Technically speaking, wax melts are not the same thing as candles since they don't have a wick. Nonetheless, these small wax blocks, usually highly scented and designed to be melted (hence their name) in an oil burner, have become immensely popular with the general public and consequently with the more traditional candle makers. Easy to make, the fact that they're never in contact with a flame allows for a great freedom when it comes to decorating them; they can for instance include decorative elements that would be a real fire hazard if used in a wicked candle.