The present invention generally relates to volatile substance evaporators having a container with wick, and has the object of providing a technique for effectively detecting end-of-life of the volatile substance housed within the container. The volatile substance evaporator is configured for coupling to, and maintaining in a stable position, a container of volatile substance having a wick with a lower end housed within said container and an upper end emerging from the container. The evaporator comprises an infrared light emitter disposed so as to emit a beam of light on said upper end of the wick, in such a manner that a receptor is disposed so as to capture said beam of light reflected by the upper end of the wick.
