Setting the tone of your home can be hard. You’ve tried your hand at design, but something is still missing. Visual aesthetics are important, but scent is the most powerful of all five senses because it is linked to where we store emotions and memories more directly than the others. Candles are the traditional medium to give your home a signature scent, but wax warmers are the latest and greatest option you should consider. Here’s why.

7 reasons to switch to the warmer side

1. They’re extremely durable

Typically, wax warmers have a ceramic body and either a ceramic or silicone warming plate, which makes them durable to direct heat exposure from the light bulb warming the wax underneath. The most recommended wax warmers on Amazon range from $14 to $25, and when properly cared for, can last a while.

To increase the life of your warmer, clean it weekly with cotton balls and a gentle cleaning agent after removing wax from the plate. This ensures the wax residue won’t affect the integrity of the ceramic.

2. They’re flame-free

Arguably the most attractive feature of an electric wax warmer is that it’s flameless. This is beneficial for a number of reasons, with safety and lack of smoke among the top reasons. If you’ve ever forgotten to put out a candle, you know how scary it can be. Twenty-one candle fires are reported every day in the US. Minimize the risk of fire greatly by taking burning out of the equation.

Since you aren’t burning any wax, just warming it, there isn’t any soot to blow away. Every time a candle is re-lit, you are reintroducing soot into your home’s air, increasing risk of irritating respiratory illnesses and creating pollution. Especially if you have pets and children, wax warmers are a no-brainer when it comes to prioritizing safety.

3. Wax melts last longer than candles

Candles and wax melts are measured in ounce and burn time. A typical sixteen-ounce candle has a burn time of 60 to 84 hours­—that’s about five hours per ounce. Just one, one-ounce cube of wax typically melts for eight hours before losing its scent. Keep in mind that wax melts typically come in a pack of eight cubes, meaning one pack of wax melts has a combined burn time of 64 hours or more, depending on the brand.

4. Wax melts are typically paraben free

Mainstream candle suppliers often use an inexpensive form of wax called paraffin wax. While it cuts costs for the company, it is at a great health expense to you. Paraffin is a by-product of petroleum. A study sponsored by the National Institute of Food and Culture found that, when burned, paraffin releases benzene, a known carcinogen. While researchers are still trying to determine the risks of using these candles, it’s best to avoid it altogether if you can.

Luckily, most wax melts are made from soy or beeswax, which is nontoxic. Some main name brand suppliers still use paraffin in wax melts, so be careful when shopping. There are also a number of people creating all-natural wax melts as a business or hobby, which you can support through sites like Etsy.

5. They’re cheaper than candles

The average price of a large pillar or jar candle in the US is $35. Sometimes you can find them discounted or purchase small tea lights that cost an average $1.99, but they are not as high quality or as scented as wax melts. The average cost of a pack of eight cube wax melts is around $5. When you do the math, you’re spending $0.33 per burn hour for a candle and just $0.06 per burn hour for wax melts!

6. Their fragrances are controllable

The indecisive can rejoice in the scent control of wax warmers. As opposed to a traditional candle, when you need a new scent you can switch it easily by letting your current wax cool, removing it, and adding a different cube.

Further, if the scent is either too strong or not strong enough, you can control how much of the wax melt you burn and how often you add or remove scent. Simply add more melt or cool the current wax and break in half.

7. It’s fun!

Watching the wax melt and choosing a wax warmer can be fun to do! There are many scents and warmers to choose from, so you’re bound to find the perfect ones for you and your home.

Scents to consider purchasing

Sometimes you need a pick-me-up to help you through different tasks or to experience different emotions, and if you utilize the power of aromatherapy, it can also be a boost to your health.

Scents to enhance creativity

• Lemon: Increases faster recall time; potentially access information and ideas more easily.
• Vanilla: Invokes feelings of warmth and joy, often opening neural pathways to release chemicals linked to creativity.

Scents to boost energy and focus

• Cinnamon: Can improve your attention processes and motor skill response time.
• Eucalyptus spearmint: Has memory-enhancing properties.

Scents to help relax you

• Lavender: Reduces feelings of anxiety and depression, and helps fight insomnia.
• Apple: Can have a positive effect on reducing migraines.