A wickless candle is a name for a wax candle that does not have a traditional wick. Wax carries the scent. Traditionally, candles are made with a flame and a wick to carry the fire from one end of the candle to another. The flame heats the wax and allows it to evaporate into the air around it—and then we get those lovely scents. But what if there were no flames? What if somehow there was still melting candle wax but no flame? Well, then you would have a wickless candle!
What exactly are wickless candles?
It’s a fairly new kind of candle that’s gaining popularity in the United States. Like traditional candles, wickless candles are made from wax. Wickless candles come in many different types of wax. For example, soy wax and beeswax are both viable options if you're looking for something natural-looking or inspired by nature (as beeswax smells like honey). Paraffin wax may also be an option if you want your scent to last longer than usual because paraffin can withstand high temperatures. Finally, gel waxes are also an option. Since there is no wick and flame, wickless candles can carry a larger amount of fragrance oil, which allows for a long-lasting, superb scent throw.
How do wickless candles work?
Wicking is a method of transferring liquid from one place to another. It's used in candles, which are made of wax and fragrance oil, and contain a wick that soaks up the melted wax and drips it onto an area where it can burn. Wickless candles can be melted over time by heat from an electric or tealight wax warmer. Some electric warmers work like a hot plate that warms the wax from the bottom up, while others are little lamps that warm the wax from the top down. Either option is suitable for wickless candles!
Do wickless candles smell as strong as traditional candles?
Yes! Since there is no flame, we can use a higher percentage of fragrance oil. The scent throw is easily comparable to a traditional candle. (Sometimes even a better scent throw!) And while the wax is not consumed by a flame, wickless candles potentially have a scent throw for weeks.
Are wickless candles safe to use around pets and children?
Wickless candles are non-toxic, but you should always keep the candle out of the reach of children and pets. Just because a product is non-toxic does not mean it won’t cause an acute stomach ache if eaten. At CWC Candles, we use clean fragrance oils that shouldn’t negatively affect humans or pets (allergy is an example of exception) and contain no known toxins.
Are wickless candles cleaner than traditional candles?
To an extent, yes! Since wickless candles don't use a flame, they don't have any of the soot or smoke associated with burning or extinguishing. This means that you can keep your room smelling fresh and clean without worrying about it getting dirty. Most candles are tested beyond reason to make sooting/smoking a minimum issue, but there are a lot of environmental factors that could contribute to that feature of candle burning. Wickless candles eliminate that.
Wickless candles are safer than traditional candles because they do not use a flame. So if you do use it near a curtain and a breeze blows that curtain into your candle, you only need to worry about the mess of a waxy curtain rather than a burned-down house. This is why wickless candles are perfect for offices and dorms, as well as for those who just choose to not use a combustible for personal reasons.
How do you melt a wickless candle?
How do you melt a wickless candle? There are a few different ways to do it. The most obvious is to use a candle warmer, which is essentially just an electric heating pad that surrounds the candle and melts the wax. They also make wax warmers that heat the candle from the top. There is also the option to use a traditional tea light warmer, but that does defeat the purpose of a wickless candle.
Wickless candles can provide a similar experience as traditional wax-scented candles but with less worry about fires.
For those who want the experience of a scented candle without the risk of fire, there are wickless candles. These are similar to traditional wax-based scented candles but do not require combustion, i.e. a wick and flame, to throw the scent. Wickless candles can provide a similar experience as traditional wax-scented candles but with less worry about fire or injury. If you're looking for an alternative to traditional candles that produce, this is a great option for you!
Now that you know more about wickless candles, you can choose the right option for your home. If you’re looking for something traditional, reach out to us at CWC Candles! We have a variety of scents available in our online store.