How Long Do Wax Melts Last?
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TL/DR The Quick Answer?
It depends. (Classic, right?) But stick with us — we’ll break it down without the fluff.
What Even Is Burn Time?
When we talk about “how long wax melts last,” we mean how long you’ll get scent from them — also known as burn time (even though technically they melt, not burn). Once your melt stops giving off fragrance, it’s done. Time to swap it out.
With quality melts (like ours at Nuscents), one or two segments typically give you around 8–12 hours of solid scent. But that can swing a lot depending on how you use them.
Burner Type Makes a Huge Difference
Not all warmers are created equal. Here’s the deal:
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Electric burners heat more gently, which means your melt will last longer — but the scent might be more subtle.
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Tealight burners get hotter and throw scent like a beast — but your melts burn out faster.
If you love a strong hit of fragrance, tealight’s your best mate. If you want to stretch your melts out and make them last, electric might be the way to go.
How Long Should You Leave a Wax Warmer On?
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Electric warmers: Up to 10 hours, but don’t push it — shorter bursts help your melts last longer.
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Tealight warmers: Usually 4–8 hours, depending on the candle. Go for 4-hour tealights to be scent-savvy and safe (we don't recommend 8-hour tealights).
Pro tip: Set a timer or switch off once the room smells lush. You’ll thank yourself later.
The Wax Itself Matters
Not all wax is the same — and that matters when it comes to how long your wax melts last and how well they throw scent.
At Nuscents, we use a high-grade paraffin blend — and let’s clear this up: despite the internet chatter, paraffin isn’t the villain it’s made out to be. In fact, it can outperform soy when it comes to scent throw and consistency. It's clean-burning, stable, and just as safe when properly formulated (which ours is).
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Paraffin wax: Excellent scent performance, longer cold and hot throw, consistent quality — and no worse for the environment, no more toxic, no more soot than other waxes.
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Soy wax: Natural, often seen as eco-friendly, but can struggle with scent retention and consistency.
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Beeswax: Clean and long-burning, but not vegan and not cost-effective for melts.
But wax is only half the story — what really counts is fragrance load. Ours are maxed to the limit, so you're getting the richest scent we can physically pack in, without any oil bleed or waste.
Fragrance Oils vs Essential Oils
Both work, but:
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Fragrance oils tend to last longer and hit harder.
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Essential oils are natural, but often subtler — and can fade faster.
We love a hybrid when it works best for the scent profile.
Storing Your Wax Melts Right
Want them to last before you even use them?
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Keep them in the original packaging
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Store somewhere cool, dark, and dry
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Avoid sunlight, heat, and stacking them bare — you’ll lose scent that way
Done right, our wax melts can stay strong for up to 18–24 months.
Nose Blindness Is Real
If you’ve been melting the same scent for ages and can’t smell it anymore — it’s probably not the wax. It’s your nose getting used to it. Switch up your scents now and then to reset your senses.
Want Them to Last Longer?
Here’s your cheat sheet:
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Clean your burner between scents
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Don’t overheat the melt
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Use shorter burn sessions
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Store them properly
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Rotate your scents
The Bottom Line?
A good wax melt should give you 8–12 hours per cube, with some of our bigger ones lasting even longer. Look after them, burn them smartly, and you’ll get the best bang for your buck.
The Best Wax Melts UK
With over 200+ scents, high fragrance loads, and clean soy wax, our melts are built to last — and loved by thousands of customers. Try them out and feel the difference for yourself.