How to Change Wax Melts: The Simple Guide to Removing and Replacing Wax

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How to Change Wax Melts in Your Warmer: The Simple Guide

Changing wax melts is straightforward once you know how to change wax melts properly. Most new warmer owners are not sure whether to wait for the wax to cool, remove it while warm, or freeze it out. The answer depends on which method suits you best.

I’m Alexandra Watson, and together with my husband Scott, I have been an independent Scentsy Consultant since April 2011, when we became the very first Scentsy Consultants in the UK and Europe.

Here are the three methods we recommend, plus tips on knowing when it is time to change your wax.

How Do You Know When to Change Your Wax Melts?

Wax melts do not disappear like candles. The wax stays in the dish after all the fragrance has been released. This is one of the things that confuses new warmer owners. If you switch on your warmer and there is no fragrance, the wax is spent and needs replacing even if it looks identical to when you first put it in. The wax is simply the carrier for the fragrance oil. Once the oil has evaporated, the wax has no further fragrance to give.

Scentsy fragrance bar cubes last up to 18 hours each. If you run your warmer for around 4 to 6 hours per day, one cube will last approximately 3 to 4 days. Some heavier fragrances, particularly spice and musk-based scents, will last closer to the full 18 hours. Lighter fruity fragrances will be closer to 12 to 14 hours.

Method 1: The Warm Disc Method (Recommended)

This is the cleanest and easiest method for most people.

Switch the warmer on for 30 to 60 seconds. You want just enough heat to slightly soften the base of the wax disc without melting it fully into liquid.
Switch the warmer off.
Place a cotton pad or piece of kitchen paper over the top of the wax disc. Press gently, and the disc will lift out in one piece, stuck to the paper.
Discard the spent wax and paper together.
Wipe the dish with a dry cloth to remove any residue.
Add fresh wax cubes and switch on.

This method works because the slight warmth breaks the bond between the wax and the dish base without melting the wax or making it messy. It takes less than two minutes and leaves almost no residue.

Method 2: The Cool and Pop Method

Allow the wax to cool completely in the dish until fully solid.
Place the warmer dish in the freezer for 5 to 10 minutes.
Remove the dish from the freezer. The wax will have contracted slightly.
Press gently at one edge of the disc with your fingertip or the back of a spoon. The disc should pop out cleanly.
Wipe the dish with a dry cloth and add fresh wax.

This method works well for removable dishes but is not suitable for warmers where the dish is built in. The contraction of the wax as it cools breaks it free from the sides of the dish cleanly.

Method 3: The Cotton Pad Method (While Warm and my fav method tbh)

While the wax is fully melted and liquid, switch off the warmer.
Place two or three cotton pads or cotton wool balls into the liquid wax.
The cotton absorbs the liquid wax.
Lift out the saturated cotton and discard.
Wipe the remaining wax residue with a clean dry cloth.
Add fresh wax and switch on.

This works well for frequent fragrance changes and for getting the dish very clean before switching to a completely different fragrance family. It creates slightly more waste than the warm disc method but is very thorough.

Barefoot Beach Scentsy wax melt bar UK 2026 - fresh wax cubes ready to replace spent wax in Scentsy electric wax warmer

Tips for Changing Wax Melts

Never try to remove wax while it is fully liquid unless using the cotton pad method. You risk spilling hot wax on the warmer or a surface.
Clean the dish thoroughly when switching between very different fragrance families to avoid the scents mixing in the new cube.
If wax has overflowed or spilt onto the outside of the warmer, allow it to cool completely before peeling it off. Do not use water on electrical components.
Keep your removed wax discs if they still have some scent left. You can melt them down in a wax melt burner as a secondary use, though the fragrance life will be limited.

Shop Scentsy Fragrance Bars

Frequently Asked Questions: How to Change Wax Melts

How do you know when to change wax melts?

When you switch on your warmer and the room does not fill with fragrance after 15 minutes, the wax is spent. The wax will still be in the dish and look the same, but the fragrance oil will have fully evaporated. Remove and replace with fresh cubes.

Can I mix old and new wax melts?

You can add a fresh cube to a warmer that still has partially spent wax in the dish. This extends the scent life but creates a mixed fragrance. For a clean, true scent from a new cube, remove all spent wax and wipe the dish before adding fresh wax.

How often should you change wax melts?

Each Scentsy fragrance bar cube lasts up to 18 hours. If you run your warmer for 4 to 6 hours per day, one cube will typically last 3 to 4 days. Change when the fragrance fades, not on a fixed schedule.

Can I pour wax melt liquid down the sink?

No. Do not pour liquid wax down the sink or drain. It will solidify as it cools and could cause a blockage. Use the cotton pad method to absorb the liquid wax and discard it in the bin, or allow it to cool and solidify before removing.