How Often Should You Change Wax Melts?

Wax melts are scented blocks of wax that are melted in an electric or candle wax warmer to fill a room with fragrance. They have become an increasingly popular way to scent homes thanks to their convenience, affordability, and variety of fragrances available. Unlike candles, wax melts don’t have a wick so there’s no open flame. They simply melt from the heat of the wax warmer, releasing their aroma into the air.

Wax melts are appreciated for their versatility – you can mix and match scents by using multiple melts at once, switch them out frequently, and easily control the strength of fragrance in a room. Their compact size makes them highly portable. Wax melts are an affordable way to keep your home freshly scented compared to buying numerous candles. With a wide selection of scents from floral to bakery to seasonal, there’s a wax melt to match any preference and mood.

How Long Do Wax Melts Last?

The duration that wax melts last can vary quite a bit. Some key factors that impact melt time include:

• Wax type – Soy wax melts typically last longer (12-18 hours) compared to paraffin wax melts (6-8 hours). Soy wax has a higher melting point which makes it last longer.
• Fragrance oil strength – Stronger fragrance oils will result in longer lasting scent from the wax melt. Standard essential oil blends may last only 6-8 hours.
• Melt warmer type – Wax melts last longer in electric warmers that provide consistent heat compared to tealight or candle warmers. The warmer wattage also impacts duration.

Premium soy wax melts with high fragrance load used in an electric warmer may provide fragrance for up to 18 hours or more before requiring a change. Paraffin wax melts in a tealight warmer may only diffuse scent for 6-8 hours. The key is finding the right balance for your needs.

Sources:

https://devonwick.com/blogs/news/how-long-do-wax-melts-last

https://villagewaxmelts.com/blogs/news/do-unused-wax-melts-lose-their-scent

Signs It’s Time to Change Your Wax Melt

There are a few signs that indicate it’s time to change out your wax melt:

The most obvious sign is when you can no longer smell the fragrance from the wax melt. As the wax melts and the fragrance oils evaporate, the scent will fade. Once you can hardly detect the smell anymore, it’s a good indication that the wax melt should be changed (Shearer Candles).

You may also notice the color of the wax changing as it melts. Wax melts are often brightly colored or swirled when new. As they melt down, the color will become muted and dull. A faded, discolored wax melt likely means it’s time for a fresh one (Reddit).

Finally, the wax melt drying up completely is a sure sign it needs changing. Once all the wax has fully melted and evaporated away, all that remains is a dry leftover wax melt with no scent left. At this point, it’s definitely time for a new wax melt.

Recommended Wax Melt Change Frequency

There are several common recommendations for how often to change wax melts:

• Every 4-6 hours – This is the most frequent recommendation, as wax melts tend to lose their scent after 4-6 hours of continuous use. Changing them this often ensures you consistently experience the fragrance.
• Once a day – Changing wax melts daily is another popular recommendation, especially for melts used in bedroom or bathroom wax warmers that you only use for certain parts of the day.
• When scent fades – Simply change the wax melt when you notice the fragrance is no longer strong or has faded completely. This allows you to get the most use out of each melt.
• With each wax warmer use – Replace wax melts every time you turn your warmer on for the day or for a specific room. This guarantees fresh fragrance each use.

Most experts recommend changing your wax melt at least every 24 hours. But the ideal frequency really depends on the size of the room, wax melt quality, and your personal fragrance preferences. Fresher more frequent changes provide the strongest scent.

Consider Fragrance Strength

The fragrance strength of your wax melts will impact how often you need to change them. Stronger scented wax melts will diffuse their fragrance more quickly and fully, requiring more frequent replacement than subtle scents. According to Village Wax Melts, their wax melts typically last 2-3 burns for stronger scents versus much longer for subtle scents. Similarly, Serathena recommends blending multiple wax melt pieces together to create a stronger, longer lasting fragrance. So when using strongly scented wax melts, plan to change them more often to maintain fragrance strength.

