Wax tarts are basically scented wax (candles) without a wick and all you do is melt them in a potpourri or tart burner. The tarts get heated and fill the room (or whole house) with aroma. They were originally created because chandlers (the Old English term for candle makers) were searching for something to do with their left over wax after pouring candles. Due to their "pastry tart-like" shape, they became commonly referred to as "tarts". However, nowadays they come in many different shapes and are also called - wax melts, scent chips, candle melts, candle tarts, or wax potpourri melts. Within the past few years wax tarts have become an increasingly popular scented item and some prefer them over candles now for various reasons, such as:
Wax Tarts heat up quickly, thereby emitting aroma faster than candles. Wax Tarts do not have an open flame and do not produce any smoke if burned properly (see burning tips below). Wax Tarts are an inexpensive way to try new scents or experiment with blending your own unique fragrances. You can control the strength of the aroma in your home depending upon how many melts you place in your burner at one time. Wax Tarts provide an easy way to have a variety of scents in different rooms of your home. (Ex: Hot Apple Pie in the Kitchen, Sandalwood in the Bedroom and Ocean Mist in the Bathroom.) Some believe they have a stronger, longer lasting aroma than candles.
Wax Tart Burning Tips
Place your Wax Tarts in a well ventilated, tart approved potpourri or tart burner and never add water. These come in a variety of styles - Some use tea lights or low wattage bulbs and some are electric. Never use an oil warmer, heat on a stove or use any other non-certified tart appliance; they get too hot! Do not allow the flame to touch the underside of the melt bowl (part where the wax tart sits). There should be at least a two inch clearance or it could catch on fire. Some tea light tart burners are not made properly and do not allow enough distance between the flame and the melting bowl. Just because it's called a tart burner doesn't mean it's a SAFE tart burner and there are many unsafe ones on the market. So please remember to check the clearance before purchasing one. Do not heat if the melting bowl contains less than 1/2" of wax. If using an electric potpourri pot, always use one that is UL listed for safety assurance.
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