There is nothing better than relaxing in your home with a beautiful aroma. Traditionally, we would light a candle to help ourselves unwind. And whilst a good candle is still a staple in our home, there is a new favourite in town - the wax melt. These wickless pieces of scented wax have gained popularity in the last decade as they offer an alternative to candles.
Lots of fragrance fans prefer wax melts as they reduce the amount of smoke and naked flames in the home. If you opt for an electric wax burner you completely eradicate the dangers of fire completely. For more information, read our full how-to-use wax melts guide.
Best wax melts at a glance
• Our favourite wax melt: Fresh Linen Highly Scented Soy Wax Melts - 16 Pack - view on Amazon UK
• Best wax melts to gift: CoinnealCandleCo - Wax Melt Gift Set - view on Etsy
• Best Yankee wax melts: Pink Sands Wax Melt - view at Yankee Candles
Many of your favourite aromatherapy candle scents will also come in a wax melt version. The best thing about wax melts is there is less waste. Wax melts can be used again and again until you can no longer smell the scent. Then it can easily be chucked in the bin. Melts typically come in less packaging too - which is great news for the planet.
Our favourite wax melts
We have found the best wax melts in the UK, that will have your home smelling sweet.
Our favourite wax melt
Fresh Linen Highly Scented Soy Wax Melts - 16 Pack is one of our favourite smells in the world. Now you don't need to put on a full load of washing to fill your home with the glorious scent of clean washing. Each wax melt lasts around six hours, getting a total burn time of 96 hours per box.
Pros
- Plastic free packaging
- lasts at least six hours
- Natural soy & rapeseed formula
Cons
- Only one scent per box
| Lead Notes: | Citrus, Galbanum |
| Heart Notes: | Orange Blossom, Jasmine |
| Base Notes: | Lily, Amber |
Best wax melts to gift
www.etsy.com
These luxury stacking wax melt selections are presented in fully recyclable eco kraft pots. These hand-poured soy wax tealights are available on a separate listing. Available in two different sets and can even be ordered with a burner, making it the ideal gift to give.
Set 1
Small Pot: Earl Grey Tea & Cucumber x 6 melts
Medium Pot: Midnight Berries x 8 melts
Large Pot: Rhubarb & Rose x 10 melts
Set 2
Small Pot: Green Tea & Bergamot x 6 melts
Medium Pot: White Citrus x 8 melts
Large Pot: English Pear & Freesia x 10 melts
Pros
- Stunning designed melts
- Stackable packaging
- Hand poured
Cons
- Personalised tags cost extra
| Wax type: | Coconut |
Best Yankee wax melts
chesapeake.yankeecandle.co.uk
Yankee Candles are hailed for their ability to capture scents, and this one is no different. Pink Sand is one of Yankee Candles' best-selling scents. It is a beautiful mix of bright citrus, sweet florals and spicy vanilla notes. The wax melts and will burn for up to eight hours.
Pros
- Affordable
- Relaxing
- True-to-life Yankee Candle
Cons
- Only one wax melt
| Ingredients: | Terpenes, Orange Oil, Limonene, Hexyl cinnamal, 5-Heptenal, 2,6-dimethyl-, Cyclamen aldehyde, Hexyl salicylate, Eugenol, Benzenemethanol, 4-methoxy-, 1-acetate.<br> |
Best mix of scents in a set
DERDUFTThis set contains six squares of highly scented wax for use in a tea light or electric burner. These scents are pumpkin, blush peony, apple and cinammon, winter cedarwood, coconut and vanilla, black pomegranate, mint and white jasmine, and fig. Some fruity, some floral. Lovely...
Pros
- Highly scented
- Eight squares of highly scented wax
- Multiple scent choices
Cons
- Two to three wax melts needed for a strong fragrance
Best fruity scents
Amazon / RS WellnessIf you are a fan of fruity scents in your home, this is the wax melt set for you. We cannot get enough of these refreshing powerful scents. Each heart will produce approximately six hours of gorgeous scent per heart.
This set contains: Parma Violets, Vanilla, Fresh Linen, Sherbet Lemon and many more!
Pros
- Soy wax
- Supporting a small business
- Highly scented
Cons
- Small wax melts
Best floral wax melt scent
Lily Flame / AmazonLily Flame's Fairy Dust Wax Melts give us a little peace and a feeling of happiness when we fill our homes with them. These melts are packed full of fragrance and will produce 15 hours of essence when warmed.
Pros
- Smells very peaceful
- Strong scents
- Nice packaging
Cons
- Not good if you don't like floral scents
FAQs
What are wax melts and how do you use them?
Think of them as the candle's younger and more sensible sister. Just like a candle, it will fill your home with a gorgeous scent but without the dangers linked to lighting an open flame. Candles are the cause of more than one thousand fires every single year. They offer a safer alternative as they can be heated by an electric melt burner, which doesn't require the use of fire at all. These warmers heat it enough to melt them producing the most wonderful fragrance.
Wax melts and burners come in all different shapes, scents, colours and sizes. It often makes them a great gift or a fantastic way of showcasing your style and personality in your home.
How long do wax melts last?
The burning time of each wax melt will differ. Usually, these will last more than six hours and can be used until you can no longer smell the scent. We have found some of the stronger scents will last multiple uses.
Hannah Carroll is a Senior Digital Writer at Bauer Media, specialising in product reviews, how-to guides, and listicles. With a background in Journalism and experience writing for outlets like Mother&Baby and Grazia, Hannah brings a wealth of insight into family life and practical home solutions.