I love the smell of candles, but I hate the anxiety that comes with an open flame. There have been multiple times I’ve had to turn around after leaving to double-check that I’ve blown out a candle. That is why the SwitchBot Candle Warmer Lamp caught my eye. It promises all the ambiance and smells of a candle with zero risk of burning the house down. Best of all, it supports Matter right out of the box, making it a native citizen in your HomeKit/Apple Home environment.
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HomeKit Weekly is a series focused on smart home accessories, automation tips and tricks, and everything to do with Apple’s smart home framework.
What is a candle warmer?
If you haven’t used a candle warmer before, the concept is simple. Instead of lighting a wick, you place your favorite jar candle under a focused halogen bulb. The heat from the bulb melts the wax from the top down, releasing the scent without any smoke or live flame.
Because there is no flame, the candle actually lasts longer. You aren’t burning the wax away; you are just warming it to release the fragrance smells. When the scent eventually fades after a few weeks, you pour off the top layer of wax and start fresh again.
Matter over Wi-Fi
The big news here for HomeKit users is the connectivity. Unlike some of SwitchBot’s other gear that requires a Hub 2 to bridge into Apple’s ecosystem, the Candle Warmer Lamp supports Matter over Wi-Fi. Matter over Wi-Fi means you can add it directly to the Home app without needing a secondary bridge. Once it is in HomeKit, it appears as a standard dimmable light. This allows for some fantastic automations:
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Good Morning : Have the lamp turn on at 10% brightness to gently scent the kitchen with a nice smell first thing in the morning. You can set it to turn off right before you leave for work as well.
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