It may sound like a silly point to make, but it would be a good idea to put at least a little bit of thought when it comes to selecting a Himalayan Salt Lamp. Why? Well simply because not all Himalayan salt lamps are the same.
When it comes to selecting a Himalayan salt lamp, here are come simple things to focus on:
1. Color
Now unfortunately, you cannot choose what color you want as it only comes in one colour. Now there will be slight variations of the color since it is made from natural salt which may vary when being produced or where about it was mined from.
White salt lamps do exist but they are very rare. I quite like the idea of white colored Himalayan rock lamps because they are likely to give off the most light. Whereas, other people may find that the white salt is too bright to offer the relaxing benefits of the lamps. There are claims that the white color represents healing, cleansing, and detoxification.
The pink Himalayan salt lamps are more common and popular partly because they tend to be aesthetically more pleasing.
But there some things to remember when it comes to pink lamps: the shade of pink, whether the salt is brittle, or if it has dark black marks in it. These can all be indications that they are mined from an inferior section of earth and not truly from the Himalayan mountains. It is said that the color pink helps stimulate love, emotion, and a sense of partnership.
Orange salt lamps are typically the favorite and the most common. They have the warmest colored glow that is not too bright and not too dark. This color is usually a sign of a quality salt crystal and offers the best balance. It is said that the color orange helps the nervous system and activates the kidney and bladder.
Red salt lamps can be quite pretty, but often they are too dark and block off most of the light from the bulb. This reduces the attractiveness of the map, but some people prefer to use these darker red lamps in bedrooms where they can sleep with them on all night. It is said that the color red helps activate the heart and promote circulation.
2. Size
In addition to color, size it another thing to keep in mind. According to The Himalayan Salt Shop, the biggest differentiating factor here is going to be weight. The bigger and heavier it is, the broader its ionization properties. So, the bigger the room, the bigger the lamp you need. Here is their general size guide:
- 5-7 lbs. salt lamp — 10×10 sq. feet (small bedroom)
- 9-11 lbs. salt lamp — 12×12 sq. feet (large bedroom)
- 12-15 lbs. salt lamp — 14×14 sq. feet (living room)
- 30-40 lbs. salt lamp — 20×20 sq. feet (recreational room)
- 40-50 lbs. salt lamp — 30×30 sq. feet (joined rooms & commercial spaces)
3. Shape
This is something else to consider, though this is not as important as quality and condition of the salt. The lamps I received are in the natural shapes, which is the most popular type. They are unaltered and quite similar to how they were mined out of the mountains.
There are also crafted salt lamps where the salt is shaped into different forms, say a bowl, which some people may prefer depending on their own personal style.
4. Condition
After assessing the quality of the salt itself, you need to asses the quality of the wooden bases that are attached to the salt. Some bases are flimsy and poorly attached, which can lead to issues down the road. Also, the wiring should all be done using proper UL Listed cords and use a quality lamp socket to ensure no fire risk.
When selecting a Himalayan Salt Lamp for your home, those are the four most important things to keep in mind.
How do you know if your Himalayan salt lamp is real?
Genuine Himalayan salt lamps are not cheap. Pink salt lamps are pricey; whereas, the rare white and red ones are a few times more expensive. Whichever color you have, you should be understandably concerned if you got it cheap. While buying it expensive is not also a sure sign it’s real, the low price should readily sound an alarm.
Another way to tell if a salt lamp is real is by looking at the light it gives off. Unlike standard night lights, your Himalayan salt lamp cannot be relied on to illuminate your room for late night reading. It should just glow a medium pink to a dark orange hue that’s calming enough to lull you to sleep or rest.
If your Himalayan salt lamp is turned off most of the time at such conditions, and it stays dry, we hate to break it to you, but you have a fake lamp. If the opposite is true, do turn on your lamp for at least 16 hours a day. This will not only fetch you the benefits from the lamp but also prolong its life. Your authentic Himalayan lamp will slowly dissolve if you just let it sweat days on days.
While there are a lot of unscrupulous vendors out there, do not be discouraged or fearful of getting your Himalayan salt lamp. There are certain steps on how to tell if a salt lamp is real and measures you can take to correct a bad buy.
There are things about your Himalayan salt lamp that seem like imperfections, such as the dim illumination, the irregular light pattern, and the chipping off tendency, that you should be aware of and that you should welcome since they are a sign of authenticity.
My conclusion on Himalayan Rock Salt Lamps
After all this research and reading reviews on Himalayan, I thought it was time to see for my own eyes what the fuss was all about.
When it arrived, I must admit, I thought it would look kinda cheap but it doesn’t really. So that was a plus. After switching it on, it has a nice glow and I thought let me leave it on continuously, to see if i feel more relaxed or if the air does become cleaner.
I will review for a few weeks and get back to you with my opinion.
If you do own a Himalayan Rock Salt lamp, please leave comments down below to tell me your experience with them.
