The Best Wax Melters On A Budget (2024)
Using a wax melter is an easy and safe way to add fragrance to your home without an open flame. These beautiful wax warmers are modern & stylish.
Introduction To Wax Melters
What is a Wax Warmer?
Wax warmers (aka wax melters, wax melt warmers, or wax burners) are gaining popularity as an alternative to burning scented candles. Most are electric and plug into an outlet. They use a heat source (most often a small lightbulb) under the melting cup to warm pieces of scented wax and release the fragrance into the room.
What are Wax Melts?
Wax melts are pieces of scented wax used in a wax melter to give off fragrance. They’re fun and easy to make at home with this simple tutorial:
How to Make Wax Melts: Everything You Need to Know
They also make great gifts- especially when you pair them with a wax warmer.
Electric Wax Warmers
The wax melters in this first category use a small lightbulb under the wax cup as a heat source. These are my personal favorites because they create a similar ambiance to a glowing candle.
The light makes it easy to tell if your wax warmer is on or off, so you’re less likely to forget about it overnight or when you go on vacation.
As you can see below, these lantern-style wax melters come in many different shapes and colors, and I’ve included many different styles.
A. Scentsational Wax Warmer, from Amazon
B. Bobolyn Electric Wax Melt Burner, from Amazon
C. Scentsational Wax Melt Warmer, from Amazon
D. Bobolyn Electric Wax Warmer, from Walmart
E. Botanical Leaves Fragrance Warmer, from Walmart
F. Star Moon Pluggable Fragrance Warmer, from Amazon (I own this one and love it!)
G. Scentsationals Himalayan Salt Wax Warmer, from Walmart
H. Electric Wax Warmer with Leaves, from Amazon
I. Bobolyn Electric Wax Melt Warmer, from Amazon
J. Whole Housewares Mosaic Glass Fragrance Warmer, from Amazon
K. Scentsationals Mosaic Collection Wax Melter, from Amazon
L. The Pioneer Woman Full Size Fragrance Warmer, from Walmart
M. Opalhouse Ikat Scent Warmer in Turquoise, from Target
N. Blue Hobnail Wax Warmer, from Walmart
O. Bobolyn Electric Wax Melt Warmer, from Amazon
P. Modern Farmhouse Edison Bulb Wax Melter, from Amazon
Q. Enaroma Wax Melt Warmer, from Amazon
R. Mindful Design Candle & Fragrance Wax Warmer, from Target
S. Lotus Carving Candle Wax Warmer, from Amazon
T. Boho Gold Wax Warmer, from Amazon
U. Scentsational Edison Wax Warmer, from Walmart
V. Better Homes & Gardens Full Size Wax Warmer, from Walmart
Ceramic Wax Warmers
These pretty modern ceramic wax melters plug into the wall and do the same job as the ones above, but only a few of them have lightbulbs inside.
An added benefit of these wax melt warmers is you can remove the wax cup and place a scented candle on the warming plate instead to melt the wax and enjoy the candle fragrance without an open flame.
A. Blue Leaf Ceramic Wax Melter, from Amazon
B. Stoneware Debossed Pattern Wax Warmer, from Target
C. Kobodon Ceramic Wax Warmer, from Amazon
D. Mainstays White Ochre Ceramic Wax Warmer, from Walmart
E. Candle & Fragrance Warmer for Scented Wax, from Amazon
F. BHG Wax Warmer, from Walmart
G, Opalhouse Stoneware Embossed Pattern Wax Warmer, from Target
H. Wax Melter, from Amazon
Plug-In Wax Warmers
These smaller-sized electric wax melters plug directly into an outlet. They will generally hold one or two standard-sized wax melts or several smaller melts (like the heart-shaped melts in the photo below), and have a switch on the front. As you can see, they come in many different styles as well.
One of the main benefits of plug in wax warmers is that they don’t require any countertop, desktop, or shelf space, and they’re less likely to get bumped by maurading dogs and toddlers.
