by Mary Lou |
Last Updated: April 3, 2017 When you buy something using the links on our posts, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Learn more.
Are you having some worrisome suspicions that your newly-bought Himalayan salt lamp isn’t legit? Or, are you planning to buy one and want to make sure you get a legit salt lamp?
When I bought my first salt lamp, I had somehow gotten a whiff of the fact that there are a lot of fakes out there. It got me alarmed because of the money I’d spent. At the same time, I was getting frustrated because my “exciting” purchase was making me anxious instead.
As you can expect, I did A TON of research and I was ready when my (super heavy) package finally came to my doorstep. So, let me share my actual experience with you.
Signs Your Himalayan Salt Lamp Is Fake
There are 6 major warning signals, from suspiciously low prices to it being brighter than the sun. I’ll go into those in more detail in just a second.
Another sign that your salt lamp is fake is that it comes from anywhere other than the mines of Khewra, Pakistan. These mines run along the western edge of the Himalayan Mountains.
I didn’t list it as a sign for you to watch out for though because a seller who tries to offload a knock-off on you will most likely lie about its source anyway.
So let’s talk about how you can test and spot these signs in more detail.
#1 – Your salt lamp is bogus if it is white but you got it cheap
Salt lamps come in a variety of charming colors. They are a result of different-colored veins of salt running deep in the mountains. The colors range from pinks to oranges to white. As you may have noticed from photos of salt lamps, orange and pink lamps are the most common. White lamps, however, are very rare and as such, are priced more than the other colors.
To test:
How much did you buy your white salt lamp for? An 8-inch white Himalayan salt lamp sells for approx $30 while a 10-inch sells for more than $60. If you got yours for much, much less than these prices, that’s one check mark on your fake list.
#2 – It is lighting up the entire room like a regular light
Real salt lamps are not like regular lights. They emit a warm glow but are not supposed to be as bright as fluorescent lights. In fact, the darker the color (like dark reds and oranges), the less light it emits.
To test:
Does your lamp simply give off a glow around it even at max setting (for those with a dimmer)? Or, is it lighting up like a study lamp or fluorescent lamp?
If you got yourself a big Himalayan salt lamp that is 20 pounds or heavier, it should not able to give off light in a uniform pattern anymore. It’s just how these crystal lamps work. So, if you got yourself a large one and it’s lighting up your entire room, then it is likely a fake.
#3 – You’ve never seen it weep or get moist
When there is moisture in the air, a real HSL will attract that moisture and absorb it. It’s actually how it cleanses and purifies the air.
You can keep a salt lamp from weeping but this is an example of a resulting puddle from a salt lamp.
To test:
If you know that you live in a humid area and yet your salt lamp is as dry as the Sahara Dessert even when turned off, then Houston, we’ve got a problem. Salt lamps weep and puddle like crazy when they’re turned off. You should have seen your salt lamp get moist at least once if turned off.
#4 – It’s as invincible as a Stan Lee superhero
When you get down to it, a Himalayan salt lamp is just a big chunk of salt. And unlike harder rocks, this makes it fragile and prone to breaking or chipping.
Got this photo from a customer whose cat got to her salt lamp. See the little broken piece on the side?
To test:
Recall when you first opened your salt lamp in its package. Did it come with a few bits slightly chipped off? This is actually a common experience with owners of real salt lamps. The worst report is getting a crystal that’s been halved. (On the up side, that customer got a REAL one.)
We don’t recommend dropping your lamp or anything extreme but if you’ve had accidents with it and it’s come out unscathed without even a few pieces chipping off, it is most likely fake.
#5 – No returns policy
Obvs, a seller of fakes will not honor a money-back guarantee or warranty.
To test:
Check out the returns policy of your seller. Does it sound legit? Read the customer review and see if they are positive and if any of them have successfully returned their purchases.
#6 – You are not experiencing the expected benefits
Real converts like me would rave about a whole list of benefits from these babies while somebody more cautionary would at least feedback that their salt lamp makes them feel good (and relaxed and happy).
To test:
I’d lend you my allergy-prone nephew (story here) but since I can’t, you’d just have to observe yourself.
Recall who has allergies in your house that’s in close contact with your lamp. Are they still sneezing as much?
Do you have pets inside your home? Do you notice any improvement in the quality and smell of your indoor air?
You can read all of the benefits HERE and if you’re not experiencing at least a feeling of wellness from your salt lamp, then you might just own a fake one.
Author: Mary Lou
In the Before Times, Maru spent vacations traveling and making stops at showrooms to test the latest massage chair models. Nowadays, she’s hunkered down in her small sunlit home dotted with her ever-growing collection of fiddle fig trees, indoor plants, and Himalayan salt lamps. Find her at LinkedIn.