Last Updated on August 25, 2023
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EDITOR’S NOTE: Aldi sold this again in August of 2023 for the same price of $14.99.
Candles are one of the most popular items Aldi sells. It’s hard to miss all the various candles in different scents that the discount grocer rotates into its middle aisle. Aldi used to only sell candles as limited-time Aldi Finds, but during the last few years, the grocer has begun selling a few select scents as Regular Buys that you can purchase all the time (usually stocked in the aisle with the laundry detergent and toiletries). That means that no matter when you go to Aldi, you’re going to find candles.
The 14-ounce soy blend jar candles are the most common and best-selling Aldi candles, followed closely by some single-wick 6.5-ounce soy blend jar candles Aldi introduced more recently.
Burning candles comes with some drawbacks, however. They can be a real safety concern because of their open flames, and they can smoke and create soot and indoor air pollution, especially if the wicks aren’t properly trimmed.
Some people prefer to use scented wax melts to avoid some of the problems that come with burning candles. Aldi occasionally sells wax melts and warmers for wax melts, and I like them (and Aldi wax melt scents are superior to ones I’ve gotten at Dollar Tree). Aldi also sometimes offers candle warmers that are made to be used with traditional candles, but without flames. A candle warmer works by using a bulb or other electric heat source to gently warm the wax inside a jar candle, thus releasing the scent. I used to own a candle warmer (not from Aldi), and these definitely have their merits.
I purchased a candle warmer recently at Aldi after reading positive comments about them on an Aldi social media fan page.
The Huntington Home Wooden Candle Warmer Lantern (Product Code: 704434) cost $14.99 at the time of publication. While you will pay less for basic candle/mug warmers on Amazon that look similar to hot plates, you will generally pay more than $14.99 for fancier candle warmers that look like lanterns on Amazon. In fact, the Aldi candle warmer lantern looks a lot like one on Amazon that sold for more than twice the cost at the time of writing. Both lanterns have the same closing/locking mechanism on the door and the same style of hanger/hook on top.
This is an Aldi Find, so it’s only in stores for a short time. Each store gets one shipment, and after that sells out, they’re gone until Aldi decides to bring them back, whenever that might be. Aldi does not offer online ordering for products that aren’t in stock at your local store.
The candle warmer lantern out of the box. Note the wood splinters on a portion of the door.
This comes with the lantern itself plus a small instruction manual.
The lantern stands about 11 inches tall from the bottom of the base to the top of the circular hook/hanger. Inside the lantern, it’s about 5 1/2 inches from the bottom to the light. Since the manual recommends keeping candles at least 1/2 inch from the light, that means you shouldn’t use candles taller than about 5 inches in this lantern. If you’re exclusively using Aldi 3-wick candles, that shouldn’t be a problem. The inside of the lantern is about 5 inches across.
Here’s more information about the candle warmer lantern:
- Available in White Wash Wood, Dark Wood, or Light Wood (I purchased the Dark Wood lantern)
- Easy and safe to use
- Melts candles without the need for a flame
- Fragrance is released in minutes
- Compatible with Aldi Huntington Home 14-oz. and smaller candles (sold separately)
- Includes long-lasting 25 watt halogen bulb to warm candles
- Made in China
Usage instructions on the box. (Click to enlarge.)
Using the candle warmer lantern is easy:
- Remove the lid from your favorite scented jar candle.
- Place the candle inside the lantern and directly below the warming bulb.
- Turn on the electric candle warmer lantern. Relax and enjoy.
- When the candle fragrance wanes, pour melted wax off the top (the manual recommends pouring the melted wax into an empty metal or glass container) and continue to warm. You can also trim the remaining excess candle wick after you turn off the lantern and the wax has cooled and solidified.
The manual offers a few other tips:
- Obviously, do not light the candle when using this candle warmer lantern.
- Be aware that the lantern is hot when turned on.
- Turn off, unplug, and allow the lantern to cool before replacing the bulb and before cleaning.
- Do not expose skin to the light for long periods of time, and do not look directly at the lighted bulb.
- Keep the lantern away from flammable materials.
- Use a soft cloth when removing or replacing the bulb. Oil from skin may shorten the bulb’s life.
- Turning the light on and off within less than 5 minutes will shorten the bulb’s life.
- When the bulb wears out, replace with a 25 watt NP5 replacement bulb.
- Once a candle has been melted in a candle warmer, it is not recommended that you light the wick and burn the same candle.
- Keep your candle wick a minimum of 1/2 inch from the bulb.
When I first unboxed this candle warmer lantern, I noticed the door had some soft wood splinters that took away some from the lantern’s aesthetics. That wasn’t a deal breaker, though. One or two gentle swipes with sandpaper might take care of that.
I placed a 14-ounce Pumpkin Cinnamon 3-wick soy blend Aldi candle that I just bought this fall in this lantern and turned it on by plugging in the cord and flipping a switch on the cord. The wax at the top of the candle began to glisten and soften fairly soon after turning the lantern on, and within an hour or so I had fully melted wax on top of the candle and could easily smell the candle throughout the main living areas of my house.
This looks very nice on a small side table in my dining room next to some other fall decorations from Aldi. I’m looking forward to using it through all the seasons with various candle scents, and I appreciate having a way to use candles without dealing with the risks that come with open flames. I think the 3-wick 14-ounce jar candles from Aldi look the best in this lantern, but you can also use the smaller single-wick 6.5-ounce jar candles from Aldi.
The only thing I wish this lantern included is a timer so I could set how long I want the light to be on. One fix for that would be to use a timer on the electrical outlet the lantern is plugged into.
The one unknown that remains is how long this lantern will last and what the halogen bulb’s life span is. I’ll update this post with any potential developments.
The Verdict:
The Huntington Home Wooden Candle Warmer Lantern is a safer way to enjoy scented candles without open flames. Simply plug in the lantern, put a 14-ounce or smaller jar candle (with its lid off) inside, and turn on the lantern. The lantern creates a soft glowing ambient light that makes up for not having a flickering open flame, and the light melts the candle wax, releasing the fragrance.