It’s best to use these in outlets located higher on the wall, which are usually found in kitchens & bathrooms.
A. Candle Warmers Etc. Pluggable Fragrance Warmer, from Amazon
B. Modern Plug In Fragrance Warmer, from Amazon
C. Happy Wax Outlet Wax Melt Warmer, from Amazon
D. Opalhouse Plug-In Scent Warmer, from Target
E. StarMoon Plug In Wax Warmer, from Walmart
F. Pluggable Wax Melter With Vintage Lightbulb, from Amazon
G. White Farmhouse Wax Melt Warmer, from Amazon
H. Star Moon Electric Wax Warmer, from Walmart
I. Candle Warmers, Etc. Pluggable Fragrance Warmer, from Amazon
J. Plug-In Indigo Wax Melter, from Amazon
K. Cocopin Plug-In Wax Warmer, from Amazon
L. Opalhouse Scallop Capiz & Glass Plug-In Scent Warmer, from Target
M. Better Homes & Gardens Hobnail Wax Warmer, from Walmart
N. Pluggable Fragrance Warmer in Blue Ombre, from Amazon
Wax Burners
The last category of wax melters we’ll discuss is wax burners. These use a tealight candle as the heat source below a melting cup. They tend to be the least expensive wax warmers, since they don’t have any electrical components. Here are a few of my favorite inexpensive wax burners.
A. Own Wax Burner, from Amazon
B. Tealight Wax Melt Burner, from Amazon
C. Brass Wax Tart Warmer, from Amazon
D. Farmhouse Tea Light Wax Warmer, from Amazon
E. Ceramic Wax Melt Burner, from Amazon
Wax Warmer Accessories
Wax Melt Liners
I know all the images of wax melters in the collages above have the wax melts sitting directly in the melting cup, but you’ll find very quickly that it’s A LOT more convenient and less messy to use wax melt liners.
I like to use these inexpensive coated paper liners from Amazon.
I know they look a lot like cupcake papers, but trust me, they’re different. Cupcake papers are thin and the melted wax will seep right through them and make a big mess. Ask me how I know!
You can also get reusable silicone wax melt liners from Amazon. I haven’t tried these myself, but I imagine they’re very easy to use and
More Wax Melt Ideas…
The Best Fragrance Oils for Candles (That Actually Smell Good!)
The Best Wax Melt Molds for Every Occasion
Thank you so much fir posting this article. You have been an answer to my prayers. 🙏
Hey there…I just quickly went through this post. Just about everything I saw, I love! I am a candle and wax melt fanatic! So far in all my “research” I’ve yet to find a wax melt product/company that I really love. To be totally honest with you, I have fairly severe PTSD and smells can either be incredibly triggering, or SO SO helpful. I have a very strong sense of smell as well.
Your post seems to be very helpful even though I am a bit confused as to your roll in all this. lol. I’ve never used an interior decorator before, but I think I would benefit greatly from your help. Wax melts and the companies that are trying to find their fit in this market are just SO overwhelming to me. All of this having three different scents in one melt or candle is a bit maddening to be. Considering it’s hard enough for me to find one scent I like, but then there are three in one melt…😳.
I would love to find out what your service entails and of course your fee(s).
Hi Jennifer,
Yes it’s so hard to find good fragrances that aren’t stinky or just weird! Did you see this post about candle fragrance oils? https://jessicawellinginteriors.com/best-fragrance-oils-for-candles/I've literally tried hundreds of scents from so many different companies! I would recommend ordering a sample kit from Makesy and you can choose all the fragrances you want to try. They are far and away the best fragrance oils I’ve found- and no one is paying me to say that:) Send me an email about the type of design project you have in mind and let’s talk! [email protected]
I would love to learn more bout your wax burners and electric ones and also wax I love this stuff
I don’t actually see the wax burners myself, but you can purchase them through the links on this page. Here’s an article on types of wax that I just published a couple of weeks ago. https://jessicawellinginteriors.com/best-wax-for-candles/
Wonderful post
Thank you so much!