Here is how to use wax melts: drop a couple of cubes into a warmer, switch it on, and let the wax melt into a scented pool. That is the whole idea, but a few details make the scent stronger and the cleanup easier.
What are wax melts?
Wax melts are small pieces of scented wax made for a warmer. Unlike a candle, they have no wick. The warmer heats the wax gently, the fragrance rises from the melted pool, and nothing burns. Curious about what goes into them? Read are wax melts toxic?
How to use wax melts, step by step
- Set the warmer on a flat, heat-safe surface, away from curtains and out of reach of kids and pets.
- Drop two cubes into the dish. Use three for a larger or open space.
- Switch on an electric warmer, or light an unscented tea light under the dish.
- Give it time. The scent builds as the wax turns to liquid.
- When the scent fades, swap in a few fresh cubes.
Using melt cups
Melt cups are pre-portioned and sealed, so there is nothing to break or measure. Peel back the lid, turn the cup over the warmer dish, and press the bottom with your thumb to pop the wax out.
Electric or tea-light warmer?
An electric warmer heats the dish with a bulb or a heating plate. There is no flame, and the heat stays steady. A tea-light warmer uses a small candle under the dish. It works anywhere, with no outlet needed, but it is an open flame, so never leave it unattended.
How long can you leave a wax warmer on?
Follow the instructions that came with your warmer. As a rule, turn it off when you leave the house or go to bed. A few hours at a time is plenty to scent a room, and the wax will be ready to melt again tomorrow.
When to change the wax
Wax does not evaporate, but fragrance does. Over several sessions the scent gets softer while the wax stays in the dish. When you can no longer smell it, what is left is plain wax. To remove it, warm the dish for a minute so the edges soften and wipe the wax out with a paper towel. If your dish is removable and the instructions allow it, you can also freeze it briefly and pop the wax out in one piece. Here is how long wax melts last, and how to clean a wax warmer step by step.
How to use wax melts without a warmer
Any gentle, low heat works. A candle warmer plate or candle warmer lamp will melt wax, and so will a heat-safe dish set over a pot of simmering water on the stove. Stay with it while it is on the stove. Never put wax over a direct flame or in the microwave, where it can overheat.
Mix your own blend
Two different cubes in one dish make a scent of your own. Pair a vanilla with one of our bakery wax melts, or brighten a fresh scent with something from the fruity range. Start with one cube of each and adjust from there.
Wax melts and pets
Cats and birds are more sensitive to fragrance than people are. Keep the warmer out of their reach, and read our guide to wax melts and pet safety before choosing a scent.
Where to start
New to wax melts? Try a few scents in a 2-pack or a 3-pack, or go mess-free with sealed melt cups. When you find a favorite, the full range of soy wax melts is waiting.
Questions people ask
Two cubes scent an average room. Use three for a larger or open space. Start with fewer if you are sensitive to fragrance.
Check your warmer’s instructions first. As a rule, turn it off when you leave the house or go to bed, and give it a rest after several hours of use.
The wax does not. The fragrance does, a little at a time, which is why the scent fades while the wax stays in the dish.
Yes, until the scent runs out. Let the wax cool, then warm it again another day. When you can no longer smell it, replace it with fresh cubes.
Turn the warmer on for a minute so the edges soften, then wipe the wax out with a paper towel. Or, if your warmer’s dish is removable and the instructions allow it, freeze the dish briefly and pop the wax out in one piece.