The popularity of Himalayan Salt Lamps continues to grow in Australia and so a common question we get asked is about fake Himalayan salt lamps and how to spot the difference.
Ever since Himalayan salt lamps hit the market, sales of them have soared, especially in 2024. More and more people are realising how beautiful and charming they are in their homes.
Regrettably, this rise in popularity has given unscrupulous vendors the chance to cash in, by selling counterfeit, inexpensively manufactured lamps.
Here are our top 5 ways you can tell if your Himalayan salt lamp is fake.
Authentic Himalayan salt lamps which weigh more than 4-5kgs will not light up in a regular pattern. What this means is Himalayan salt is natural and will not be 'perfect' in appearance. So your lamp should have a natural shape and colour to it.
(To see our comprehensive Himalayan salt lamp review for 2024 click here)
You will see both light and dark shades on your orangy pink salt lamps. This is a positive thing.
If you own a large Himalayan salt lamp that emits enough light to illuminate a whole room, that's a sure indication that it's not made from real Himalayan pink salt.
Large salt rock lamps will emit light, but will not light the room like a living room light.
One of the most impressive features you will notice is the naturally soft, warm glow you get from it.
You may feel a sense of calm and warmth as you sit and watch it glow in your room.
Do you recall watching a beautiful sunset over the ocean or perhaps the horizon? The sun has a calming orange glow to it.
For those into biohacking and using light therapy, they say the lights in your house should mimic the natural colours of the sun.
So, in the evenings, around sunset, you should turn down the normal lights in your house and let your salt crystal lamps shine the orangy pink colour, like a natural sunset.
Your 'real deal' crystal lamp isn't designed to be the main source of light in a room, but instead, it will provide a wonderful, natural glow.
Funnily enough, the salt lamp picture above is a real genuine one from a salt mine in the foothills of the Himalayas.
You can tell this as it has a huge dark spot on it which may not appeal to everyone.
We only put this up as an example of a salt lamp that shows natural colours and tones. Some people love having a two-tone colour.
(You can view the 9 benefits of Himalayan salt lamps by clicking here)
Have you ever put rice granules in your salt shaker at home? Or have you noticed during summer your salt shaker tends to gather a little moisture inside?
Salt is one of those elements that have a natural moisture-absorbing nature about it (called hygroscopy). Pink salt, with its trace minerals, is no different, and it is the hygroscopic benefits people love.
Your lamp will help clean the surrounding air via moisture absorption. It is just what natural salt does. You will hear many people talk about how your salt lamp purifies the air.
As a result, your crystal lamp will sweat or gather moisture and become damp.
You should know that this is natural and part of what salt does.
This is the reason we suggest you keep them on 24/7 (on our salt lamp care instructions page). Or at least for 16 hours a day.
Some like to turn off the light bulb while they sleep at night, especially if they have it in their bedroom.
But those with young children often like to keep it on so they have a warm soft light glowing in the room.
(If you would like to read the 11 interesting facts about Himalayan salt lamps then click here)
By turning on your light globe it will warm your natural crystal salt up and help dry it out. Your lamp will then stop sweating and return to normal.
If your salt lamp handles humid or really warm days without 'sweating' or perspiring, then it could be an indication your salt lamp is a fake.
You will not be able to get the health benefits of Himalayan salt if you have fake salt lamps.
This is another reason why so many people are upgrading to the Onyx crystal base. When a wooden base salt lamp starts to sweat, it can discolour the wooden base.
Below is a comparison between two new Himalayan salt lamps. It comes down to preference.
Which one do you like best?
Whereas the Onyx crystal base can just be wiped off and it will look as good as new, if not better than before.
You can see the result of excessive sweating on the wooden base and the result. Whereas any sweating on an onyx crystal base can just be wiped clean in a flash.
You may be thinking 'How long will my Himalayan salt lamp last?'.
Even in humid conditions, if you keep your salt lamp turned on 24/7 or wrap it up in glad wrap or a plastic bag when off (ie when going on holidays), it should last for decades.
