Everyone loves a nice smelling home, but not everyone likes an open flame. If you’re looking for a way to release a scent in your home that doesn’t require lighting a wick, allow us to introduce you to wax melts! Wax melts are home devices that use a warmer to melt scented wax cubes to release a fragrance into the air – similar to candles, but minus the flame. Curious to know more about wax melts and how to use them? Keep reading to learn all there is to know about these candle substitutes.

What Is a Wax Melt?

A wax melt is a home device that uses a wax warmer to melt scented wax cubes to release a fragrance into the air. Unlike candles, a wax melt does not have a wick or require a flame to heat and release the chosen scent, since the warmer is turned on via electricity or batteries.

Wax melt warmers come in a variety of shapes, designs, and colors to add decor to your home. Some wax warmers are designed to sit on the table and look like a bowl, while others operate as wall plug-ins. There are even some wax melts that look like candles themselves and rely on batteries to work.

Most wax warmers need to be plugged into a nearby outlet in order for their switch or button to work. While some wax warmers stay on until you turn off the device or unplug it, some contain a setting that will keep the warmer on for a certain amount of time before automatically turning off. With these features, you can turn the device on to enjoy a nice fragrance without worrying about remembering to shut it off.

How to Use a Wax Melt

Using a wax melt warmer is very simple. To start, sit your wax warmer on a table or counter if it works via a plug-in cord, or insert it into an outlet if it’s an outlet plug. Add one scented wax cube of your chosen fragrance to the burner of your warmer before turning the device on – that’s it! Your wax cubes will slowly start to melt and release their fragrance until you’re ready to turn the warmer off or until it shuts off on its own. When your device shuts off, your wax will harden back up until the next use.

How Long Do Wax Melts Last?

One of the many benefits of using a wax melt is that it’s a long-lasting way to diffuse scent in your home. Scented wax cubes typically have 8 to 12 hours of melting time per cube.

You can reuse the melted cube that’s left in the warmer until you no longer smell the chosen scent. Whereas candles have wax that evaporates over time, wax melt warmers don’t. The wax stays in the burner – the scent is the only thing that will evaporate over time. Once it’s gone, it’s time for a new wax cube!

Tip!

No longer smell your scent? Cleaning up finished wax melts is a breeze with just three cotton balls. Simply turn your wax warmer off before placing three cotton balls in the burner to absorb the melted liquid. Leave the cotton balls on the burner for one to two minutes before discarding them.

Wax Melts vs. Candles: Which One Is Better?

When it comes to the wax melt vs. candle debate, the better option comes down to preference. The biggest difference between a wax melt and a candle is that a candle consists of an open flame, whereas a wax melt does not. The same scents typically available for candles are also offered for wax melts. Both candles and wax melts are wonderful for providing a refreshing smell in your home, but if you’re looking for an option that’s safer due to the lack of flames, wax melts are your best bet.

One difference between a wax melt and a candle is that wax melts tend to have slightly stronger scents. The high temperatures from the heat of a wax warmer melts the whole wax cube, which allows for a more even distribution of fragrance compared to a candle, which releases fragrance oil from the wax through the wick. When the wick is lit, it uses oxygen to pull the oil from the melting wax up the wick to release the fragrance into the air via the flame.

Ambiance is another factor in the wax melt vs. candle debate that’s related to preference. Homeowners love the coziness and warmth the flame of a candle exudes, whereas wax melt warmers typically only have the decorative flair of the outer frame.

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Now that we’ve answered “what is a wax melt”, it’s time to fragrance your home!