Factor In Wax Warmer Type

The wattage of your wax warmer can significantly impact how long your wax melts last. Most wax warmers range from 15W to 25W, with higher wattages heating to higher temperatures (Johannah Home Fragrance). Using a warmer with lower wattage around 15W-20W will make your wax melts last longer since they heat more gently. Conversely, using a high wattage warmer around 25W will make your wax melts heat faster and evaporate quicker. It’s recommended to use a lower wattage warmer if you want your wax melts to last longer.

Additionally, the size and design of the wax warmer matters. Larger warmers that expose more surface area of the wax melt to heat will make the fragrance diffuse faster. Smaller, more enclosed warmers retain heat better and make wax melts last longer. Consider your warmer’s wattage and design when factoring melt time.

Monitor for Soot Buildup

Soot buildup is one of the key signs that it’s time to change your wax melts. As the wax melts and evaporates, it can leave behind black sooty residue on the wax warmer and surrounding surfaces. This is caused by incomplete combustion of the wax. According to DevonWick, wax melts themselves don’t create soot since they lack a wick. But excessive sooting from wax melts is a problem you want to avoid.

Inhaling soot particles from candles and wax melts is unhealthy. As noted by CandleScience, soot inhalation can lead to shortness of breath. If you notice significant soot around your wax warmer, it’s a sign the wax melts have been heating for too long and need changing. Try using melts for a shorter duration or at a lower temperature setting next time. Allow any soot to clean off the warmer before adding fresh wax.

Tips to Make Wax Melts Last

There are several tips and tricks you can use to extend the life of your wax melts and get the most out of each one:

Proper warmer placement – Position your wax warmer in a central location in the room you want fragrance. This will allow the scent to efficiently fill the space. Avoid drafty areas or excessive heat sources like direct sunlight which can impact melt time.

Trim the wicks – If your warmer has a wick, trim it to 1⁄4” length before each use. Long wicks can create excess soot and smoke, using up wax faster.

Use lower heat settings – Opt for a lower temperature on electric warmers to slowly release fragrance over many hours. High heat will cause wax to melt and evaporate quickly.

Cut melts into smaller pieces – You can cut large wax melts into halves or quarters to make them last longer. More surface area exposed equals slower melting.

Layer with other melts – Combine fresh wax with previously melted wax to stretch usage. The older wax still has fragrance and will help the new wax diffuse longer.

Let wax fully melt – Allow wax to completely liquefy before adding more. Adding wax too soon can limit fragrance throw.

According to Wicks and Scents, using lower heat and cutting melts into pieces are excellent ways to make wax melts last longer. (1)

Reusing Old Wax Melts

While you can reuse old wax melts, it’s generally recommended to use fresh melts for optimal fragrance. Once the fragrance oils have evaporated from wax melts, the scented quality will be diminished with subsequent reuses.

However, according to Devon Wick, you can reuse wax melts until the scent is completely gone. The melts will continue emitting fragrance, just less strongly over time [1]. Reusing melts can prolong their lifespan for multiple uses.

When reusing melts, take proper safety precautions. Ensure wax buildup does not pose a fire hazard in the wax warmer. Check for soot accumulation on old melts before reusing. Avoid reusing melts with any apparent damage or deterioration. And as always keep wax warmers appropriately supervised when in use.

While the scent throw will diminish, reusing melts can be an option if you want to get the most out of their lifespan. Just be aware the fragrance may be fainter and monitor for any signs the melts shouldn’t be reused.

Conclusion

When deciding how often to change your wax melts, there are a few key factors to consider. The typical recommended frequency is 1-2 weeks for most melts. However, the exact timeframe can vary based on the fragrance strength, wax warmer type, and amount of soot buildup.

Look for signs that it’s time for a new melt, like fading fragrance, wax residue, and black smoke or soot. Reusing melts can extend their lifespan, but replace them if the fragrance has fully dissipated. With strong fragrances or electric warmers, you may need to change melts more often, like every few days. For milder scents or candle-style warmers, melts may last 2-3 weeks.

By paying attention to the condition of your wax and fragrance, you can find the ideal change frequency to enjoy your melts as long as possible. Changing them regularly will maximize fragrance and prevent soot buildup in your wax warmer.