Wax melts are one of the easiest ways to fill your home with fragrance, and you never have to light a match. If you have picked up a pack and are not quite sure what to do next, you are in the right place. Here is a simple, beginner friendly guide on how to use wax melts, from setting up your warmer to swapping in a fresh scent.
What are wax melts?
Wax melts are small, scented cubes of wax with no wick and no flame. Instead of burning, they melt slowly in a warmer, and the gentle heat releases their fragrance into the room. Ours are hand-poured soy, the same wax and phthalate-free fragrance we use in our candles, just in a flameless format.
Because there is no open flame, wax melts are a favorite for spaces where a lit candle is not ideal, like a dorm room, an office, or a home with curious kids and pets. They are also a low commitment way to try new scents without buying a full candle.
What you need to get started
You only need two things to start using wax melts: a warmer and your melts.
A wax warmer is a small dish that gently heats the wax. There are two common types. Electric warmers use a hidden heating plate or a warming bulb, so you just plug them in and switch them on. Tealight warmers use a small tealight candle underneath the dish to melt the wax from below. Either works well, so pick whichever fits your space and your style.
For the melts themselves, start with a scent you already know you love. Our Classic Wax Melts collection is a great place to browse everyday, year-round fragrances. If you like something soft and calming, the Lavender Breeze soy wax melts, with lavender, citrus and powder, make a relaxing first pick.
How to use wax melts, step by step
Once you have your warmer and your melts, the process could not be simpler.
- Break off one or two cubes from the pack. You can always add more later if you want a stronger scent.
- Place the cubes in the warmer's dish. Never add water or oil, just the wax.
- Turn on your electric warmer, or light the tealight underneath a tealight warmer.
- Wait a few minutes. As the wax melts into a small pool, the fragrance starts to drift through the room.
- Enjoy, then switch the warmer off when you are done. You do not need to remove the wax between sessions.
The same cubes will keep scenting your space over several sessions. When you want a clean, invigorating scent for a work-from-home day, try the Peace of Mind soy wax melts in mint, verbena and eucalyptus.
How to change your wax melts
Wax melts do not burn away like a candle. Instead, the wax stays in the dish and slowly loses its fragrance. Once you notice the scent has faded, it is time to swap in something new. Here are three easy ways to remove the old wax.
- Warm and pour: turn the warmer on for a minute or two to soften the wax, switch it off, then slide the softened wax onto a paper towel and wipe the dish clean.
- Cotton ball method: while the wax is still liquid, set a cotton ball or two in the pool and let them soak up the wax, then lift them out and toss them.
- Freeze and pop: for a fully cooled dish, pop it in the freezer for a few minutes. The hardened wax shrinks and lifts out with a gentle press.
With a fresh, clean dish, you are ready for your next scent. Heading into fall, the Orchard Stroll soy wax melts, with apple, cinnamon and cedar, bring cozy autumn orchard vibes to any room.
Wax melt safety tips
Wax melts are low maintenance, but a few simple habits keep everything safe and mess free.
- Always use a warmer made specifically for wax melts, and set it on a flat, heat-safe surface.
- Do not overfill the dish. One or two cubes is plenty, and more just risks overflow.
- Never add water to the wax, and never leave a lit tealight warmer unattended.
- Keep warmers out of reach of children and pets, since the melted wax and the dish get hot.
- Let the dish cool completely before you handle or clean it.
Wax melt scents to try this fall
Half the fun of wax melts is rotating scents with your mood and the season. Since there is no flame, you can move a warmer from the kitchen to the bedroom and back without a second thought. For a warm, local nod to our Holland, Michigan home, the Big Red Lighthouse soy wax melts pair spiced orange with sea salt and driftwood for a scent that feels like a crisp lakeshore afternoon.
If you want to lean fully into autumn, we rounded up our coziest seasonal picks in our guide to fall wax melts for the season. It is a quick way to find your next warm and comforting fragrance.
Ready to warm up your space?
That is really all there is to it. Pick a warmer, add a cube or two, and let the scent do the rest. When you are ready to build your collection, browse our Classic Wax Melts collection and find a few fragrances to keep in rotation all year long. Happy melting.
