Wax melts are a great way to enjoy home fragrance. They work much like candles, releasing scent as the wax warms, but many people prefer them for their simplicity and flexibility. Here at Essence of Harris, we think they’re something everybody should try around their home.
So, whether you’re new to wax melts, or you want some tips on how best to use them, this guide is for you. We will walk you through everything you need to know; from choosing the right accessories, to understanding how to use wax melts properly, and we’ve even included some handy safety tips that will help you enjoy wax melts with confidence. Let’s get into it…
What are wax melts?
Much as the name implies, wax melts are small portions of wax that are designed to melt when heated (unlike candles, which burn off the wax through the wick).
Because the wax is melted rather than burned, they’re a practical and often safer option for homes with children or pets. When paired with an electric burner, they offer a completely flameless way to scent your space.
Wax melts also make it easy to experiment with fragrance and switch things up more often. Most wax melts, including Essence of Harris Wax Melts, come in bars with small cubes that you break off and burn a few at a time. This lets you rotate scents whenever you like, giving you more variety without the commitment of a full candle.
Overall, whether you’ve chosen a tealight or electric wax burner, wax melts help create a cosy atmosphere in your home. They emit the strong scent you'd expect from traditional candles, but give you more control over how long and how often you refresh your space.
Want to learn more? Check out The Ultimate Guide to Buying Wax Melts…
Using wax melts: a guide
If you’ve never used wax melts before, the setup might look unfamiliar. But, the process is straightforward once you understand the basics. The right burner, the right tealight, and a little attention to placement all play a part in how well your melts perform.
Below, we’ll walk you through the essentials, from choosing your accessories to understanding how the heat source changes the fragrance experience. The aim is to keep things simple, while helping you get the best possible scent throw and consistent results every time you use your burner.
Get the right accessories
Before you dive right in, it helps to understand the different components and how each one affects your experience with wax melts.
Wax type
Let’s start with the wax itself. Not all wax melts are made from the same wax, and each type has its own qualities. Soy wax is a great option, and it’s our personal favourite. All Essence of Harris wax melts are made with natural soy wax. Why?
- Soy wax is renewable.
- Soy wax melts cleanly.
- Soy wax gives a strong scent throw.
- Using soy wax avoids the sooting you sometimes see with paraffin blends.
Paraffin wax is another common choice. It’s often cheaper and can deliver a strong scent throw, but it’s derived from petroleum and can release nasty chemicals into the atmosphere – as well as producing more soot than other wax options.
Beeswax is loved for its natural origin and subtle honey-like aroma, but it’s usually more expensive. It also has a milder scent throw, which makes it less popular for fragranced wax melts.
Interestingly, coconut and rapeseed blends are becoming more common too. They’re smooth, clean-burning, and more sustainable than paraffin, although they’re often blended with other waxes to improve performance.
Choice of wax melt burner
Your choice of burner also shapes how your melts perform. Tealight burners use a small tealight candle to heat the dish quickly, giving you a fast fragrance release and a warm cosy glow.
Top Tip: if you prefer this style, make sure you use unscented tealights. Scented tealights can burn hotter and interfere with the fragrance of your melt.
Electric burners offer a slower, steadier melt and the added benefit of being completely flameless (which is a bonus in homes with children or pets). They tend to release scent more gently, but they’re still an excellent choice, and often double as a stylish piece of decor.
Both options work well and suit different preferences, but for a strong, fast scent release and a cosy comforting atmosphere, soy wax melts, paired with a good tealight burner remains our favourite combination.
Looking for a new tealight burner? We’ve got you covered – check out our stylish Wax Melt Burner today…
Wax melt instructions
Using wax melts is simple and beginner friendly. Follow these seven easy steps to help you get the best scent and a clean, safe melt every time.
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Choose your burner and pick the right spot
Place your burner on a flat, heat-resistant surface away from draughts, curtains, and anything that could be knocked over. A stable surface helps the wax melt evenly and reduces the chance of spills.
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Make sure the dish is clean
If there’s leftover wax from a previous use, remove it before adding anything new. Old wax won’t release fragrance, and mixing scents can muddy the aroma. Most burner dishes are shallow and designed to hold only one or two cubes, so starting with an empty dish also helps to prevent overflow.
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Add your wax melts
Break off one or two cubes of your chosen scent and place them in the dish of the burner. Remember, you can always add more, but overfilling the dish can cause spills once the wax melts.
Top Tip: the more cubes you add, the more intense the scent.
Depending on your mood, why not choose from some of our best-sellers? We love
- Horgabost Wax Melts: a zingy, refreshing blend of lemongrass, lemon, and ginger, this is perfect for a home office to get you in the zone.
- Seilebost Wax Melts: warm and inviting, have a cosy night in with this rich black pomegranate and plum scent blend.
- Losgaintir Wax Melts: make your bathroom feel like an oasis with the soothing scents of coconut, bergamot, and vanilla.
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Light your tealight or switch on your burner
For tealight burners, pop an unscented tealight into the base and light it. If you’re using an electric burner, simply switch it on and let it warm gradually.
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Let the wax melt and enjoy the scent
As the wax warms it releases fragrance into your home. Most tealights burn for around four hours, which is an ideal fragrance session. Each cube of our wax melts delivers around four hours of scent, so the timing lines up perfectly.
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Switch off or extinguish when you’re finished
This step is essential. Always blow out the tealight or turn off the electric burner once you’ve finished, and allow the wax to cool and solidify fully. The dish will be hot, so give it time to cool before handling it.
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Remove the wax safely
Once the wax is cool, it should pop out in a single piece. If not, warm the dish slightly and wipe it clean with kitchen roll or cotton pads to absorb the softened wax. Remember, always throw used wax in the bin: never pour melted wax down the sink, as it will solidify in your pipes.
Once the dish is clean, wipe it down and your burner will be ready for next time. It’s really that easy!
Our safety tips
Now you know how to use our wax melt bars, here are a few safety tips to keep in mind:
- Never leave a burner unattended while in use.
- Keep burners on a flat, stable and heat-resistant surface.
- Unplug electric burners when not in use.
- Choose a burner with a safe gap between the tealight and the dish. Not all burners are made to the same standard, and a gap that’s too small can cause overheating or cracked dishes.
- Keep burners away from curtains, soft furnishings, and draughts.
- Let the wax and burner cool fully before touching or cleaning.
Wax melts for every mood at Essence of Harris
Wax melts are an easy way to bring beautiful fragrance into your home, and once you’ve got the basics down they’re simple to use. With the right burner, a scent you love and a few safety tips, you’ll get a reliable, long-lasting scent experience every time.
If you’re ready to try something new, explore our Wax Melt Bar Collection and find a scent that suits your space. And if you’d like to learn a little more before making your choice, you might enjoy these guides…
Our Top Tips for Winter Self-Care | Understanding Our Scent Collection: A Home Fragrance Guide | Transforming Your Home with Scent Layering
