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A clever smart home twist on scented candles lets you automate aromas with timers, voice control and Matter support without lighting a wick
Here’s one of those gadgets you really don’t need, but you really do want. It’s a candle warmer lamp, by the relentless innovators at SwitchBot. And it, er… Warms candles.
It’s a lot more functional than you’d think, and an extremely clever idea, because, rather than light your candle and have a tiny fire raging in your front room, this gently warms scented wax and lets the fragrance permeate the air. No smoke, no flame, just the aroma you picked, over and over again.
It can work with soy-based wax or classic beeswax, and an array of sizes. And the design of the thing is really elegant and minimalist.
Candle warmer lamps aren’t that unusual, there are quite a few on the market, but this is SwitchBot’s take on the product so, of course, it’s impressively clever.
Because of the way the brand’s tech always links up to smart home ecosystems, there are plenty of ways you can automate your candle warmer.
It connects directly to Apple Home via Matter over Wi-Fi, with no extra apps required. You can also link it up with Alexa, Google Home, Homey, Home Assistant, SmartThings, and more.
And this vast compatibility gives you an endless number of possibilities. You could, for example, set a schedule, or a bedtime timer, or you could link it up with presence sensors so it’ll turn on when you enter the house. Or even when you’re on your way home.
And it’s this smart tech that justifies its price, at £39.99. But it’s also beautifully built, incredibly easy to use, even if you just link it up to the SwitchBot app, and you’ll never tire of barking: “Alexa, light the candle”.
My wife loves scented candles, so this is another of those gadgets that got commandeered as soon as it landed on the doorstep.
But while I’ve largely been relegated to the role of willing spectator during our time with it, I’ve loved having the aromas filling the living room. And the fact we can do that without having to light a flame has been marvellous. What a great gadget.
