Wax melts and candles both make your home smell good. They just do it in different ways. One gives you a flame and a mood. The other gives you strong scent with no wick. Which one you want depends on how you live, not on which is better.
How wax melts work
A wax melt is a small piece of scented wax with no wick. You put it in a warmer, which heats it from below. As it melts, the smell rises into the room.
Some warmers use a tealight underneath. Others plug in. Either way, the melt itself never burns. It just turns to liquid and releases its scent.
When the smell fades, you let the wax cool, pop it out and add a new one. Many people keep a few smells on the go and swap them by mood.
To change a melt, let the wax set first. A cold dish makes it easy. Pop the dish in the freezer for ten minutes and the old wax lifts out in one piece. No scraping, no mess.
Do scented wax melts smell stronger than candles?
Often, yes, in a small room. Melts tend to carry a lot of scent for their size. Candles give a softer, wider smell plus the light of a flame, which a melt cannot give you.
When a candle is the better choice
A candle is about more than smell. It is the glow on the table at dinner. It is the flicker in the corner while you read. No warmer can give a room that same soft, moving light.
- You want soft light as well as scent
- You like a ritual of lighting it
- You want something pretty to give
Candles also make better gifts. They look finished on a shelf. A jar on the coffee table says "this is a calm house".
Soy wax melts and safety at home
Plug-in warmers have no open flame, which some families prefer. A warmer that uses a tealight still has a flame, so treat it like any candle. Keep it off soft furnishings and out of reach of children and pets.
Whatever the wax, never leave a warmer running when you go out. Switch plug-in warmers off at the wall when you are done for the night.
Quick answers
Are wax melts or candles better for a small flat?
Melts suit small spaces well, because a little goes a long way. A single tealight is another easy option, with the bonus of candlelight.
Can you mix wax melts?
Yes. Break two melts in half and warm them together. It is a fun way to find a blend that is just yours.
Most homes end up with both. Melts in the kitchen, candles in the living room. If you would like to try lots of smells first, the Glow advent calendar is a good place to start.
Related reading
- Scented Tea Lights: Why Small Candles Smell So Good: small candles, big smell, and how to keep them safe
- Candle Scents Explained: Fruity, Fresh, Floral and More: our five families, and how to find yours
- Three Wick Candles: The First Burn That Decides Everything: the one burn that stops tunnelling for good
