How to get the strongest scent from your wax melts

Our melts are poured to be strong, but where and how you melt them makes a big difference. Here’s how to get the most out of every cube.

1. Pick the right burner

Electric warmers heat the wax gently and evenly, so the scent comes off steadily for hours. Tealight burners work well too, but a flame can run hotter and use the fragrance up faster.

Whatever you use, a wide, shallow dish is your friend. The bigger the pool of melted wax, the more scent it gives off.

2. Don’t overfill the dish

Start with one cube, or two in a bigger room. Piling in more won’t make it twice as strong, and an overfilled dish can spill. If you want more, add another cube once the first has fully melted.

3. Think about where it goes

• Put it somewhere central, on a flat, heat-resistant surface.
• Keep it away from open windows, fans and draughts. They carry the scent straight outside.
• Leave doors open between rooms so the scent can travel.
• Give it a little while. Most melts take 15 to 30 minutes to fully melt and get going.

4. Match the scent to the room

Small rooms fill faster. For a bedroom or bathroom, a scent rated Strong is plenty. For a big living room or an open-plan kitchen, go for Stronger or Proper Strong. Here’s how our Strength Scale works.

“I can’t smell it any more!”

Your nose gets used to a scent after a while. It’s called nose blindness, and it happens to everyone. Pop out of the room for ten minutes and come back in: chances are you’ll notice it straight away, and everyone else can still smell it.

When the scent really has gone, the fragrance has been used up but the wax stays behind. That’s your cue to swap in a fresh cube. Here’s the easy way to clear the dish.

5. Keep your stash fresh

Store unused melts in their packaging, somewhere cool and out of direct sunlight. Heat and light can fade fragrance over time.