So you have finally discovered the beauty of essential oils!
Great! You have come to the right place to learn how to use them!
There is nothing like essential oils. The aroma, the potency, the benefits…it is like having your own little garden in your living room, office or car.
I came across essential oils while trying to beat the humdrum of predictable office life. I was tense, angry, couldn’t concentrate and had memory lapses, much like the green guy in the Marvel movies (yes, Hulk).
A close friend handed me a small vial of lavender oil. She was tired of hearing me moan about my stress levels and decided to do something about it for me. She took me out to her car and diffused a drop in her car diffuser for me.
It smelled wonderful and immediately transported me to a heavenly garden of lavender mist. Relaxed, calm and genuinely happy when I left her car, a new love and appreciation had developed for essential oils.

So began my journey with these plant oils.
There is so much to learn about essential oils and what better place to start than how to best enjoy them. Essential oils can be applied topically, inhaled, or in some cases ingested.
Relying on inhalation can give you instant relief which is why we are bringing you the best essential oil burners.
Contents
Top 5 essential oil burners
Types of essential oil burners
Unlike the essential oil diffuser, which spritzes infused mist into the air, an essential oil burner, also known as a vaporizer, heats the oil until it evaporates and in the process scents the room. The candle or electric component in the burner heats up the water containing the essential oil (or the oil).
There are two types of essential oil burners:
Ceramic essential oil burner
Just like described, this vaporizer is made of ceramic. It uses a candle to heat up the water containing the essential oil.
Electric essential oil burner
This vaporizer can be made from ceramic, glass or metal but does not use a candle instead using a motor that runs on electricity.
How to burn essential oils in an oil burner?

