Stay Safe, Stay Cosy: Candle & Wax Melt Safety Tips for Autumn and Winter
Introduction – Stay Safe, Stay Cosy
As the nights draw in and the air turns crisp, there’s nothing quite like the comforting glow of a candle or the gentle fragrance of a wax melt warming in the corner. These little moments of light and scent make the darker months feel special, transforming ordinary evenings into cosy, calm rituals that help us unwind.
Autumn and winter are when candles and wax melts truly come into their own — the season of flickering flames, comforting aromas, and creating a warm atmosphere at home. But with that glow comes an important reminder: safety matters more than ever.
Every autumn and winter, as more homes fill with the glow of candles and melts, fire services report a seasonal rise in incidents caused by open flames. Thankfully, most of these are easily preventable — all it takes is a little care and awareness.
This guide is here to help you enjoy every cosy moment safely. Whether you’re lighting a candle after a long day or enjoying the gentle fragrance of a wax melt, these simple fire safety tips will help keep your home fragrant, peaceful, and protected all season long.
Why Safety Matters More in the Colder Months
When the clocks go back and the evenings grow longer, our homes naturally become places of warmth and retreat. It’s the time of year when candles flicker on coffee tables, wax melts glow softly in burners, and the scent of comfort fills the air. Yet it’s also the season when fire services see a noticeable rise in household fire incidents, often linked to the very things that make our spaces feel cosy.
According to the latest figures from the Home Office (year ending March 2025), Fire and Rescue Services in England attended 61,649 primary fires, with 208 fatalities reported in dwelling incidents. Of these, around 940 fires were caused by candles, and many more were linked to unsafe use of open flames or tealight burners. These numbers remain a powerful reminder that even a small lapse in caution can have serious consequences.
The truth is, most candle and wax melt fires are entirely preventable. A candle placed too close to a curtain, a tealight under the wrong burner, or leaving a flame unattended for just a few minutes — it doesn’t take much for a relaxing evening to turn risky.
That’s why, as we enjoy the simple pleasures of scent and glow this season, it’s worth taking a moment to make safety part of the ritual. With a few easy habits, you can keep the atmosphere warm, welcoming, and protected, while safeguarding what matters most — your home and peace of mind.
Candle Safety Essentials
Candles are one of the simplest ways to make your home feel warm, calm, and inviting, but they also need care and respect. Follow these 10 essential candle safety tips to enjoy the glow without worry this season.
1. Never leave a burning candle unattended.
Always stay in the same room while your candle is lit, and extinguish it before leaving or going to sleep.
2. Keep away from anything flammable.
Maintain at least 25–30cm of space between your candle and curtains, papers, dried flowers, or decorations.
3. Use a stable, heat-resistant surface.
Place candles on a solid base that won’t wobble or heat-mark furniture. Coasters, trays, or ceramic plates work perfectly.
4. Trim the wick before each burn.
A 5mm wick keeps the flame steady and prevents soot, smoke, or uneven burning.
5. Avoid draughts and vents.
Draughts can cause flickering, tunnelling, or excessive smoke. Keep candles away from open windows, fans, or radiators.
6. Burn for the right amount of time.
Follow the candle’s recommended burn time (usually 2–4 hours). Over-burning can overheat the jar or container.
7. Leave space between candles.
If burning more than one, keep at least 10cm apart so they don’t melt unevenly or amplify heat.
8. Keep out of reach of children and pets.
Curious paws and little hands can easily knock over candles or get burned — keep all flames safely elevated.
9. Extinguish with care.
Use a snuffer or gently dip the wick into melted wax to avoid splattering or smoking. Never blow too forcefully.
10. Stop burning when ½ inch of wax remains.
Once the wax level is low, extinguish and let it cool. Burning beyond this point risks cracking containers or overheating.
Every candle in our Hellomelts Collections are hand-poured with safety in mind — crafted from clean-burning wax, lead-free wicks, and clearly labelled safety instructions. With the right care, your candles will stay as safe as they are beautiful.
Wax Melt Safety Essentials
Wax melts are one of the easiest and most flame-efficient ways to fill your home with fragrance, but they still need mindful use to stay safe. Whether you prefer electric or tealight burners, follow these simple wax melt safety tips to keep your space cosy and worry-free.
1. Always use a suitable wax melt burner.
Only use burners designed for wax melts — not oil burners. The wrong type can overheat, crack, or release harmful fumes.
2. Check your tealight size.
Standard 4-hour tealights are ideal. Avoid oversized or long-burn tealights, as they can overheat the burner and damage surfaces.
3. Never overfill your burner dish.
Add one wax melt at a time or just enough to cover the base. Overfilling can cause overflow once the wax melts fully.
4. Keep your burner on a heat-resistant surface.
Just like with candles, protect your furniture by placing the burner on a coaster or tray.
