WAX MELTS vs. CANDLES

​

​

Wax Melts May Have More Burn Time Than Candles

Many factors can affect both the average burn time of candles and the average burn time of wax melts. The type of wax, amount of fragrance oil, and size of candle or wax melt can all affect the average burn time. Wax melts are more solidly aromatic than traditional candles, because they absorb heat more slowly and release aromas without burning the oils. This allows the wax to continue releasing scent without the fragrance evaporating quickly. The opposite happens when you burn a candle. Heat from the flame keeps the wax at a higher temperature causing a faster release of fragrance into the air. 

 

  

Wax Melts Are Cheaper Than Candles  

There are a few reasons why wax melts are cheaper than candles: more burn time, less waste, more fragrance oil. With wax melts you get almost 5x the burn time per ounce that you do with a normal candle. 

 

 

Wax Melts Are Flame-Free 

The National Fire Protection Association estimated that from 2009–2013, fires related to candles caused an estimated $374 million in direct property damage. Decorative candles are cute, but the exposed flame poses a risk for catching something else on fire by accident. While candles require flame, wax melt warmers only require electricity. With children (or clumsy adults), and animals, you have to get more creative to find safer variations of the same practice. Cue wax melting: wax melts are warmed via an electric wax melt warmer usually containing a small 15-watt light bulb or a warming plate. The light bulb or heating element in the plate is just enough heat to warm the wax melts releasing the scent in as little as 5 minutes.

​

 

Soy Based Wax Melts Don’t Release Chemicals 

Some candles may emit harmful chemicals and pollutants, which can aggravate asthma, allergies, and have even been linked to cancer. Some candles can also release potentially hazardous chemicals such as benzene and toluene, which can cause damage to the brain, lungs, and central nervous system. Paraffin is the major ingredient in most conventional candles and is a sludge waste product from the petroleum industry. It releases carcinogenic chemicals when burned. The fumes are similar to the fumes released from a diesel engine and can be as dangerous as second-hand cigarette smoke. In addition, many scented candles also have wicks that contain heavy metals like lead, and even a few hours of burning them can create airborne heavy metals that are much higher than the acceptable limits. In the US, candle wicks are supposed to be made of cotton or paper, but studies have found that as much as 30% of candle wicks contain heavy metals. 

​

 

Wax Melts Are More Convenient Than Candles 

Wax melts and wax melt warmers are more acceptable to use in the workplace, apartments, churches, dorms, and other places where customary candles and their flames could cause difficulty. Wax melting is also highly revered by parents who are wary of small children being around flames. They are convenient, because there is no requirement for a lighter or matches, and the wax melts themselves are compact and usually come in a packed box or bag for storage. When you want your space to smell amazing for long periods of time, drop a wax melt into the wax melt warmer and forget about it!

The fragrance of one wax melt can last anywhere from 48 hours to a week or more with the warmer being left on 24/7.

 

 

Control Your Scent with Wax Melts  

You can manage the strength of your fragrance with wax melts because they come in small sizes and shapes that you can break apart or add more of depending on your scent sensitivity. Another benefit of wax melts over candles is that you can blend your wax melts  to produce new fragrances. To do this, you need to make sure the sizes of the melts you break off are the same (depending on which scent you want stronger), and simply place them into your wax warmer at the same time. 

​

 

Wax Melts May Contain More Fragrance Load Than Candles 

A common question customers have is, "Are wax melts stronger than candles?" The answer for our melts is YES!

We used to make candles too and we used a much lower percentage of fragrance in our candles than we do in our melts and this is because candles can only hold a specific max percentage of fragrance without causing burning and wick issues.  Because melts don't have a wick we can really increase the percentage of fragrance which is one reason our melts are so very popular. They are very fragrant. 

 

​

Wax Melts Are Better for the Environment!

Did you know that glass is actually one of the longest-lasting man-made materials? The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services estimates that it takes a glass bottle 1 million years to decompose! If you buy at least one 16-oz candle a month, in a year you could be contributing an extra 12 lbs. of waste to our nation's landfills just in candle jars alone! As many as 28 billion glass containers are discarded in our nation’s landfills each year. Some experts suggest that this glass refuse will remain indefinitely. The first step to minimizing glass waste in our nation’s landfills is to reduce our purchase of glass beyond what is truly needed. Wax melt warmers are extremely durable, with one wax melt warmer lasting years with proper care. If you opt for wax melt warmers instead of traditional candle jars, you could contribute to saving the environment 48 lbs of trash.

 

 

Wax Melting Is Fun!

Wax melting can be such a fun way to introduce kids to science! And coming from a mom that homeschooled all three of her kids, it can be a cool way to demonstrate to young learners the states of matter. Let them play with melts while showing them how heat changes the solid to liquid  and then hardens as it cools!

 

Wax melting can also be fun for adults looking to indulge in aromatherapy or appreciate the scents that wax melts come in.