Fill the bowl on the top of the burner with water.
Put a few drops of your favorite essential oil into the water.
Light a tea candle and place it under the bowl. The candle will heat the oil infused water to evaporation and scent the room.
The water and oil evaporate in steam form but you must ensure that the bowl does not lose all the water otherwise it will crack.
Apart from the candle, you can use an electrical component like a light bulb ring or a hot bowl to heat the water on the top of the burner.
Essential oil burner vs. diffuser?
While both send the essential oil into the air, their methods are very much like night and day. They each cater to different niche markets because of their functionality, cost, and reach.
Oil burners
Essential oil burners are made from ceramic or glass with a cup-shaped top.
Merits
- The ceramic make up allows it to come in beautiful shapes adding character to a room
- It needs no electricity which makes it a cost-effective option
- It will work with or without power allowing you to enjoy the oil even during a power outage
- It is easy to use only needing a candle or an electric component underneath the cup to heat up
Concerns
- It is not very safe when you use a live flame to heat up the oil
- It is not convenient, since you have to keep an eye on the vaporizer while it is dispensing the oil (overheating the water bowl will crack it)
- It only caters to the olfactory aspect of diffusion and does not release the medicinal components of the oil
Oil diffusers
Essential oil diffusers are made of everything including glass, wood, and plastic, with an enclosed container.
Merits
- Diffusers feature modern designs that will merge well with your interior décor
- All it needs is water in the diffuser, the essential oil and plugging on to the electricity
- The diffusion process breaks down the essential oil into small molecules that release its the medicinal value
- The heat used is contained so you can use it with kids around
- The diffuser can be set to release the essential oils intermittently
Concerns
- Expensive to run because it uses electricity
- It cannot be used during a power outage
- It is more expensive to buy
How to choose essential oil burner?
Not all essential oil burners are created equal. To find the best one for you consider the following:
Where will you use it?
The location of the burner should determine what burner you want to buy. A ceramic burner works well everywhere in the house although they are favored for the living room, bedroom, and bathroom. This is because these are rooms you constantly use and keeping an eye on the burner is easy in this setting.
A roomy candle area
You want to find a burner with a roomy candle area so that it can accommodate a regular candle. This prevents you from having to use smaller candles that need constant changing because they burn out faster.
Get a burner with at least 2.5 inches from the candle to the base of the of the water bowl. This distance allows heat to be dispensed slowly so you don’t have to keep replenishing it.
A nicely glazed water bowl
This facilitates easy cleaning of the oil from the cup/bowl. A poorly glazed bowl will crack when heated and the oil residue will seep through the cracks compromising any other oil you want to vaporize not to mention becoming a fire hazard when it receives heat.
A detachable water bowl
A detachable water bowl can be cleaned thoroughly which is necessary to keep it working at optimum and to prevent fire.
A sizeable water bowl
A small water bowl means you have to keep replenishing the water to keep the vaporizing going. A larger bowl, on the other hand, lets the water vaporize without you needing to interfere with the process.
Best essential oils burner - reviews of top 5
Ivenf Ceramic Tea Light Holder
This burner score very highly in functionality and aesthetics. It is vase shaped and white in color giving it a pristine look. The hollow allows you to comfortably fit a candle in there with no hassle at all.
Aesthetics score: 10/10
It is handcrafted and features a cut out floral design. The pristine white color is preserved by beautiful even glazing. Once the candle is lit, the cutout design allows the light from the candle to filter out through the holes in a beautiful pattern. It comes in different designs.
Functionality score: 9.5/10
It is a one-piece construction with a wide base which makes it stable. The ceramic is sturdy even with the featured cutout design. It is also simple to use and easy to clean.
- It is lightweight
- It has a beautiful motif
- It is handcrafted making it unique
- It gets very hot so do not place on top of a wooden or plastic structure
Final word
The Ivenf Ceramic Tea Light Holder will add charm and character to any setting. Light it while you soak in the bathtub to create a relaxing, perfectly lit atmosphere at the end of the day.
This a great piece not only for diffusing oil but also for creating a beautiful space. A two in one wonder!
Set of 2 Home Decorative Moon & Stars Black Ceramic Aromatherapy Burner
We love the fact that these lovely burners come in a set of two. Both are black with cuts out shaped like the moon and the stars. It is very charming and dramatic.
Aesthetic score: 10/10
The burners look like marble making them seem more expensive than their price range. They have a contemporary look that gels very well with any décor in any room. The cutouts are sufficient as well although they could be more to let more light in for a beautiful motif in the dark. This does not, however, reduce their beauty.
Functionality score: 9.5/10
The hollow for the candle area is sufficient enough as is the water bowl. Even though they are small in size they work exceptionally. Their small size allows them to fit anywhere so your areas of use are varied.
They are also lightweight allowing them to heat up quickly and take less time to vaporize the oil.
- They can be placed anywhere in the house
- They are lightweight
- They heat up quickly
- They are small in size and this can be off-putting for some people
Final word
This is a clear case of good things coming in small packages. They work phenomenally well and their obsidian black never gets old.
Because they are black in color lighting them in a dark room makes the cutouts more dramatic almost giving the impression of suspended light emanating from the dark.
Mythical Winged Dragon Guarding Castle Electric Oil Warmer
This burner is made from poly resin which has been handcrafted. It is the ideal choice for anyone with a love for the gothic or medieval times.
Aesthetic score: 10/10
This burner is an object of creativity with the black dragon and castle forming the backdrop of the glass dish and heat light cover. It is individually handcrafted and because of the uniqueness of each piece, you can expect a slight difference.
The beautiful design of this burner is something to behold. It almost looks like a scene from Game of Thrones. The dragon breathing over the castle needs to be exhibited in your living room.
Functionality score: 9.5/10
It comes with an on/off dimmer switch which is handy considering how bright the light actually is. It has a halogen 35 watt 110 V oil warmer bulb which is means you do not have to keep lighting candles. A quick plug into the sockets gets it going in no time. The bottom part is fitted with felt so it does compromise your furniture or floor when heated.
- It is made from resilient poly resin
- It is handcrafted giving it a unique outlook
- The light is very bright and you may want to make a shroud to cover it
Final word
This is a choice piece that will add character to the room. Not only does it look great on the mantle, it helps create a beautiful, relaxed ambiance when lit. Place it next to your figurines to create a bold contrast.
Glades Wax Melts Air Freshener Warmer Eggplant
This warmer will enable you to transform the atmosphere in your home from ordinary to heavenly. It is an effective warmer that melts your wax easily releasing the fragrance naturally so you do not experience a spurt of concentration and lulls thereafter.
Aesthetic score: 9/10
This is a pretty wax warmer that will be assimilated into any décor. It is very classic looking with an artistic feel to it.
Functionality score: 10/10
It heats up quickly which translates to heating the wax quickly as well but it does not release smoke so you can have it on all day.
It is sturdy and stable which makes it hard to knock over. It can be used to scent a room of any size.
- It works with pressed wax which does not leave residue when handled
- Even after the warmer is turned off the melting process continues a little longer
- It is lightweight
- It does not provide the option of controlling the temperature in case one wants to increase the heat
Final word
This warmer is a joy to have around because you can use it anywhere. It doesn’t get too hot to touch even when melting the wax which is a huge plus. You can move it all over the house as it is melting your favorite wax.
Electric Oil Warmer Burner Tart Diffuser
This is a modern design which gives it a modern edge over other vaporizers. Where others are happy to use handcrafting on ceramic to achieve unique design this warmer is quite happy to give you the stained glass look.
Aesthetic score: 10/10
Most vaporizers are beautifully created and give a room character and this is no different. The aesthetics on this vaporizer are pronounced in the stained glass which takes all the attention. You can use it to heat your oil while letting it light up a room and keep your décor fresh.
Functionality score: 10/10
It can be used for lighting even as it heats up your oil. It is flame free opting to use a halogen light which can be controlled using a touch control. The bulb is replaceable making it a versatile part of the home décor.
- The stained glass gives this warmer an ethereal feel making it look like a piece out of Roman mosaic
- It is lightweight
- It has a dual function: as a lamp and as a burner
- It is a very delicate piece that needs constant care and monitoring especially if you will use it in various parts of the house
Final word
This warmer has a timeless quality about it. It works well as a décor piece just as it works wonderfully for vaporizing essential oils.
Best essential oil combinations for oil burner
Here are a few recipes that you can vaporize on your essential oil burner:
Recipe 1
Ingredients
- 2 drops of lavender oil
- 2 drops of sweet marjoram oil
Place the essential oils in the instructed amount of water in the water bowl and heat. This is a great recipe for relaxation and unwinding in the bath.
Recipe 2
Ingredients
- 3-4 drops of lavender oil
- 2 drop of tea tree oil
Heat these oils and scent your home while repelling insects.
Recipe 3
Ingredients
- 4 drops of chamomile oil
- 2 drops of lemon balm
- 2 drops of frankincense oil
This is a feel-good recipe where the scents merge beautifully making your space smell wonderful.

Conclusion
Sometimes you do not want to get all the components of essential oils. You just want to enjoy the fragrance. Essential oil burners are a great option when you want to entertain and want your space smelling heavenly.
Your visitors will not forget your home in a hurry!
Image credits: Pixabay.com and Amazon.com