Let’s Clear It Up
Wax burners filled with our scented sizzlers are the perfect way to make your home smell unreal but without proper safety and care they can cause fires if not used correctly. Most problems come from using unsuitable tealights and the risks can be minimized by using the correct tealights for your burner and taking some precautionary measures.
The Hidden Dangers
The most common issues with wax warmers are often everyday slip-ups:
- Wrong candles: 8-hour tealights burn far too hot and often the flame burns close to the burner dish, pushing them far past safe temperatures. The heat can crack ceramic or set surfaces alight which then can cause other items to catch fire. We recommend sticking with 4-hour tealights only and check your burner regularly for cracking, even hairline cracks can become larger and pose a risk.
This is a real customer image of what can happen when incorrectly using 8 hour tealights in a burner, in this example the burner has caught fire due to the flames closeness to the burner bowl and heating up to high temperatures, the sizzlers have been scorched with damage to the surrounding mirror and shows that extra care is necessary:
- Overfilling: Wax can spill and drip down the sides of burners to where the flame is and suddenly you’ve got a fire hazard.
- Placement: Burners tucked near curtains, under shelves where an object could easily fall or on unsteady tables are just asking for trouble.
- Pets and kids: A wagging tail or tiny hand can easily knock one over which is why we recommend keeping them well away.
- Forgetting to extinguish: It is all too easy to forget you have a tealight burning and nip out to the shop for an hour to come back to a burner which is way too hot.
It’s often a mix of rushing around, multitasking or simply forgetting a tealight that can turn a cosy evening into a risky one.
The Safer Choice
If you love the atmosphere wax burners create with our scents but want peace of mind definitely go electric. Electric wax warmers heat gently without a naked flame, keeping the fragrance heated well while cutting out the fire risk. They’re perfect for busy homes, especially with kids or pets about and are a lot less risky if you forget to turn them off.
If you prefer traditional tealight burners, always choose 4-hour tealights only never the 8-hour ones. Place your burner on a level heatproof surface, never overfill and always blow out before bed or leaving the room/house. Keep your burner away from under shelves, near fabrics and flammables. Check your burner regularly for cracks and replace if you find any, always choosing a higher quality burner versus cheaper ones. Allow your burner to cool after 4 hours of usage.
Final Thought
Home fragrance should be relaxing, not stressful. With the right candles, smart placement or a switch to electric burners, you’ll enjoy a home that smells pure heavenly without a single worry.
