How to Use Wax Melts
Wax melts offer fragrances similar to scented candles, without a wick and potentially without a flame. Wax melts release fragrance as they get warm and begin to melt. The heat source may be a light bulb, electricity or a tealight candle, depending on the type of receptacle used to warm the wax in your wax tart warmer.
Some warmers require wax melts or tarts of a specific size, so be sure to check the device before purchasing scented wax melts.
Things You Will Need
- Wax tart warmer
- Paper towels
- Wax melts
- Tealight candle (optional)
- Lighter or match (optional)
- Plastic knife
Tip
For a mixed scent blend, use wax melts of two different fragrances at the same time, such as orange and vanilla. The melts will mix and harden together as a blended fragrance, if you choose to reuse them. To remove wax from a bowl-style wax warmer, allow the wax to harden and pry the hardened wax out gently with a plastic knife. If only a small amount of wax is in the warmer bowl, wipe it out before it solidifies completely with a paper towel, without touching the wax with your fingers.
Warning
Use only tealight candles with a candle-powered wax warmer, even if a votive fits into the space. A votive is significantly taller, which means the flame is closer to the bowl and may crack it due to excessive heat, or it may pose a fire hazard.
Do not use bowl-style wax warmers around young children or pets that may be tempted to touch the molten wax or the hot warmer.
Flame-Powered Tart Warmers
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Inspect the bowl portion of the wax warmer and wipe it out with a paper towel to remove dust. Set the bowl atop the burner base, if the pieces are separate. If the bowl is cracked or has any holes in it, it is not safe, and the warmer should be replaced.
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Place a wax melt inside the bowl of the warmer. If the melts are small and the warmer's bowl is comparatively large, add another melt of the same fragrance.
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Light the wick of a tealight candle and place it in the warmer in the area beneath the bowl.
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Blow out the wick on the tealight candle when you are finished using the warmer.
Electric Tart Warmers
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Place a wax melt or tart in the bowl portion of a bowl-style electric warmer or slide a wax melt into the wax chamber of a tiny nightlight-style burner.The design varies based on brand, but some brands require melts specific to one style of warmer. Any warmer with a bowl on top fits a vast selection of wax melts.
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Plug the electric wax warmer into a wall outlet. Flip the switch on the warmer to turn it on; many of these feature a light bulb so it is easy to tell when the warmer is on.
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Turn the wax warmer off when you are finished using it and unplug it. If the bowl-style warmer is as small as a nightlight and rests against the outlet, allow the wax to harden before removing the device from the outlet to avoid spilling the wax. Remove hardened wax from the bowl once the wax cools by prying it out with a plastic knife, or leave it in the bowl if you wish to reuse it.
The Drip Cap
- Wax melts offer fragrances similar to scented candles, without a wick and potentially without a flame.
- Some warmers require wax melts or tarts of a specific size, so be sure to check the device before purchasing scented wax melts.
- Place a wax melt inside the bowl of the warmer.
Resources
Writer Bio
Kathy Adams is an award-winning writer. She is an avid DIYer that is equally at home repurposing random objects into new, useful creations as she is at supporting community gardening efforts and writing about healthy alternatives to household chemicals. She's written numerous DIY articles for paint and decor companies, as well as for Black + Decker, Hunker, Landlordology, SFGate and others.
Photo Credits
- Brandi Lambert/Demand Media
- Brandi Lambert/Demand Media
- Brandi Lambert/Demand Media
- Brandi Lambert/Demand Media
- Brandi Lambert/Demand Media
- Brandi Lambert/Demand Media
- Brandi Lambert/Demand Media
- Brandi Lambert/Demand Media
- Brandi Lambert/Demand Media
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