If you want your home to smell amazing without the mess of wax melts, you’ve probably come across simmering granules (also known as sizzlers). They are one of the easiest ways to fragrance your home, and they are becoming a top choice for people who want a no-faff alternative to candles and melts.
This guide will show you exactly how to use them, why they’re different from wax and some handy tricks to get the most out of your scents.
What are Simmering Granules?
Simmering granules are simply salt crystals infused with high-quality fragrance oil and colour.
The biggest thing to remember is that they do not melt. Unlike wax melts that turn into a puddle of liquid, the granules stay as solid crystals the whole time you use them making them so easy to clean up and swap scents.
How to Use Them (Step-by-Step)
Using sizzlers is really simple. Just follow these steps:
- Prepare your burner: Grab a standard tealight burner or an electric warmer.
- Add the granules: Scoop or pour 1 to 2 teaspoons of granules into the dry well at the top of your burner. You don’t need to fill it to the brim, a thin layer works best.
- Heat it up: Light a tealight underneath or switch on your electric burner. Within minutes, the heat will release the fragrance into the room.
- Enjoy: Let the scent fill your space. Most people find that a couple of teaspoons will give off a strong scent for about 3 to 4 hours.
- Easy Cleanup: Once the scent has faded, let the burner cool down. Since the granules are still solid and dry, you can simply tip them straight into the bin. No scraping or scrubbing required!
3 Reasons Beginners Love Sizzlers
- Zero Mess: Because they stay solid, you don’t have to worry about spilling hot liquid wax on your carpet or furniture.
- Instant Scent: You don’t have to wait for a block of wax to melt. The scent starts releasing almost as soon as the salt gets warm.
- Safer Around Pets and Kids: If a burner gets knocked over, the dry crystals just scatter. They won’t cause the same scalding burns that hot liquid wax can.
Important Safety and Tips
- Never add water: Sizzlers are designed to be used completely dry. Adding water can mess up the scent and cause the burner to spit.
- The 4-Hour Tealight Rule: If you use a tealight burner, only use a standard 4-hour tealight. Larger 8-hour tealight candles can get too hot, which might scorch the fragrance or even crack your burner and cause a fire (we’ve saw this happen with smaller burners using 8 hour tealights which are not made for most wax melt burners).
- Electric Burner Power: If you use an electric burner, try to find one that is 40W. Low-power burners (like some 15W plug-ins) sometimes don’t get hot enough to give you a strong scent.
- Not for the bath: Even though they look like bath salts, do not put sizzlers in your bath water. The fragrance oils are much too strong for your skin and can cause irritation.
How do I know when they’re finished?
Since the salt doesn’t disappear, you have to look for two clues:
- Fading Colour: The crystals will start to look pale or turn white.
- The Nose Test: If you can no longer smell the fragrance in the room, it’s time to tip them out and start fresh.
Ready to try? Grab a bag of your favourite sizzler scents from our massive collection, pop a teaspoon in your burner and enjoy a mess-free, lush-smelling home!