(You can see the best price for Himalayan salt lamps in 2024 if you click here)
Now, we cannot help if your husband or cat has an affinity for licking it constantly, but under 'normal' conditions, your lamp will last a long time.
Authentic white salt lamps around 5kg from the Himalayas usually cost at least $70. If you come across any lamps with white salt crystals, but their prices are lower than this, they are most likely not genuine salt lamps.
White Himalayan salt lamps add another style of decor to your home. They can provide some contrast to your other pink Himalayan salt lamps.
White salt lamps still emit negative ions and have the same Himalayan salt lamp benefits, but they are much rarer.
Himalayan Salt and salt lamps in Pakistan have been attracting people from all over the world since they were first discovered back in 320BC.
According to Wikipedia, tourists have been flocking to this amazing place at the rate of 250,000 people per year.
The history of Himalayan salt lamps is quite remarkable, so if you have a moment, be sure to read about it.
Be sure to ask the person you are buying them off as to their origin.
At Earth Inspired Gifts, all of our natural salt lamps and carved salt lamps are sourced from Pakistan.
Salt lamps from the Himalayas are made from natural salt.
Salt isn't necessarily a tough material. Having said that, the same could be said for spider webs, but when combined in the right way, spider webs are very strong.
For interest's sake, you can read about the strength of spider webs here.
Let's get clear here. We do not recommend you try and break your salt lamp unless you like breaking things ;-).
In fact, they are designed for the exact opposite. They are designed to provide a beautiful warm, soothing glow that elicits calmness.
Your salt lamp is there to emit negative ions to neutralise the positively charged ions and air pollutants in your home.
Our clients love them for their home remedies, their own health care, to reduce their blood pressure and to help their skin hair and breathing.
So popular are salt lamps nowadays that they even have salt therapy rooms with huge salt blocks and even salt caves.
Depending on your salt lamp, you may find you can break off bits of it quite easily. This is pretty normal. Having said that, you will notice our natural and carved salt lamps are quite uniform and perfect in size and shape.
If you love being creative then you may even try carving it yourself. We have both natural and shaped lamps around our home. Everyone comments on them. We also have one sitting in our home office.
When it comes to breaking your salt lamp, let's say if you were to drop it from 6 foot, it will likely shatter all over your floor. Especially if it is a genuine one. Best not to do this.
All of our lamps come on an onyx crystal base as well. Onyx is like any crystal in that you don't want to be dropping it from any height.
My husband at times has to use his hammer to break large loose bits into smaller pieces. I can tell you the salt is very hard and takes quite a bit of hammering to break them down.
You want to make sure you are buying real ones. At Earth Inspired Gifts, we source ours from Pakistan and provide the best price on salt lamps in Australia.
Also, our salt lamps come on the upgraded onyx crystal base, which is more natural and beautiful. If you love natural remedies, then you will love our Himalayan salt lamps.
You will have yours in your home for years or decades to come, so be sure to buy quality salt lamps from a reputable supplier.
So that is how you spot fake ones. Hopefully, you only ever purchase genuine ones and not fake lamps.
Have you got any of the above signs your Himalayan salt lamp is fake? If so, give us a call and we'll point you in the right direction.
We only sell authentic salt lamps.
When using your crystal lamp, it's crucial to be aware of electrical hazards and potential dangers that come with any electrical device.
While salt lamps offer numerous benefits, overlooking basic safety precautions can lead to the dangers of them becoming a reality in your home.
At Earth Inspired Gifts, we inspect the electrical cords for any damage before sending them to you.
Here are some useful blog posts for those who want to know more about the benefits of Himalayan Salt Lamps:
Nicky Jessen
Author
Nicky is the proud mum of 3 beautiful girls and Owner of Earth Inspired Gifts. Earth Inspired Gifts is an online retail store specialising in gifts inspired by Nature, such as Himalayan Rock Salt Lamps, Geodes, Crystals, Jewellery and other beautiful items. In addition to running Earth Inspired Gifts, Nicky has been building and managing many websites, including some of the largest online stores in Australia. Feel free to reach out to Nicky via her Facebook page or Twitter.