanpod soy candles on the warmer and they work great! We like burning them also. They don't smoke or have any soot.

 

[mickeyfan2]

But can soy candles burn little ones if it spills on them?

 

[magiroux]

I have one and love it. I use it with my yankee candles. I buy the large jars and there is approx 1/3 left I use the warmer.

Sandcass,

Yes, Anytime you use these the wick will move and you can no longer light them. Thats the whole point

This is how I use my warmer (I put it on the warmer when it has about 2-3 inches left in the jar). Normally that amount would only last about another 8-10 hours (that's if you can get it to burn properly to the end), but on the warmer it will last about a week or so before it looses it's scent, and it is run about 15 hours a day.

I actually rec'd mine as a "coffee mug warmer" about five years ago and was going to throw it out. I just had no use for one of those since I pretty much take my coffee intravenously in the am and it doesn't have a chance to cool off. When I started seeing the warmers on the net I thought, "Hey, I have one of those!"

 

[patsal]

I only use my warmer when there is 3 or so inches of candle left in the large Yankee candle jars--they really last a long time, but for that size to melt bottom up full takes the whole day and it isn't worth it. I like the warmer for small votive candles and tarts as well as a way to diffuse the final few inches of the candle.

 

[MetalPrincess]

I have one and I love it. I never "light" my candles anymore. The candle needs to be visibly melted by the warmer to smell the scent. I mostly use Yankee candles but have used others too. I used a Glade coffee scented candle and it smelled delicious! The Glade candle is a small candle so it melts faster and the scent can be enjoyed faster also.
I find that the "warmer" definitely puts out a stronger scent compared to burning. The only problem that I have found is that as the wax melts the wick may fall down into the wax. Because of this, candles that are no longer used for burning are great for the warmer. The wax will melt faster because it is low, creating a great scent.

 

[horseshowmom]

My experience is similar to others posted here. When I first got it, I used it with the candle that I had (just a Wal-Mart candle) that was already partly used (1/3 to 1/2 of the candle was left). I was thrilled with how well it worked (and smelled).

Later, I bought a new candle (same size as the other - 20 oz.). It didn't work at all (just melted and collapsed on itself as the others said).

If I had tried to use it with a new candle first, I would have been very dissatisfied. Now, I know to burn the candle at least halfway and then to use the plate.

 

[bettyann29]

I have a candle plate and love it!! we have several of them.. You dont smell it till its melting the candle.. which can take awhile.. I usually dont turn them on till the weekend when I can leave it on since Im here for most of the day..

 

[lopey]

I use mine all the time. I have the kind that is high and you can't knock it over. I'm so scared of fire that I would only light a candle on the stove. The candle warmers are so safe. I use other candles besides Yankee candles and never had a problems.

 

[Nite0wl71]

I also use it when the candle burns down to about 1/3 from the bottom. Not only can the glass break when it gets down low but I hate that black soot on the jar.