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Gel wax melts are basically chunks of transparent wax that are made from petroleum products. The chunks are infused with fragrance or essential oils that fill the space they are placed in with a scented aroma when melted in a wax melt warmer. Gel wax melts are safe for use because they do not produce flame or soot that is toxic to the health.
Gel wax melts (or wax melts in general) are a safer alternative to scented candles. Although they might not give off the romantic atmosphere candles produce; if your aim for purchasing scented candles is the aroma, then gel wax melts are a better option because of the health benefits they offer.
Continue reading to learn more about gel wax melts to determine if they are toxic and also how to safely use them.
Are Gel Wax Melts Toxic?
Although there are concerns about the makeup of gel wax melts since they do contain chemicals; however, there hasn’t been proof that gel wax melts are toxic to human health.
On the contrary, they are an even safer and preferable option to candles since they do not have wicks, which means no flame. It produces the aroma trapped within it when heated with or placed on a wax melt warmer.
In addition to being soot-free, gel melts don’t release Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) as scented candles do, the wax only functions as a carrier of the aroma. Also, with gel wax melts, you can control the intensity of the scents since the wax melts come in small chunks. You can break and use as many as you’d like and if you have different flavors, you can mix them to get a unique scent.
How to Safely Use Gel Melts
Among the different types of wax melts, gel melts are considered to be one of the most fragile which is why you must pay special attention when using them.
To properly use your gel wax melts, follow the safety tips outlined below:
- Avoid using glass wax melt warmers. The reason is simple, gel wax melts burn when they are heated, so using a glass wax melt warmer is risky because it could explode if the wax overheats. Rather than using a glass wax melt, make use of a ceramic wax melt.
- If you are using tea candles as your source of heat, then you should use candles that burn less than four hours since bigger candles will burn too close to the gel melt, which will make the melting heat faster and ultimately cause a fire outbreak. Also, when using candles, make sure to constantly watch it.
- Avoid buying wax melt warmers smaller than 10cm in height. Using small warmers shortens the distance between the heat source and the gel wax melt which increases the melting time of the wax.
- Ensure to choose gel melts that use fragrance oils with less polarity. This is because gel wax melts are made up of 95% mineral oil and 5% polymer resin, so the fragrance oils should be soluble to be a compatible fit. Since there are no non-polar fragrance oils, isobar solvents are being used to reduce the polarity level.
- Once you are done heating the gel melt, wait for it to cool down before removing it. Gel wax melts burns at a temperature higher than those of other wax, so it takes a longer time to cool.
- When choosing gel melts that are infused with essential oils, make sure to choose the ones that are safe for children and pets if you live with them.
