Why Go Wickless? What the Research Says About Flame, Soot and Scent

BySparkes Hush wickless soy candle under a black candle warmer lamp

We make wickless candles because we love the cosiness of a candle and would rather not have a flame on the side in a busy family home. But we also think you should know what the evidence does and does not say. Here is an honest look.

The flame is the part that causes fires

Candle fires are a real and regular problem, especially in winter. In December 2022, London Fire Brigade said its firefighters had attended almost 200 candle related fires across the previous three Decembers and Januaries, and that candle fires had risen year on year since 2019. In December 2025 it issued another warning after four fires in four days were believed to have been started by candles over Christmas.

The Brigade's advice is to keep candles away from anything that could catch fire, use a stable, heat resistant holder, take particular care around children and pets, never leave them unattended and consider a flameless alternative.

A wickless candle has no flame at all. There is nothing to knock over while alight, nothing for a curtain or a decoration to catch on, and nothing left burning if you fall asleep on the sofa.

But a warmer lamp is not risk free

This matters, so we will say it plainly. A candle warmer lamp is an electrical appliance with a hot bulb. A New York fire department battalion commander quoted by NBC News said a warmer carries less risk than a lit candle that can be knocked down, but the same article is clear that warmers can still be a hazard if they are left unattended or placed near things that burn, and that the glass can get very hot.

So please treat your lamp like any other heat source:

  • Stand it on a flat, stable surface where it cannot be knocked.
  • Keep it away from curtains, bedding, decorations and soft furnishings.
  • Keep it out of reach of children and pets. The bulb, the glass and the melted wax are all hot.
  • Switch it off when you leave the room or go to bed.
  • Let everything cool before you move it.
  • Follow the instructions that came with your lamp, including the bulb type.

No burning means no soot or smoke

When a wick burns, it gives off particles. Researchers at Lund University found that a candle burning steadily releases large numbers of very fine particles, and a candle that is burning badly, with a smoky, sooting flame, releases the most, mainly as soot. Blowing a candle out and letting it smoulder gives off particles too.

A wickless candle is never lit, so there is no flame, no smoke and no soot marks on the jar or the wall behind it.

Fragrance is still fragrance

Here is the part most candle makers leave out. No flame does not mean nothing goes into the air. A 2025 study from Purdue University, titled Flame-Free Candles Are Not Pollution-Free, looked at scented wax melts warmed without a flame. It found that fragrance compounds released from the warm wax can react with ozone already present indoors and form very small particles, at levels comparable to burning scented candles. The researchers say more work is needed to understand what this means for health.

That study tested wax melts, not candle warmer lamps, but the principle applies to any scented wax that is warmed, including ours. So we do not claim that wickless candles give you cleaner air. Our advice is the same as for any home fragrance: enjoy it in a room with some fresh air, use the dimmer to keep the scent gentle, and do not leave it on for hours longer than you need.

In short

Going wickless takes away the open flame, the smoke and the soot. It does not take away the need for care, because the lamp gets hot and scent is still being released into your home. For us, in a house with little ones, losing the flame is reason enough.

If you would like to try one, our seasonal wickless candles are hand poured in small batches. New to wickless? Start with our guide to wickless candles.

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