Since we first published our review on the health benefits of owning a Himalayan pink salt lamp, these little beauties have quickly become our favorite natural health gadget of all time.
And with their rise in popularity, sales of Himalayan salt lamps have been booming!
Unfortunately, this increase in demand has also created a perfect opportunity for less-than-honest individuals to profit by selling cheaply manufactured salt lamp counterfeits. While it may not always be obvious, there are a few easy ways to tell if your Himalayan salt lamp is a fake.
Read on to learn the seven signs to look out for and make sure that you’re getting what you paid for – a genuine Himalayan pink salt lamp with all of the health benefits that come with it!
Our Top Recommended Real Himalayan Salt Lamp
Don’t currently own a salt lamp but want to make sure yours is the real deal?
Here at Natural Living Ideas, we’ve tested some of the most popular brands and strongly recommend this Levoit Kana Himalayan Salt Lamp. It is backed with hundreds of positive reviews and Levoit are widely regarded as the best suppliers of quality salt lamps and at the fairest price.
7 Signs Your Himalayan Salt Lamp Is A Fake
1. Your Himalayan Pink Salt Lamp Is Very Bright
Himalayan salt crystals typically range in color from medium pink to dark orange. Also, because the salt is full of various different minerals, light emanating from the lamp will be muted and uneven. For these reasons, the average salt lamp emits only a soft warm glow.
If your lamp is small but gives off enough light to fully illuminate the room that it is placed in, this is a fairly good sign that your Himalayan salt lamp is a fake.
2. Your Lamp Has A White Crystal, But It Wasn’t Too Expensive
As previously stated, Himalayan salt crystals usually display a warm pinkish or orange hue. While white Himalayan salt does exist, it is rare and highly sought after. Thus genuine white Himalayan salt lamps will be much more expensive than the common colored varieties.
If you find a lamp which sports a white salt crystal, but the price isn’t significantly higher than other Himalayan pink salt lamps, this another sure sign that the product isn’t genuine Himalayan pink salt.
3. It Handles Moisture Exceptionally Well
Himalayan pink salt lamps cleanse the air around them by absorbing moisture and any attached airborne particulate then evaporating pure water pack out into the surrounding environment.
This process is called hygroscopy and is responsible for one of the most common problems inherent to genuine Himalayan pink salt lamps – sweating. (You can read more about it in our use and care guide.)
So if you live in a particularly moist region and your lamp has never done it, this is a pretty good sign that your Himalayan pink salt lamp is a fake.
4. Your Himalayan Pink Salt Lamp Is Extremely Durable
Another big problem inherent to genuine Himalayan pink salt lamps is that they tend to be rather fragile. In fact, it is not uncommon for lamps to be damaged during shipping due to poor packaging or improper handling.
Accidentally dropping or bumping your HPS lamp into another solid object is a sure fire way to ding or chip away pieces of the salt crystal.
If you’ve done either of these things (or anything else that would otherwise damage a fragile chunk of Himalayan pink salt) and your lamp held up exceptionally well, this is another good sign that it may be a fake.
5. The Manufacturer or Supplier Has a Poor Return Policy
Suppliers of genuine Himalayan pink salt products understand that Himalayan pink salt is a fragile material. As such, genuine HPS salt lamp vendors usually offer flexible and convenient return policies.
If you’re about to purchase a new lamp and the supplier is super strict about returns, buyer beware!
If they are selling counterfeit Himalayan salt lamps, it’s highly likely that they’re hoping you won’t discover the truth until it’s too late to return the product.
As previously stated, in some cases real Himalayan pink salt lamps don’t even survive the shipping process due to the fragile nature of the materials! So even if they are selling genuine HPS salt lamps, you should still be wary of any merchant who isn’t flexible about refunds or exchanges.
6. You Don’t Experience Any Of The Health Benefits
Despite all of the research and firsthand accounts of how Himalayan pink salt lamps have improved the lives of people around the globe, there are still a lot of skeptics out there.
From easing asthma and allergy symptoms to increasing energy and counteracting Seasonal Affective Disorder, the science behind HPS lamps is the real deal. You can read all about it in 10 Reasons To Have A Himalayan Salt Lamp In Every Room Of Your Home.
If you followed the sizing guidelines (listed at the end of the above-linked article) but your lamp doesn’t seem to be providing any of the health benefits as it should, it’s possible that your lamp may be a fake.
7. The Salt Crystal’s Country of Origin Isn’t Pakistan
Real Himalayan pink salt is obtained from deep underground in the mines of Khewra, Pakistan. Khewra is located on the western edge of the Himalayan mountains and it is the only place where true Himalayan pink salt is found. So if you aren’t sure about the authenticity of your lamp, you can always inquire about the salt crystal’s country of origin to determine if your lamp is a fake or the real deal.
(Just remember that some manufacturers may list country of origin as where the lamp was assembled, so be sure to specify.
Where To Buy A Real Himalayan Salt Lamp
As you can see, buying a Himalayan salt lamp is not always an easy process and is riddled with shady selling tactics and poor quality products.
Luckily, we’ve tested the best and discovered this Levoit Kana Himalayan Salt Lamp with Touch Dimmer Switch to be the best. It’s backed up with hundreds of positive Amazon reviews and protected by Amazon’s returns policy if any damage should occur during shipping. You can get it here and have it in your home in just a few days.
Alternatively, if you’d prefer a stainless steel base and are prepared to pay a little extra for the privilege, then this beautiful Levoit Kyra Salt Lamp with Stainless Steel Base is for you.
Since various retailers often run out of stock at certain times, and in case the above salt lamp is not available, here are a few more of the best in various shapes and sizes:
- Natural Crystal Salt Lamp from Evolution Salt Co. available on Thrive Market
- Crystal Allies Gallery Set of Two Himalayan Salt Lamps
- Hemingweigh Himalayan Hand Carved Set of Two Salt Lamps
- Heart Shaped Himalayan Salt Lamp
More Natural Health Tips From the Himalayas
If you haven’t already read it (or even if you have and just want to experience the magic again) be sure to read our article: 10 Reasons Every Home Should Have A Himalayan Salt Lamp.
Lamp didn’t come with a manual? No worries! We welcome you to take advantage of all of our experience (and mishaps!) with our Himalayan Salt Lamp Use & Care Guide. Included are 10 great tips with a side of humor to help you give your lamp the long and happy life it deserves.
Then for something a little different, check out these 10 Himalayan Wonders With Extraordinary Health Benefits to learn a few more tips on health, happiness and longevity from some of the longest-lived people on the planet!