After reading reviews I wasn't expecting much, but my wife wanted one for a Halloween prop she wants to make. It came fast and in a box that protected it well on its journey from wherever to here. When I took it out of the box my expectations were even lower. I got a bowl like you would have cereal or soup out of and took it to the garage and set it on the bench. I put the little umbrella shaped shield on it, set it in the bowl and filled until the water was a 1/2 inch over the top of the metal cylinder. Still not expecting much, I plugged it in. Immediately the water started to bubble from the top of the cylinder and within seconds a fog rolling over the sides of the bowl and across the bench, off the edge of the bench and and fairly quickly condensed/dissipated as it got about a foot below the top of the bench. Is it a fog machine? No it isn't, not by any stretch of imagination. But it is a useful little device to create a fun display for about any party or occasion. One thing to keep in mind, the mist is heavy so as it is generated it wants to go down and spread out across any surface, like a bench or table. Again, the mist doesn't climb far after it leaves the generator so you don't want it to set down inside a deep cauldron unless you want to contain the effect mostly inside. We have a big cast iron pot and found a round plastic party platter that would set just a few inches below the top of the pot where it wedged against the sides. The same bowl I used in the garage works well sitting on the platter and the effect of the fog rolling over the side of the pot is great. I will look for a bowl or something with a larger diameter. The device works best with a 1/2 inch of water over the generator. To much water and it's not as effective, not enough and the generator will run hot. A larger diameter container will keep the depth optimal longer as the water vapor flows away. The lights are neat, but I wish there was a switch to turn them off for a different effect, but for 13.99 it's great. Keep in mind that as the vapor condenses back to water it will create a wet area. Also, windy conditions may have a negative effect on the fun.