Oil Burners

Oil Burners for Fragrance, Atmosphere & Everyday Rituals

Oil Burners offer a simple way to introduce fragrance into your surroundings while adding a decorative piece to the room.

The Hello Indigo Halo collection includes ceramic burners in different colours, shapes and decorative styles, from compact round designs to floral and Buddha-inspired pieces.

Pair your burner with a suitable fragrant or essential oil and choose a scent to match the atmosphere you'd like to create.

How Does an Oil Burner Work?

A traditional oil burner generally has a small dish or reservoir above a space designed to hold a tealight candle.

Water and a suitable amount of fragrance or essential oil are placed in the upper dish. As the candle gently warms the mixture, aromatic compounds evaporate and fragrance disperses into the surrounding air.

Always follow the instructions for both your burner and the oil you're using, as products can differ.

Never allow the dish to boil dry while a candle is burning underneath it.

Essential Oils & Fragrant Oils for Oil Burners

Choosing the scent is half the fun.

Essential oils are concentrated aromatic extracts derived from botanical materials, while fragrant or fragrance oils may contain manufactured fragrance ingredients or blends designed primarily for scent.

They're not necessarily interchangeable for every purpose, so check the instructions for the individual oil before using it in a burner.

Browse our Essential & Fragrant Oils collection to find scents to pair with a suitable burner.

Choosing an Oil Burner

Start with the practical details and then choose the design you love.

Size & Capacity

A smaller burner can work well where space is limited, while a larger design may have a more substantial presence.

Check the individual product measurements rather than judging scale from photographs alone.

Ceramic Oil Burners

Ceramic is widely used for oil burners because it can be formed into an enormous variety of colours, shapes and decorative designs.

Our current collection is predominantly ceramic, with everything from simple rounded forms to more detailed statement pieces.

Decorative Oil Burners

An oil burner spends far more time not burning than burning, so appearance matters.

Choose something you're happy to leave on display between uses. Colourful, floral and sculptural designs can become part of your shelf, table or room décor rather than simply being functional fragrance accessories.

Buddha Oil Burners

The current collection includes a ceramic Buddha Oil Burner.

Buddha imagery carries religious and cultural significance within Buddhist traditions, so it deserves respectful placement rather than being treated simply as an exotic decorative motif.

If Buddha imagery is meaningful to you, our Buddha Statues collection offers other pieces inspired by Buddhist iconography.

Can You Use Wax Melts in an Oil Burner?

Only if the individual burner is suitable for them.

Oil burners and wax melt burners can look very similar, but that doesn't mean every design should automatically be used for both purposes.

If you want to use Wax Melts, check the individual burner's product information first to make sure it is suitable. Never overfill the dish.

This is one area where following the specific product instructions is more useful than assuming all fragrance burners work the same way.

Creating a Fragrance Ritual at Home

Scent can become part of the character of a room.

You might choose something fresh for daytime, warm or woody notes for the evening, or simply rotate fragrances according to your mood and personal preference.

An oil burner is only one way to enjoy fragrance. If you enjoy experimenting with different formats, Incense Sticks offer another traditional approach with their own distinctive scent experience.

The important thing is choosing the fragrance method that suits your space and using it safely.

Oil Burner Safety

Because traditional oil burners use a tealight flame, safe placement is essential.

Always:

• Place the burner on a stable, heat-resistant surface.
• Keep it away from curtains, fabric, paper and other flammable materials.
• Keep it out of reach of children and pets.
• Never leave a burning candle unattended.
• Don't move the burner while it is hot.
• Don't allow the water/oil mixture to completely evaporate while the tealight remains lit.
• Allow the burner to cool before cleaning or refilling it.

Always follow any safety instructions supplied with the individual product.

Cleaning Your Oil Burner

Allow the burner to cool completely before touching or cleaning it.

Remove remaining water or residue and clean the dish according to the material and product instructions.

Regular cleaning is particularly useful when changing fragrances, as residual oil from the previous scent may affect the next one.

Avoid using abrasive products that could damage glazed, painted or decorative finishes.

Frequently Asked Questions About Oil Burners

What do you put in an oil burner?

Traditional oil burners commonly use water with a suitable amount of essential or fragrance oil in the upper dish, with a tealight positioned beneath it. Always follow the instructions supplied with your particular oil and burner.

Do you add water to an oil burner?

For traditional essential or fragrance oil use, water is generally placed in the upper reservoir before adding a suitable amount of oil. Follow the instructions for the particular burner and fragrance product you're using.

Can I use wax melts in an oil burner?

Only use wax melts if the individual burner is designed or stated to be suitable for them. Oil burners and wax warmers may look similar but shouldn't automatically be treated as interchangeable.

Why shouldn't an oil burner run dry?

Continuing to heat an empty dish can cause it to become excessively hot and may damage the burner or create a safety risk. Monitor it while in use and extinguish the tealight before the liquid completely evaporates.

How do I clean an oil burner?

Wait until it has cooled completely, remove remaining residue and clean the dish