The National Fire Protection Association estimated that from 2014-2018,fires related to candlescaused an estimated $278 million in direct property damage. Decorative candles are cute, but the exposed flame poses a risk of catching something else on fire by accident. While candles require a flame, wax melt warmers only require electricity. Scentedwax tarts, melts, or cubes are warmed via an electric wax melt warmer usually containing a small light bulb or built-in ceramic heater that is located inside the warmers. The built-in heater is just enough heat to warm the wax melts, tarts, or cubes, releasing the scent in as little as 5-10 minutes!
Wax Melts Are Flame-Free(Photo via @houseofhaighs IG)
#2. 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, flash point, and size of candle or wax melt can all affect the average burn time. That being said, some prefer wax melts over candles for their burn time. In general, the average burn time of 16-oz candle jarisexpected tobe anywhere from 60–84 hours. If you divide the max expected burn time (84 hours) by thenumber of ounces (16 oz), that breaks down to about 5 hours of burn time per ounce.If you compare that to an 8 Oz. Pouch of Happy Wax®Wax Melts, which average 225 hours of burn time per 8 oz, that breaks down to28 hours of burn time per ounce.
Wax Melts With 28 Hours Burn Time Per Oz.
#3. Wax Melts Are Cheaper Than Candles
With wax melts you get almost 5x the burn time per ounce that you do with a normal candle (see above image). The average candle is around $18.00 – $20.00 but can certainly run upward of $50.00 depending on brand, scent, and formula. Meanwhile, the average cost of wax melts can run anywhere from $5.00 – $25.00, depending on the bulk amount purchased at one time.
If you break down the average cost of a candle ($20.00) divided by the average amount of burn time (60 hours), that means you’re paying $0.33 for every hour of burn time with the average candle. If you apply the same formula to wax melts, the average cost ($15.00) per bag divided by the average amount of burn time (225 hours) means you're paying $0.06 for every hour of burn time. This proves that with wax melts you can save more than 5x the cost!
Wax Melts May Be Cheaper Than Candles
#4. Paraffin Candles May Contain Benzene
Many mainstream candle brands make their candles with paraffin wax.Paraffin wax is commonly used to make candles because it is generally cheaper to produce than soy wax. Unfortunately, because paraffin wax isderived from petroleum, there has been much debate over the health & safety of this type of wax. In 2009, a study by South Carolina State University found that burning paraffin wax maygive off benzene. If you're unfamiliar with the risks associated with exposure to benzene, the American Cancer Society classifies benzene as acarcinogen, a substance that promotes the growth of cancer.
Many wax melting companies are choosing to use soy wax instead of paraffin wax. Derived from the soybean, soy wax is a vegetable based wax that is a much better alternative to old-fashioned paraffin wax, which is made from petroleum oil and produces harmful by-products when burned or melted.
That being said, there are still some wax melting companies who have not made the switch from paraffin to soy wax. We recommend checking an ingredient list before you purchase!
Wax Melts Made with All-Natural Soy Wax
#5. Wax Melts Are More Convenient Than Candles
Wax melts and wax warmers are generally allowed to be used in offices, apartments, dorms and other places where candles are banned due to their flame. Wax melting is also highly revered by parents who are wary of having children around an open flame.
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. They come in cubes, squares, and other shapes, making them easy to break apart and transport. 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! Wax melts can last anywhere from 8 hours to 2 days!
You can easily 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. Make sure the combined number of pieces totals no more than 1 oz, or you could overflow your wax warmer.
With Wax Melts You Can Control the Intensity of Your Fragrance
A common question customers have is, "Are wax melts stronger than candles?" This prompted us to perform an in-house study comparing the average fragrance load of a candle vs. the average fragrance load of wax melts. On average, most candles have an oil-to-wax ratio of 1 Oz. fragrance oil to 16 Oz. of wax per container, which puts them at about a 10% fragrance load. When we performed an in-house study on average wax melts' fragrance oil concentrations, we found that many wax melts could hold upward of an 11–12% fragrance load!
Wax MeltsThat Contain a High Fragrance Load
When you are using scented candles, be sure to be cautious of the soot they put out and its effects on your air. Over time, candles can cause discoloration to your walls and curtains and can stain the edges of your furniture. There are also health concerns associated with exposure to soot. It can agitate bronchitis, asthma, and respiratory issues, causing shortness of breath. Once the soot enters your bloodstream, it can also become a catalyst for stroke, heart attack, and cancer.
Over Time, Candle Soot Can Discolor Walls & Furniture
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 4 to 6 yearson average 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 garbage—awesome!
One benefit of choosing wax melts over candles is that you can mix your wax melts, cubes, or tarts to create customized scents. To do this, you need to make sure the sizes of the melts you break off are the same (or sized depending on which scent you want stronger), and simply place them into your wax warmer at the same time. One the wax melts, it will blend the two scents together. Or you can choose wax melts that are already designed for mixing! A great feature of our Happy Wax melts is that you can buy them in fragrancecollection packpouchesto ensure similar fragrance notes. Our Happy Wax Collection 3-Packs are a carefully curated blend of scents that are designed to be mixed together!
Wax Melts Designed for Mixing
