Have you been interested in using aromatherapy to enhance your home but also unsure about using incense sticks or scented candles because of the risks associated with them? The idea of home fragrance isn’t new, and - fortunately - it’s never too late to try it out for yourself. 

If you want a beginner-friendly way to add scents to your home environment, you can’t go wrong with a wax warmer. Here’s what you need to know about it and why it’s a great choice.

What are wax warmers and how do they work?

As you may have guessed, a wax warmer is an alternative to scented candles, reed diffusers, and incense sticks. Depending on the model, they can be less of a fire hazard than candles, which is great for those who love scented candles but want to avoid the associated risks.  

To use a wax warmer, you need to place a wax melt or two of your chosen scent in a recess; this is usually found at the top of the warmer for easier accessibility. As the scented wax softens and eventually melts, it releases the fragrance. 

All wax warmers need a heat source to operate properly. Some need a tealight candle to melt the wax you use with it, so if you don’t want to bring a potential fire hazard into your home, limit your search to electric wax warmers. 

Are wax warmers and candle warmers the same? 

You may have heard “wax warmer” and “candle warmer” used interchangeably, and if so, it’s understandable to question whether or not they’re the same thing. 

As mentioned above, wax warmers are used to heat and eventually melt smaller pieces of scented wax. Candle warmers, on the other hand, are used to warm the bigger, more traditional candles but without lighting the wick. So while not the same thing as wax warmers, they’re also a safer alternative. 

Unfortunately, a scented candle will lose its scent after some time after it’s been used in this way, so it can only be used as a regular candle from then on. 

What can you use with a wax warmer? 

Different wax warmers use different wax melts or wax tarts. These are small cakes, squares, or balls of wax that are similar to scented candles, just without wicks. Some melts are made of the same wax as candles; others may use a different kind of wax.

Knowing that, it’s important that you look into the warmers you want to purchase and see if they require a specific size wax melt, or one that’s made of a specific material. You wouldn’t want to buy a pack of wax tarts or melts only to find you can’t use them with your warmer, right? 

How long do wax melts last? 

How long you can use a wax melt will last will depend on its size and structure. In general, a bigger wax melt will last longer; maybe it will last a full day instead of just a portion of it. Some wax warmers and their respective melts will even let you reuse the melted wax and it will still release some fragrance, though they may not be as potent as with the first use.

Cleaning wax warmers

Wax warmers are usually easy to clean, making them easy to maintain so they can keep working properly. Cleaning usually means removing the heat source, then removing the cooled, hardened wax. Most people do this using a plastic knife, which is a great way to remove the wax without scratching the warmer. 

You can also use cotton balls to absorb excess wax; just make sure the wax is warm, not hot, so you don’t burn yourself. 

Given all of the above, it’s clear that a wax warmer is easier to use and relatively low-maintenance, making one a safer alternative for households with kids, especially if the warmer is electric. Just make sure to keep it out of reach of children, so there are no accidents involving hot wax.