Different from candles, wax melts slowly lose their scent over time, while the wax from candles evaporates. When a wax melt loses its fragrance, it's time to swap it out for a new melt!
Although wax melts are supposed to lose their scent, there are times when they could be losing their scent quicker than usual. The production process (wax and fragrance oils used, etc) and how you use your melts affect how long the scent will last and how powerful the throw will be.
To better understand if your wax melts are high-quality and not losing their scent too fast, keep reading for more tips!
How Long Does a Wax Melt Last?
The usual length of scent for 2 wax melt cubes is 8-12 hours. This period of time can be more or less depending on the type of wax warmer used, the type of wax melt, and its ingredients.
Type of Warmer Used
There are wax warmers out there that get way too hot way too fast. To know if your wax warmer is one of these, try to see how long it takes for it to heat up to the max temperature. If it heats up quickly, this can be the main cause of having a shorter than usual burn time.
It's best to research if the brand you are buying from recommends certain wax warmers with their melts. Some may only recommend their personal brand of melters since they have adjusted the heat levels to be perfect for their melts.
You can also notice a difference between different electric wax warmers. The reason why electric wax warmers heat wax melts at different paces is because of the lightbulb wattage. When you find out the wattage, you will be able to understand if the scent will disappear faster or slower. The wattage also affects the scent throw. If it has a low wattage, you'll likely have a weak scent. If the warmer has a higher wattage, then you'll have a strong fragrance throw but your melts won't last as long.
There are many variables that affect this process though so there is never an exact formula. Nonetheless, the wax warmer you choose is very important in determining how long the scent of your wax melts will last. For more information on using wax warmers to make the scent last, check out our blog post about how long wax melts last.
Type of Wax Melt
The type of wax used to make wax melts affects their burn time. If you opt for a wax melt that was created with paraffin, it may last a while but the potential environmental and health impacts are not worth it. Paraffin is a non-renewable resource that contains benzene which is believed to cause cancer. You risk inhaling benzene each time you decide to use a wax melt. While the certain lasting effects of inhaling paraffin are unknown, it's better to be safe than sorry.
Soy-based wax melts are the best choice for melts that last long and are more health and environmentally conscious.
Wax Melt Ingredients
Even the fragrance oils or essential oils used in the production process will affect the burn time of your wax melts. If the fragrance oil is lightly used (less than 6% concentration), then you can expect a shorter burn time and a weaker scent throw.
It's important to note that sometimes more fragrance oil concentration does not necessarily mean that the wax melt will be super strong. The bonding between the oil and melt may only work up to a certain percentage and anything after that may not make a difference.
Look at the reviews of wax melts to see what customers have said about how long their wax melts lasted, and the strength of the fragrance.
How do you Make Wax Melts Smell Stronger?
To make your wax melts smell stronger, you should use a proper wax warmer based on the room and not burn it for too long.
If it's a large room that you'll be melting in, we recommend using an electric warmer with a 40-60 watt lightbulb and about 1oz of wax. If you are using your wax melts in a smaller room, try using a warmer with a 20-35 watt lightbulb and about 0.5oz of wax. Or you can use a tealight warmer which can melt the wax melts even slower than an electric warmer.
You also should burn your wax melts efficiently to make sure the scent is strong. If you leave your warmer on for an extended period of time and try to use the same wax melt again, you aren't going to have a strong scent.
Are Wax Melts Stronger than Candles?
Wax melts and candles have different burn processes which means their scents vary. Candles require one to light a wick and burn the wax so it evaporates. With wax melts, you are heating it up so the scent slowly dissipates.
The slow and nonburning process of wax melts can make for stronger scents than candles. You allow the aroma to slowly fill up the room and linger even after you turn off the warmer. With a candle, you can get a burst of strong fragrance fast. But because you are burning the wax, the scent usually doesn't last very long after blowing it out.
Storing your Wax Melts for Strong Scents
If you plan to use your wax melts at a later date, their storage can affect how fast they will lose their scent. It's best to store them in a cool, dry place away from differently scented wax melts.
If you stack a baby powder scented wax melt on top of a pumpkin one, you risk the scents clashing and decreasing how strong their scent throw is. Try to keep your wax melts separated if possible.
Do Wax Melts Lose Their Scent if Not Used?
As long as your wax melts are stored properly, they should not lose any scent while unused. Make sure that they aren't exposed to direct sunlight, or placed near any heat sources (like the oven!) and your wax melts will be fine.