The Top 5 Lava Lamps
True story: the lava lamp was invented back in 1948 by an Englishman named Edward Craven Walker who was inspired to create the device after observing a strange kind of egg timer at a pub. It took him 15 years to perfect his design, which he wanted to market as a “luxury lighting accessory.” It was originally called the Astro Globe until a U.S. manufacturer called Lava Lite bought the rights. Decades later, here we are, left with this fascinating cultural relic of interior decor. Whether you’re trippin’ the light fantastic or just want your house to look like something out of an Austin Powers movie, the lava lamp is one of the most novel lighting inventions available. And get this: no two lava lamps are alike. So how do you pick the right one? You leave it to the experts, of course. Here are the five best lava lamps on the market.
Lava Lite: Lava The Original
The Original
As mentioned above, the Lava Lite company first bought the U.S. manufacturing rights to the Astro Globe a half-century ago, and the result is the classic lava lamp that has permeated popular culture for decades. The Lava The Original model features the rocket-like design with a silver aluminum base and cap, along with blue-colored water and purple lava. A 25-watt bulb is included, creating a warm, relaxing soft light. The traditional lava lamp size is 14.5 inches, but you can purchase this model in sizes ranging from 11.5 inches to 27 inches. Plug in, turn on, drop out.
Pros:
- Available in 7 different colors
- Plugs into any 120-volt outlet
- Easy to assemble
Cons:
- Doesn’t work with 220-volt
- Liquid can fade in color
Schylling 2700
So Many Fantastic Colors
Considering we’re talking about Lava Lamps here, an award like “Best Colors” would seem like the ultimate prize. Schylling, one of the two primary lava lamp manufacturers in the industry, pulls out the stops with their 2700 model. Though the wax bubbles on the inside are plain white, the globe is hand-painted in graffiti style, providing a near-infinite variety of colors and patterns. It’s better than watching a campfire (though you can’t toast s’mores over it) and almost as hypnotic.
Pros:
- Comes with lightbulb
- Detailed instructions on YouTube channel
- Easy return policy
Cons:
- Only one water-color available
- Base color must be black
Lava The Original Star Vortex Lamp
The Best Episode Of Star Vors
One of the spinoffs of the original Lava Lamp design is the vortex lamp. Instead of using larger balls of Paraffin wax, other materials are utilized, including stamped-plastic shapes. The most standout design of the bunch is the Lava The Original Star Vortex Lamp, which uses silver star glitter suspended in a blue liquid and held together with a silver base and cap. Combined with LED lights, the resulting effect is like looking at a slowly swirling galaxy of stars. The stars even reflect light around your room, making it appear that you’re in the middle of the vortex. Really cool!
Pros:
- Instant startup action
- Rotating colors of LED lights
- Doesn’t get hot
Cons:
- Swirls around, not vertically
- LED light not replaceable
Schylling Metallic Blue
Sometimes You Want The Blues
An interesting design element in almost every lava lamp is that the wax is usually white (though there are exceptions – see our best overall pick). The main reason for this is because it’s easier to create a multi-colored effect by changing the color of the water or the finish on the outside of the globe. Schylling’s Metallic Blue lava lamp may be considered a one-trick pony because of its wax color and lack of rainbow painting on the outside, but oh, what a trick it is. The net effect is that of a mercury trapped in a bottle as the shimmering blue orbs bounce from top to bottom. All in all, this is one of the most unique lava lamps we found.
Pros:
- 25-watt bulb included
- Clear liquid + clear glass = brighter than typical lamp
- Sturdy aluminum base
Cons:
- Not available in other colors
Schylling Gold Base Glitter Lamp
All That Glitters Is Gold
Not all lava lamps have to feature large, morphing blobs of wax. If you’re looking for something with a little more action in your lamp – a bit more frenetic activity, as it were – then the Schylling Gold Base Glitter lamp is for you. Filled with hundreds of tiny, glittery globules, this gold-finished aluminum unit looks like it just stepped into Studio 54 circa 1975 and ordered Harvey Wallbangers for Andy Warhol and his entourage. Perhaps it’s not the lava lamp you want to calm your mind and help you fall asleep, but definitely the one for your next Bee Gees karaoke party.
Pros:
- Warms up faster than other lava lamps
- Features purple, green, pink and silver glitter balls
- Knows the lyrics to Staying Alive
Cons:
- Do not place in direct sunlight
- Runs slightly hotter than other lamps
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is that goo in a Lava Lamp?
These days, the “bubbles” in a lava lamp are basically paraffin wax. However, a patent from a 1968 model listed the bubbly contents as being a “transparent, translucent, or opaque mix of mineral oil, paraffin wax, and carbon tetrachloride.” The liquid inside is water, coloring and some antifungal chemicals. All Lava Lamps are non-toxic, so if you shatter yours on accident you’re not going to turn into a zombie, or perhaps worse yet, a hippie.
My lava lamp gets really hot. Can it explode?
The short answer is no. Lava lamps use an incandescent bulb to heat the liquid inside, but not to a level that causes the type of boiling that would lead the lamp to crack or explode. A lava lamp can overheat, however, causing the wax inside to congeal into one large blob and be ineffective, so it’s recommended you use your lamp for no longer than eight hours at a time. Also, doing really stupid things to a lava lamp can make it explode, like placing it on a stovetop on high heat or sticking it in the microwave for several minutes. So, don’t do that.
Can a lava lamp freeze?
Yes, but it takes some effort. The liquid inside is basically just water with some antifungal chemicals, so it has a normal freezing temperature of 0 degrees Celsius (32 Fahrenheit). If you’ve had the heat turned off in your house or you take the lamp outside in a snowstorm, it could freeze. If this happens, let the lamp thaw out first before turning it on. Here’s another tip: don’t shake your lava lamp while it’s heated. This can cause the wax to mix with the water which will ruin the desired psychedelic effect of the lamp.
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