5. Ensure good ventilation.
Burn in a well-ventilated room to allow fragrance to circulate and prevent heat build-up — especially with tealight burners.
6. Avoid direct sunlight and draughts.
Sunlight can soften wax too quickly, and draughts may cause uneven melting or flickering flames under tealight burners.
7. Allow wax to cool before handling.
Never move your burner while it’s still hot. Wait until the wax has solidified before cleaning or replacing it.
8. Change your melts safely.
To remove old wax, light the tealight for around 30 seconds until the base loosens slightly, then gently pop it out with cotton wool or tissue — no force or sharp tools needed.
9. Keep away from pets and children.
Burners stay hot long after the tealight is out — keep them elevated and out of reach.
10. Use responsibly with electric burners.
Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions and unplug when not in use. Check cords and bulbs regularly for wear.
Every Hellomelts wax melt is carefully formulated for safe, clean, and consistent fragrance. When used with care, they create the perfect ambience — rich in scent, low in worry, and full of seasonal comfort.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Even the most careful candle and wax melt lovers can slip into bad habits without realising it. Here are five of the most common mistakes people make — and how to avoid them — so your cosy moments stay safe, clean, and worry-free.
1. Burning candles for too long.
We’ve all done it — the evening gets comfy, and before you know it, your candle’s been burning for hours. Over-burning can cause containers to overheat or crack, and it actually shortens your candle’s lifespan. Aim for 2–4 hours max per session.
2. Overfilling wax melt burners.
Adding “just one more cube” might seem harmless, but too much wax can overflow once melted. Stick to just enough to cover the dish base — it gives the best scent throw without the mess or risk.
3. Burning in draughty areas.
Draughts cause flames to flicker, wax to tunnel, and scents to fade faster. Whether it’s a window, vent, or fan, even a small breeze can affect how your candle or melt performs.
4. Mixing different wax melts at once.
Blending fragrances can be fun — until it isn’t. Some scent combinations clash or become too strong. Stick to one melt at a time so each fragrance can shine as intended.
5. Leaving flames unattended.
It sounds obvious, but it’s the most common cause of candle-related incidents. Always extinguish flames before leaving a room, even “just for a minute.” Safety first, cosiness second — though with a bit of care, you can have both.
Good habits make all the difference. With a little awareness and consistency, your candles and wax melts will always deliver the comfort, scent, and peace of mind you expect — letting you enjoy every glow safely.
Hellomelts Commitment to Safety
Safety isn’t just a checklist — it’s part of every step we take. From the ingredients chosen to the way each product is tested and labelled, everything we create is designed to give you peace of mind while you enjoy your favourite scents.
Each Hellomelts candle is made from a clean-burning, natural wax blend that produces minimal soot and an even, steady flame. Our wicks are lead-free and responsibly sourced to ensure a consistent, safe burn from the first light to the final flicker.
Behind the scenes, we’re always testing and refining. Every batch is checked for burn quality, wick performance, and scent strength — because even the smallest difference in wax or wick type can change how a candle behaves. That attention to detail ensures each product burns beautifully and safely in your home.
Our wax melts are created for safe, even melting, delivering strong, lasting fragrance without overheating or residue. Every new scent is trialled across both tealight and electric burners to guarantee consistent performance.
We’re also committed to keeping things kind — to both you and the planet. Our recyclable packaging and safety labels outline proper usage and allergen details, so you always know exactly what’s in your products and how to use them responsibly.
Whether you’re lighting a candle or warming a wax melt, you can do it with complete confidence — knowing every Hellomelts product has been made with care, testing, and safety at its core.
Final Thoughts: Cosy Moments Done Safely
Candles and wax melts are so much more than fragrance — they’re part of what makes a house feel like a home. As the nights grow longer and the temperatures drop, those familiar flickers and scents bring comfort, calm, and a little daily luxury we all deserve.
Safety doesn’t take away from that magic — it makes it last longer. When you burn your candles mindfully or warm your favourite melts with care, you’re creating moments that are peaceful, beautiful, and worry-free. It’s all about balance: a little mindfulness for a lot of enjoyment.
At Hellomelts, we pour that same care into every candle and wax melt we make — so you can light, melt, and unwind with confidence. From our clean-burning candles to our long-lasting melts, each one is crafted to bring the perfect blend of scent, warmth, and peace into your home.
So as you settle into the season, let your space glow safely. Because cosy and careful go hand in hand — and every flame should make you feel right at home.
Explore the Autumn Collection
Browse our Candles in the Autumn Collection here →
Explore the Summer Collection
Browse our wax melt bars in the Summer Collection here →
Explore the Spring Collection
Discover more seasonal favourites, including Lime, Basil and Mandarin here →
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