But what do you do at those times when a flame just isn’t possible, but you’d still like to enjoy your favorite candle “flavor”?

The problem could be as simple as not having a match or lighter handy. Or, as absolutely insurmountable as living in a school or military dorm room where open flames just plain aren’t allowed.

Fortunately, there is a solution …

Over the past couple of years, flameless scented melts have become quite popular.

There are even whole corporations built entirely around the concept of non-burning candles; although most candle companies simply have a product line devoted to different flavors of wax melts. I have seen them sold individually, but most of the time they come in bags of a dozen or two small oval wickless “candles”.

Unlike traditional candles that have a somewhat predictable “burn rate”, in my experience the amount of time that a scent will last can vary depending on the type of wax, the specific scent, and even the method that you use to melt it. But generally speaking, melting will almost always produce a longer lasting aroma than burning a similar sized candle in the normal way.

How do you melt a candle?

There are probably a wide variety of ways to use scented melts, but here are two that I’m most familiar with:

1. Purchase a simmer pot that is made specifically for the little oval shaped scented wax melts. Many companies sell these right there on their website, alongside the candles and melts. They work exactly as advertised.
2. Or for those who prefer a more “gery rigged” method, you can simply pick-up a cheap little potpuri pot the next time you’re in Walmart, and use it to melt a votive candle. Most votive candles have a metal or plastic disk on the bottom of the candle to keep the wick in place. What I do, is simply pull this disk off, and the wick along with it. Then take a knife and cut the votive in half or thirds. Place it in the potpuri pot, and voila! you’ve just made a “poor man’s” melt.

Which ever method you use, melting a candle is an easy way to fill your house with your favorite scent (even all night long) … without taking the risk of leaving an open flame unattended.

So what do you think … is it time to go flameless?