Wax Melts 101

Are you clueless about wax melts? Have you ever had a desire to try one?  I really love candles, but I know a lot of people who love the ease of the wax melt. They are very reasonable priced and there are so many different scented wax melts. For those of you who are new to the scene of wax melts, let me answer a few questions and please feel free to send in your questions and comments. We love hearing from you!  

How do I get the fragrance to smell stronger?

You can always add more melts to your burner to increase the strength, but many fragrances come in a highly concentrated home oil. Using the same fragrance oil, simply add some home oil by starting with the recommended amount noted on the bottle. Read the directions as oil concentration varies by brand.

1. Be sure to weigh your fragrance oils on a scale, not measure in a cup or spoon. Some oils come in a bottle with a dropper which makes it easy to add a few drops at a time.
2. Add fragrance oil as the wax begins to melt and stir gently and thoroughly.
3. We recommend swapping out wax melts whenever you can no longer smell the fragrance when the warmer is 'on'. For some cheaper wax melts, this can be as often as every 5-8 hours of burn time. For luxury, high-end melts, your wax melts can hold up to 20 hours of fragrance.

Wax melts are reusable as long as they still emit the scent. Old bits that have previously burnt can give a wonderful fragrance when melted and re-used. However, the smell gets weaker the more you use it until it completely fades. You can still reuse the wax and add new cubes to keep the fragrance going.

 Do wax melts lose their scent?

Over time wax melts will lose their scent. So the answer is yes, then you know it is time to change out your wax melts.

Are wax melts safe for my pets?

Generally speaking, wax melts are non-toxic for dogs. However, they can burn those little noses. Unfortunately, some essential oils are known to cause poisoning in cats. Some of these include the oil of wintergreen, cinnamon, pennyroyal, sweet birch, citrus, pine, peppermint, clove, eucalyptus, and tea tree. Bottom line is keep your cat away!

Why is my wax melt smoking?

It is not real smoke like from a fire. It is in fact vapour, and is basically the fragrance oil evaporating. You will see it more with some fragrances than others and is nothing to be concerned about. The warmer unit will not start a fire, but it should not be left on when no one is in the room. Some warmer units also have a safety feature and cut off after so many hours. Nice for people like me that forget to turn the unit off.

 Can you use a wax melts without a burner?

You can melt the cubes in a microwave. Be careful it can cause a mess, but will emit the scent. You can also use a double boiler and heat on low to melt the wax. However, I recommend some type of wax melt burner, either powered by a tealight or electric. Easier to use and clean up.

 Related Post: Wax Melts Hacks