How Long Do Wax Melts Last?
The quick answer: a wax melt lasts until its fragrance fades, not until the wax disappears, because the wax doesn't burn away. How long that takes varies by scent, burner and room. You can re-melt the same piece many times, and as you only need one or two pieces at a time, one snap bar lasts for lots of sessions. Change it when you can no longer smell it.
“How long do wax melts last?” is one of the questions we're asked most. The honest answer is that it depends, so this guide explains what it depends on. It covers how many times you can use a wax melt, how to tell when to change it, what makes it last longer, and how to store spare melts.
How long does a wax melt last?
Wax melts work by gently warming scented wax so the fragrance is released into the air. Nothing is burned, so the wax stays in the dish. What runs out is the fragrance. Once you can't smell it any more, the wax melt has done its job.
The amount of fragrance time you get varies by scent, burner and room. A small bathroom with a strong fresh scent will feel very different from a large, draughty open-plan room. That's why we don't give a fixed number of hours: your nose is the best guide.
How long does a wax melt bar last?
Our wax melts come as snap bars, so you only melt what you need:
- 80g Snap Bar: six cubes.
- 50g Mini Snap Bar: ten smaller snaps, which are ideal for small rooms or for trying new scents.
Most people use one or two pieces at a time, and each piece can be re-melted until the scent fades. That means a single bar gives you lots of separate sessions.
How many times can you use a wax melt?
You can melt the same piece again and again. Let it cool and set after each session, then melt it again next time. Keep going until the fragrance is faint, then swap it for a fresh piece. There's no set number of re-uses because it depends on how long each session is and how strong the room needs it to be.
How to tell when to change your wax melt
- You can only smell the fragrance right next to the burner.
- The scent takes much longer to fill the room than it did at first.
- The melted wax looks the same but the room smells of very little.
Before you swap it, check you haven't simply got used to the scent. This is called nose blindness and it's very common. Step outside for a few minutes and come back in. Read more in why can't I smell my wax melts and how often should you change your wax melts.
What affects how long wax melts last?
Your burner
Tealight and electric burners warm the wax differently. Electric burners give steady, flame-free heat. Tealight burners depend on the tealight you use. Compare them in our guide to the best wax melt burner.
Room size and airflow
Big rooms, open windows and draughts spread fragrance more thinly, so you may notice the scent less quickly.
How much wax you use
Two pieces give a stronger scent than one. Too much wax can overfill the dish, so start small.
How long you leave it on
Longer sessions use up fragrance faster. Follow your burner's instructions and switch off when you leave the room.
The scent itself
Every fragrance behaves differently. Some scents are naturally bolder, while softer ones are gentler. If you like a bold scent, browse our strong wax melts.
A clean burner dish
Old wax left in the dish can mute a new scent. Clean the dish between scents using our burner cleaning guide.
Tips to make your wax melts last longer
- Start with one piece and add a second only if you need it.
- Close the door for a few minutes to let the scent build in larger rooms.
- Switch off when you leave the room rather than running the burner all day.
- Rotate two or three favourite scents to avoid nose blindness.
- Keep the burner dish clean between scents.
- Store unused pieces in their packaging, away from heat and sunlight.
Do wax melts expire? How to store them
Unused wax melts keep well when stored properly, but fragrance can soften over time. Keep them in their original packaging, somewhere cool, dry and out of direct sunlight, and away from radiators. For more detail, read do wax melts expire.
How do wax melts compare with candles and reed diffusers?
If you want a fixed time guide, our candles and diffusers have one. Our perfume inspired candles give 35+ hours of burn time. Our church pillar candles give up to 200 hours. A 100ml reed diffuser refill lasts 8–12 weeks. Wax melts are different: you choose how long to use them each time and re-melt them until the scent fades.
New to wax melts? Read how to use wax melts or Wax Melts 101. Free UK delivery on orders over £45.
How long do wax melts last? FAQs
How long does one wax melt cube last?
It varies by scent, burner and room. You can re-melt one cube many times until you can no longer smell it.
Can you re-use wax melts?
Yes. Let the wax set after each session and melt it again next time, until the fragrance has faded.
Why has my wax melt stopped smelling?
Either the fragrance has been used up or you've got used to it. Try stepping outside for a few minutes. If you still can't smell it, change the wax.
Do wax melts evaporate?
No. The wax stays in the dish. It's the fragrance that is released into the air.
Do your wax melts work in any burner?
Our soy wax melts work in both tealight and electric wax melt burners.