Oil burners are one of the simplest and most beautiful ways to fill your home with natural fragrance. If you've just bought your first one [or you've had one sitting in a cupboard and never quite known what to do with it] this guide is for you.
What is an oil burner? An oil burner is a two-part ceramic or stone dish. The top bowl holds water and essential oils or wax melts and the bottom section holds a small tealight candle. As the candle heats the bowl, it gently warms the water or wax and releases the fragrance into the air.
They're flame-based but low-maintenance, and the scent they produce is soft and diffused - filling a room gradually rather than hitting you all at once.
You can see our range of handmade burners here.
What you'll need
- An oil burner
- A tealight candle (unscented is best — let your oils do the work)
- Water
- Essential oils or a wax melt
How to use an oil burner, A step by step
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Fill the bowl with water. Add enough to fill the dish about two thirds full, but don't overfill as you want room for the oils without it spilling.
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Add your essential oils. Start with 6–10 drops depending on the size of your room and how strong you want the scent. You can always add more, but you can't take it away.
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Light the tealight. Place it in the lower section and light it. The water will begin to warm within a few minutes and you'll start to notice the fragrance shortly after.
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Never let it run dry. Keep an eye on the water level as if it evaporates completely, the bowl can crack or scorch. Top up with a little warm water if needed.
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Extinguish safely. Use a snuffer or carefully blow out the tealight when you're done. Allow the bowl to cool completely before handling.
How much essential oil should I use? As a general guide:
- Small room (bathroom, bedroom): 4–6 drops
- Medium room (living room, kitchen): 8–12 drops
- Large open space: 12–15 drops
Start conservatively as essential oils are potent and a little goes a long way, especially with pure oils rather than synthetic fragrance oils.
Which essential oils work best in an oil burner? Almost any essential oil works beautifully in a burner. Here are some of our favourites by mood:
- For calm & sleep: Rosemary, Lavender & Clary Sage
- For focus & clarity: Palmarosa, Bergamot & Seville Orange
- For warmth & cosiness: Vetiver, Grapefruit & Bergamot Oil
- For an uplifting boost: Neroli, Vetiver & May Chang
Our 100% pure essential oil blends are designed specifically for burners and diffusers. Each one is an exclusive Bouclé scent blended to create a specific mood or atmosphere.
Can I use wax melts instead of water and oil? Yes and many oil burners double as wax melt burners. Simply place a wax melt in the dry bowl (no water needed) and light the tealight beneath. As the wax melts, it releases the fragrance. Our natural soy wax melts are made with the same pure essential oil blends as our candles.
Oil burner vs electric diffuser: what's the difference? An oil burner uses a tealight to heat the oils whereas an electric diffuser uses water and vibration to create a cool mist. Both work well, the burner gives a warmer, more ambient experience and doubles as a beautiful home accessory while an electric diffuser is flame-free and often has a timer making it great before sleep. At Bouclé, we love both.
A few safety tips
- Never leave a lit oil burner unattended
- Keep out of reach of children and pets
- Place on a heat-resistant surface
- Don't add oils directly to a dry, hot bowl [always add water first]
- Use unscented tealights so the fragrances don't compete
Browse our full range of essential oil blends and oil burners which are all designed to work beautifully together.