How to Tell If Your Himalayan Salt Is Real

It’s believed that the salt from the Himalayas is extremely beneficial, both in terms of cooking and health. But you should be careful while picking it. Due to the market, counterfeit salt products from the Himalayas are frequently found.

At first sight, it’s rather difficult to distinguish the authentic and fake salts. Nevertheless, there’re still some things to look at to prove the authenticity of the salt of the Himalayas.

Step-by-Step Guide to Find Real Himalayan Salt

via @shamshimalayansalt

So how can you spot a fake Himalaya salt lamp when fake ones often look like the real thing? For untrained eyes, identifying a salt lamp may be difficult. Luckily, these proven tips can help you put an end to the hoax of the Himalayan salt lamp and buy a real salt lamp instead.

Step 1 — Check the Cost and Color

The mountains of the Himalayas have a limited salt resource, particularly the deep red and pure white variety, and their governments increase taxes on mining companies every year.

A small white or red salt lamp from the Himalayas would normally be several times more expensive than the pink variety.

Salt lamps are typically pink or orange. This can vary, however, since different salt blocks of the Himalayas extracted from different parts of the mine can have color variations. Yet they all have some depth and earthly appearance.

A genuine salt lamp doesn’t have to be too much, even in its color or pure pink or red. Whether your lamp is pure pink or red, or it has a high gloss plastic, it might be a forgery.

Step 2 — Look At the Size and Illumination Level

Once a real Himalayan salt lamp weighs above 20 pounds, it’ll no longer emit light according to a uniform design. It’s the nature of the real salt of the Himalayas. If you have a large lamp that appears to illuminate your whole room, it’s a good sign that it’s made of something other than real salt.

Turn the lamp while it’s on and note whether the pattern of light on the wall moves with it or not. Genuine salt lamps transmit inconsistent illumination, so you should be able to identify that shift easily. If you don’t see any change and the light is even on all sides, you probably have a false one.

Step 3 — Taste It

It might sound a little unorthodox, but at least your lamp would have to be very salty. Beware, however, that you don’t wish to ingest the dust that your lamp collects because it purifies the air. Clean the part of the light you’re going to lick with a damp cloth. Just a little lick of it should make you know whether at least the surface of it is salt.

Step 4 — Check Whether You Can Break It

via @shamshimalayan

Durability is good, but salt lamps are bad. Indeed, they’re extremely fragile and need to be maintained in good condition. Accidentally dropping them could scale them or even break them – which isn’t surprising given that they are made from crystals.

You can notice a little shredding as soon as they leave the box as part of the usual handling and transportation process. But a solid bump that doesn’t break up even after improper handling is more than probably a fake.

Step 5 — Test How Your Lamp Manages the Humidity

Real salt lamps are hygroscopic and attract water molecules. When the molecules merge in the warmth of the lamp, the lamp becomes dried and releases the molecules into the atmosphere.

In that process, small water pearls should form on the lamp. The wetter the surroundings, the more “sweat” there’s on the lamp.

If your lamp doesn’t sweat at all, especially in damp environments, it’s certainly a red flag.

Step 6 — Find the Information About Return Policy

Since real salt lamps are delicate, their manufacturers should have flexible return policies in the event that the product is damaged during handling or shipment.

Check if the product you’re buying has a “No Returns” label. If so, turn your back on it. Reputable retailers always offer returns and uninterruptible customer support.

Step 7 — Test Whether It Has Any Benefits

via @shamshimalayansalt

The latter should be treated with caution. Because not everyone will experience real improvements in the health of their salt lamps, and even if they don’t, everyone will notice them immediately. So watch out for judging the authenticity of your lamp with this measuring stick.

However, most people would have to notice a difference within 2 weeks after obtaining their salt lamp. While your lamp was a suitable size for your space, you will spot cleaner air, lower moisture levels, and so on.

If you don’t feel any difference, then you can check again using the top 7 points of this list if your salt lamp is genuine or not.

Avoid the hassle of buying a fake Himalayan salt lamp. Learn more about its origins and test it before you bring it home. As well, make sure you review the manufacturer’s return policies.

If you’ve already bought one, pay attention to the operation of the lamp. You should at least be able to notice certain changes and improve your well-being after 2 weeks of usage.

The key to finding the true and false salt lamps of the Himalayas is to be well-informed. Don’t be afraid to request a replacement just as you see the signs above.