Ceramic Oil Burners

The oil burner, a ritual of warmth and light

The light grows softer, a small flame dances behind the ceramic, and the fragrance gradually awakens. The oil burner is perhaps the most sensory of all home fragrance rituals. It does not diffuse continuously; it is something you choose: a gesture performed in the evening, when entertaining or simply for yourself, evoking the scented rituals of Moroccan homes.

How does an oil burner work?

An oil burner consists of two parts. At the bottom, an opening holds a tealight candle; at the top, a bowl holds the fragrance oil. As it warms, the fragrance gently evaporates and fills the room within minutes.

Pour a little water into the bowl, add a few drops of fragrance oil, then light the tealight. The water moderates the heat and allows the fragrance to unfold without burning.

The benefits of an oil burner

• Fragrance on demand: light it whenever you wish and extinguish it once the atmosphere feels just right. Adjust the intensity by varying the number of drops.
• A different fragrance every time: Orange Blossom for a weekend morning, Rose Oud for dinner or Bois de Riad for a relaxing evening. Simply clean the bowl before changing from one fragrance oil to another.
• Light as well as fragrance: filtered through the ceramic, the tealight flame casts a soft glow that becomes part of the ritual.
• A decorative object, even when unlit: handcrafted in ceramic, it naturally finds its place on a coffee table or shelf, whether lit or not.
• An introduction to the world of Côté Bougie: paired with a fragrance oil, it offers an accessible way to discover several Côté Bougie fragrances.

How to choose your oil burner

According to your interior colour palette

White complements bright interiors and natural materials. Black and Espresso create a graphic contrast against pale wood or marble. The bolder Bordeaux shade brings warmth and depth to a living room or bookcase.

According to the room and the moment

The oil burner is ideal for spaces where people come together: the living room, dining room or reading corner. It accompanies a particular moment rather than an entire day and should remain in sight whenever it is lit. To fragrance a bedroom overnight or an unoccupied room, choose a reed diffuser instead.

According to the fragrance you love

The oil burner can be paired with our full collection of fragrance oils. Choose Orange Blossom or Mandarin Majorelle for a bright note, Mint & Tea for freshness, Dates or Fig Tree for a rounded fragrance, and Narguilé, Cuir Obscur or Koutoubia for deeper evenings.

Using and caring for your oil burner

• Place it on a stable, heat-resistant surface, away from curtains and draughts and out of reach of children and pets.
• Never leave it burning unattended.
• Keep an eye on the bowl: if the water evaporates, add more so that the oil does not heat in a dry bowl.
• Allow the ceramic to cool before handling it, then wipe the bowl with a soft cloth before changing fragrances.

Frequently asked questions about our oil burners

Should you put water in an oil burner?

This is the most common method when using fragrance oil. The water acts like a bain-marie: it gradually heats up, moderates the temperature and prevents the oil from burning at the bottom of the bowl, which could alter its fragrance. Fill the bowl approximately two-thirds full with water, add a few drops of oil, then top up the water if it evaporates during use.

Which candle should you use?

Use a standard, unscented tealight so that the fragrances do not mingle and the oil remains the focus. A standard-sized tealight fits easily into the opening and keeps the flame at the correct distance from the bowl. When you wish to stop, extinguish it with a candle snuffer rather than blowing it out to avoid smoke.

How long does one use last?

The fragrance continues to diffuse while the tealight is burning and the bowl contains water and oil. In practice, only a few minutes are needed for the fragrance to become noticeable, after which it continues to unfold as the water evaporates. There is no need to wait until the tealight burns out: extinguish the oil burner once the atmosphere feels right, then relight it later whenever you wish.

What is the difference between an oil burner and a diffuser?

A reed diffuser releases the same fragrance continuously and without a flame until the bottle is empty. It is well suited to entranceways and subtle background fragrance. An oil burner releases fragrance on demand, combining scent with the warmth and light of a candle, while allowing you to change fragrance with every use. The two work beautifully together: a diffuser in the entrance to welcome guests and an oil burner in the living room for the evening.