How to Use Wax Melts

When it comes to home fragrances, most people think of candles, incense or reed sticks as the perfect way to leave a lasting fragrance.

However, did you know there’s an emerging alternative that’s growing in popularity?

Wax melts are little blocks of fragranced wax, have gained a huge following and are becoming increasingly popular.

Chapters

1. What Are Wax Melts?
2. How Wax Melts Work
3. Paraffin vs Soy Wax Melts
4. Wax Melts vs Candles
5. Why Wax Melts Are So Popular
6. How to Use Wax Melts
7. Choose Your Wax Melt
8. Start Off the Melting
9. Enjoy the Fragrance
10. Cleaning Up
11. Conclusion

What Are Wax Melts?

Wax melts are pieces of wax that are made in various shapes, colours and sizes, which are heated using a warmer to release their fragrance.

They’re also sometimes referred to as wax tarts, and some people also call them wick-less candles.

Wax melts can be broken up into pieces, so you can choose any size portion they wish, making them very convenient to use.

The wax is scented and there are numerous fragrances that you can choose from.

Unlike candles, wax melts do not have a wick, so you do not light them as you would a traditional candle.

However, once warmed up sufficiently, the fragrance from wax melts is considered much stronger than candles.

Instead, they are warmed up using a wax warmer or wax burner.

There are wax warmers that use tea-light candles, and some models are electric or battery operated.

How Wax Melts Work

Wax melts come in a block form, generally similar to a bar of chocolate.

You basically break off one or more cubes and place them on a wax burner.

Then pop an unscented tea-light underneath to start melting the wax and let the magic happen!

Over time with the warmth, the wax will start melting slowly and release the fragrance.

Paraffin vs Soy Wax Melts

Most wax melts are made from either paraffin or soy wax.

The latter is considered far better since soy wax is natural and free from dyes or toxic chemicals.

Soy wax melts are in fact made from the humble soybean plant, whilst paraffin wax melts should be avoided as they are ultimately a petroleum by-product and considered unhealthy.

Soy wax melts also burn in a cleaner way than paraffin wax melts, with a far stronger and longer lasting fragrance.

So the choice is fairly easy when it comes to choosing which types of wax melts to buy.

Wax Melts vs Candles

Wax melts have various benefits when compared to candles.

First of all, there is no need to have a burning flame, especially if you’re going to use an electric warmer so this is considered safer if you have children or pets around.

Secondly, wax melts are far more portable and require far less storage space.

It's also worth mentioning that if you like to experiment a little, wax melts will allow you to be a lot more creative than candles.

You can mix and match different wax melt pieces to create your own custom fragrances.

You can make the aroma as subtle or as strong as you like, simply by using portion control.

Another key advantage of wax melts is they are more cost efficient as there’s no waste, whilst candles will always leave a small layer of unused wax when finished with.

Why Wax Melts Are So Popular

Considering all the advantages noted above, it’s perfectly understandable why wax melts are gaining such a following.

They are more practical, super convenient, really good fun and very safe to use.

Not to mention the fact they are very affordable and great for all kinds of budget.

They’re also a cost-efficient way to test out new fragrances before purchasing more expensive scented candles and you can try out different blends before choosing your favourite.

How to Use Wax Melts

If you’ve never used wax melts before, you may not be quite sure how to go about it.

The following simple guide will help you get started:

Choose Your Wax Melt

As noted earlier, there are various kinds of wax melts you can choose from.

They vary in shape, size, colour as well as the type of wax used.

Depending on the amount of fragrance you would like to have, break off cubes from the wax melt.

It may be best to start off with just one cube and use a little bit of trial and error.

Then if you decide you want a stronger fragrance, simply pop another melt cube on the wax warmer.

If using more than one wax melt, ensure your burner's dish is big enough so that the melted wax doesn’t overflow!

Start Off the Melting

Place the wax cubes onto the burner.

This will have a small dish shaped bowl on the top.

Now all you have to do is either switch on your warmer, or if you’re using a wax melt burner, pop an unscented tea-light underneath and light the candle to start the warming process.

Enjoy the Fragrance

From now on you can simply sit back and relax as you take in the pleasant fragrance from your melting wax, relieving all your stresses and worries.

Generally a cube of wax takes around 8 hours to completely melt away.

In case you are using a tea-light candle, you may need to replace it after around 4 hours as it will burn out before that time.

If you’re using an electric warmer, it may have a built in timer.

In case it doesn’t, you could purchase a simple twist timer to remind yourself to turn it off afterwards.

Wax melts are practical as you can simply decide to switch off the burner or blow out the tea-light candle at any time.

The wax left on the burner will simply harden and be ready for use another time, so there's no waste.

Cleaning Up

It's important to clean your wax burner after use.

Always ensure that it has cooled down sufficiently enough before touching it.

The wax may have melted down completely and you can simply soak up any remaining liquid wax with some cotton wool.

An easier way is to wait until the wax has cooled down completely and then pop it out with the end of a spoon and it should pop out like an ice cube.

In any case it is always recommended to wipe the burner dish down with a damp cloth or with a paper towel.

Conclusion

Wax melts are undeniably a great alternative to candles.

They are gaining popularity as they offer several advantages, so if you love to create unique aromas in your home you should definitely check them out in our shop!