Device and method for dispensing volatile substances, in particular fragrances and/or active substances, and heater

A method for operating a device for dispensing volatile substances, which comprises the steps of:

• accommodating in at least one container a substance to be dispensed, the container having a wick, projecting out of the container with a free wick end and by means of the free wick end the substance to be dispensed is conveyed out of the container into a region of the free wick end;
• and
• coupling an electrical heating device, which has a heater with a heater wick recess, to an electrical power source for heating the heater, wherein the heater wick recess has a heater inlet opening and a heater outlet opening, wherein the free wick end projects at least partially into the heater wick recess such that an air gap running annularly around the free wick end forms a heater air flow channel, along which an air flow flowing in via the heater inlet opening flows, enriched with the substance emitted by the free wick end, to the heater outlet opening and flows out there as an air flow enriched with substance, the heater being formed by a cylindrical heater tube made of a metal or a metal alloy, wherein an outer side of the cylindrical heater tube, facing away from the free wick end, and/or an inner side of the cylindrical heater tube, facing the free wick end, is at least partially provided with at least one electrically conductive structure that emits heat when energized, thereby heating the cylindrical heater tube, so that the heater tube radiates at least some of the heat in a direction of the free wick end.