Difference Between Candle Warmer and Mug Warmer

Having a hot cup of tea or coffee and tea is the most important thing that we all need as the first thing in the morning. Although there are numerous ways to keep your tea or coffee hot for a prolonged time, it is essential that you choose the best one for you. The two of the most widely used ways to do so include using the candle warmer or the mug warmer for yourself. Most of the users consider them as the same thing but if you go through the product listing and the different mug warmer reviews then you can clearly spot the differences between the two and eventually be able to choose the right one for yourself.

Even though the major purpose of the mug and the candle warmer is somehow similar, they still differ from each other in terms of their function, working mechanism and design. Both the warmers target two different categories of buyers, thus it is important to choose the right one for yourself. IF you aren’t aware of the differences between the two and are planning to buy a warmer for yourself, then instead of choosing any one of them that is cheaper and more useful, try knowing the differences between them and then decide which one of them will suite your needs.  This article will talk about the major differences between a candle warmer and a mug warmer so that you can easily decide on which warmer that you should buy for yourself or as a gifts.

Functions of mug warmers and candle warmers

Both mug warmers and candle warmers are compact and easy to use. However, they serve different purposes. Mug warmer is an electrical device that is specially designed to hold the cups of different kinds. The mug warmers have an electric plate at the bottom that heats up and provides the essential temperature that is needed to warm up the cup to keep your mug warm so that you can have a hot beverage whenever you need. They are effective in preventing your hot drink such as milk, soup, coffee and tea from getting cold. When you are distracted by other things or after leaving your drink unattended for a period of time, a mug warmer is handy as it can reheat your drink to the desired temperature. Undoubtedly, this is a perfect device for the buyers who often want to have a hot beverages in their home or office.

Candle warmer serves a different purpose. Generally, a candle warmer is an electrical device used to melt a candle or a scented wax to release its scent. They are commonly placed in the kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, etc. to give your home a soothing atmosphere. Without the presence of fire, the candle warmer is an alternative that helps to release the fragrance of the scented candle by melting the candle through heat from the top, bottom or sides of the warmer. Thus, soot, flame and other pollutant will not be generated as there isn’t burning of the wick. These candle warmers are intended to be used with jar candles or candles in a glass, not with taper candles or candles without a container so that the melted wax will not stick on the surface of the warmer. Compared to lit candle, candle warmer helps to sustain the candle’s life. It will be totally worth it, especially for the expensive ones. You can usually reheat the candle several times until the scent fades away then only move on to a new candle.

Design differences of mug warmers and candle warmers

Usually the mug warmer comes with a heating plate to warm up your drink. The heating plate looks like the drink coaster but is thicker and maybe bigger in size as compared to the drink coaster. Most of the plates will have indentation in order to hold the cup. There are several designs of the plate, range from minimalistic, wooden, decorative to cute cartoons for you to choose. 

Unlike mug warmer, there are different kinds of candle warmers available in the market. Candle warmers come in a variety of designs such as plate candle warmer, crock candle warmer and lantern style candle warmer. Different designs have different heat sources. For plate candle warmer, the candle is heated from the bottom and can accommodate jar candles of different sizes.  On the other hand, crock candle warmer and lantern style candle warmer look more artistic and captivating. Crock style candle warmer resembles a mini crock pot and the heat sources come from the bottom and sides of the warmer, hence giving your candle a more even and fast heating. Lantern style candle warmer heats the candle from the top by melting the surface of the wax to release the fragrance. 

Both mug warmer and candle warmer can be found in different materials such as stainless steel, ceramic, silicon rubber, etc. Some advance designs also include these unique features such as water resistant plate, non-slip surface, LED display to show the level of heat auto shut off system to prevent overheating and many more.

Working Mechanism of mug warmers and candle warmers

In general, mug warmers and plate style candle warmers have a similar working mechanism. The heating coils inside them heat up the plate when they are connected to a power source. When the mug is placed on the heated plate, the heat energy is then transferred to the mug and the liquid contained in it. Similarly, the candle wax will be melted to release its scent when being placed on the warmer. As mentioned above crock style and lantern style candle warmers have different working mechanisms.

Some mug warmers contains a cable which plugs into an electrical outlet. Some have a USB cable which plugs into a laptop and desktop so you can enjoy your drink while working. Some are also cordless that can be switched on through touch, allowing you to use your mug warmer at anywhere and anytime. The candle warmers usually comes with cord so that you can use them for a longer period of time so that you will have an aromatic atmosphere when you sleep.

Mug warmers are designed to prevent your beverages from reaching the boiling point. Hence, the heat generated should be sufficient to keep your drink warm. Some designs of the mug warmer also allow you to choose the temperature that you desire which are perfect for hot coffee fans and lukewarm coffee lovers. Unlike mug warmer, candle warmers may not have this additional feature.

Candle warmer

The candle warmers, as the name suggest are the devices that are used to warm up the candles and can be used for freshening up the home, or used to release the scent of the scented candles in a spa or aromatherapy. These devices are compact, easy to use and can be used for different purposes. There are different kinds of candle warmers available in the market, and the candle warmers can also be used to heat up the cup of tea/coffee without any issues (quantity of the tea/coffee should be less). So, if you are in love with aromas, and want to use the scented candles to make your home a better place to spend time at, then you should look for a perfect candle warmer for your home. Believe us, you won’t be disappointed by the performance and usability of the device.

Mug warmer

Unlike the candle warmers, the mug warmers are specially designed to hold the cups of different kinds. The mug warmers have an electric plate at the bottom that heats up and provides the essential temperature that is needed to warm up the cup. This is a perfect device for the buyers who often want to have a hot cup of tea/coffee on their work desk.

The best thing about the cup warmer is that it can also be used as a candle warmer whenever needed. So, if you were looking for a multipurpose warmer for yourself, then we would suggest that instead of buying the candle warmer and cup warmer separately, you should invest your money in a good quality cup warmer by going through the reviews and consulting with the acquaintances who are currently using the cup warmers at their place.

By doing this, you can easily choose the best quality cup warmers for your home that can also be used as the candle warmer. By going through the reviews, you can be assured that the cup warmer you are planning to purchase can be used as a candle warmer or not. And if you are trying it all by yourself, then we would suggest that instead of using the full plate for cabled try using the candle in a part, and if the results are not as per your expectations, then clean the wax residue completely and avoid using the candles again on the plate.

Conclusion

The cup warmer can also be used as a candle warmer whenever needed and vice versa. So, if you were looking for a multipurpose warmer for yourself, then it is advisable that instead of buying the candle warmer and cup warmer separately, you should invest your money in a good quality cup warmer by going through the reviews and consulting with the acquaintances who are currently using the cup warmers at their place. If you want to use candle warmer as mug warmer, you have to make sure that the candle warmer has a flat surface and it is waterproof. In all, the buyers who are looking for a multipurpose warmer for themselves should opt for the mug warmers instead of the candle warmers, and the users who aim for perfection can buy both the devices. So, the choice is completely yours, and you should make the purchase according to your needs and preferences.

Editor’s Note on February 16, 2020 – Article was rewritten for better clarity and more information.