How to Use a Wax & Oil Burner: A Beginner's Guide
If you've never used a wax melt burner before, the whole idea can seem a bit mysterious — no wick, no flame, just a little cube of scented wax and a lot of questions. Here's everything you need to know to get started, whether you've just picked up your first Red Belly wax melts or you're buying a burner as a gift.
What is a wax and oil burner?
A wax melt burner (sometimes called an oil burner) works by gently heating scented wax until it melts and releases fragrance into the room — no naked flame required if you go for an electric version. Most burners have a shallow dish on top for the wax and either a tealight compartment underneath or an electric heating plate.
Tealight vs electric burners
Both do the same job, so it really comes down to preference:
Tealight burners give you that warm, flickering glow and are lovely for evenings in — just remember they still involve an open flame, so the same care applies as with a candle. Electric burners are flameless, so they're a good choice for homes with children or pets, and they're safe to run for longer stretches since there's no wick to burn down.
How to use your burner, step by step
- Break off one or two cubes from your wax melt (start with one — you can always add more) and pop it into the dish.
- Light your tealight and place it underneath, or switch on your electric burner.
- Give it 10–15 minutes to fully melt and start releasing scent.
- Once you're finished for the session, blow out the tealight or switch off the burner and let the wax firm back up before you move it.
How long does a wax melt last?
You'll generally get 8–10 hours of scent throw from a single cube before it starts to fade, though this varies by scent. When you can no longer smell it, it's spent — simply push out the old wax once it's cooled and hardened (a cocktail stick or an old spoon makes this easy), give the dish a quick wipe, and add a fresh cube. Our wax melts are designed so you can mix and match scents cube by cube rather than committing to a whole candle in one fragrance.
Caring for your burner
Let any leftover wax cool and solidify completely before removing it — trying to clean out warm wax just spreads it around. For a deeper clean, a quick warm soapy wipe once the dish is empty keeps it looking fresh between scents, and it's worth doing when you're switching to a very different fragrance so the two don't mix.
A few safety basics
Always burn on a heat-resistant, stable surface, away from curtains, paper, or anything flammable. Never leave a lit tealight burner unattended, and keep both tealight and electric burners well out of reach of children and pets. Use in a ventilated room, and never top up the wax dish while it's still hot.
Ready to try it for yourself? Have a browse through our wax melt scents and burners — and if you're not sure where to start, our signature scent guide is a good next stop.