- How to make wax melts using naturalingredients
- How to make wax melts using leftover candles
- 3 expert tips for making amazing wax melts
Looking for a way to brighten up your home? Popping a wax melt into a burner can instantly change the atmosphere of your not-so-humble abode. From the moment it unleashes fresh scents into the room, you will notice a remarkable difference. Not only do essential oil-infused melts smell amazing, but they may also lift your mood too.
Research published in the Psychoneuroendocrinology Journal suggests that smelling certain essential oils can improve a person’s mood and boost their immune system. In particular, the study found that lemon oil had a positive effect on people’s moods when they smelt it. However, rather surprisingly, lavender oil did not have the same effect.
So, how can you get started and benefit from these scented treats? While there are plenty of shop-bought options available, it’s far more satisfying to make homemade wax melts instead. Fortunately, whether you want to use natural ingredients or leftover candle wax, learning how to make wax melts is simple. Here’s a quick guide to help you out.
Editor's Note: This post was originally posted in June 2020 and has been completely revamped and updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness in August 2022.
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How to make wax melts using natural ingredients
Ready to make your home smell spectacular? We hear you! Believe it or not, making wax melts with natural ingredients is super simple. The whole process will take around 20 minutes (plus a couple of hours for the melts to solidify). Here’s what you need to know.
Ingredients
- 15-20ml essential oils*
- 200g beeswax beads
- 100g coconut oil
- 10g of candle dye (add more for a stronger colour)
* Choose any type of essential oil (or an essential oils blend!) that suits you.
Equipment
- Heat-proof glass bowl
- Saucepan
- Large spoon
- Silicone ice cube tray
Method
1. Bring a saucepan of water to a simmer
Fill a saucepan with around 300ml of water and bring it to a simmer on the hob.
2. Melt the beeswax, coconut oil & candle dye
Put thebeeswax,coconut oil and candle dye into the heat-proof glass bowl. Place the bowl over the simmering water so that it begins to heat up. Use a large spoon to gently stir theingredients as it melts.
TOP TIP: Coconut oil has a whole host of incredible beauty benefits, too. Use up your leftovers with one of our favourite methods.
3. Add essential oil
When the oil and beeswax have combined, take them off the heat. Add the essential oil of your choice and stir well.
Did you know that essential oils have over 40 amazing uses? Take a look!
4. Pour into moulds
Evenly distribute your wax melt mixture into the ice cube tray. (Note: You should choose a tray with small cavities so that the melts will fit in a burner!)
Ice cube trays are an absolute must in any household - take a look at the many weird and wonderful uses for them now.
5. Enjoy your wax melts!
Leave the tray in a cool place and allow the wax melts to solidify. After a couple of hours, your homemade wax melts will be ready to use. You can pop them out of the tray and store them in some Tupperware or a sealable bag. Simple.
How to make wax melts using leftover candles
Can you turn an old candle into wax melts? The short answer is yes! However, you should note that this method will only work for leftover scented candles. You should not attempt to use the wax from a plain candle and add essential oils to it. It simply won’t be successful.
On the other hand, if your favourite scented candle is about to bite the dust, here’s a quick way you can save it. Creating some homemade wax melts using it takes minutes. Without further ado, here’s how it's done:
- Start by removing the leftover scented candle from its container. You should slice the wax into small shavings to make it easy to melt.
- Place the shavings into the heat-proof bowl. Bring around 300ml of water to simmer in a saucepan and put the bowl over the top of the water.
- Use the large spoon to stir the candle wax until it has melted and is smooth. (Note: The more candle wax you have, the longer this part of the method will take!)
- Pour the melted wax into the ice cube tray and leave them in a cool place to solidify. Again, when they are solid, you can store them in some Tupperware or a sealable bag.
3 expert tips for making amazing wax melts
Now that you know how to make wax melts at home, let’s take things up a notch. Before you get started and whip up a batch of homemade wax melts, there are a few things you should know. Here are three expert tips that will help you perfect this art form.
1. Experiment with essential oil blends
Why not create a soothing blend of essential oils that work well together? When you’re making your wax melts from natural ingredients, you should feel free to try out various combinations. For instance, citrus fragrances tend to compliment each other well. You could mix lemon, lime and orange for a totally fresh scent.
2. Use as much oil as you like
Use as much oil as you need. Many people question how much fragrance per pound of wax you need. However, the truth of the matter is that it’s up to you. It may be a case of trial and error when you first get started, but you will soon find your feet.
3. Try using fancy moulds
Whether you’re giving your homemade wax melts to someone as a gift or using them yourself, you want them to look attractive. Using fancy ice cube trays or moulds could be the answer. You can make different shaped wax melts, such as stars, hearts, or more.
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Q&A
How do you make homemade wax melts?
Making homemade wax melts is easier than you might imagine! You don’t need to be a DIY expert or avid crafter to get it right. As we have shown here, you can make wax melts using natural ingredients and things you have in your kitchen. Simple.
How do you make wax melts smell stronger?
Put simply, the more essential oil you put in your wax melts, the stronger they will smell. Since everyone is different, you can decide how strong you want your homemade wax melts to smell. When you’re making your first batch, experiment with different scents and quantities until you find something that’s perfect for you.
How do you melt wax?
Melting candle wax isn’t hard at all. Break the candle up into small pieces to get started. Next, put the pieces into a heat-proof glass bowl. Bring water to a simmer in a saucepan and place the bowl over the water. Stir the mixture as the wax begins to melt evenly.
Do wax melts lose their scent?
When you burn your homemade wax melts, they will release a remarkable scent into your home. So long as you store your melts in an air-tight container, you should not find that they lose their smell over time. However, this will depend on the type of wax melt you tend to use and how much essential oil it contains. The quality can differ greatly.
How can you make wax melts last longer?
The wax will melt at a steady pace when the burner is on. However, if you want to make your wax melts last longer, try using a timer. When you’re using your homemade wax melts, set a clock for 15-20 minutes. That’s all you need to get your home smelling beautiful. When the time is up, blow out the candle under the wax melt burner.
By only melting your wax for short periods, you can make sure that it lasts longer than it otherwise would. Continuously burning wax melts will mean that you get through them super fast and you may not notice a huge change in the scent of your home.
Can you sell homemade wax melts?
Ready to unleash your entrepreneurial spirit? When it comes to how to make wax melts to sell, there are a few things to consider. It’s not as straightforward as you might imagine.
Before you get started, you should set up as either a sole trader or limited company on HMRC so you can pay tax on the money you make. You will want to familiarise yourself with your local Trading Standards office and check their guidelines.
Aside from that, when you are selling commercial products, you need to make sure that you comply with The General Product Safety Regulations 2005. While there’s no specific law on wax melts or candles, they should also comply with European Standards. Needless to say, you should ensure that your homemade wax melts are safe to use and non-toxic.
According to the Companies Act 2006, customers have a right to know who they are dealing with when buying products via e-commerce. For that reason, whenever you’re selling products online, you need to make sure that you provide your business name, legal ownership name and a business address too.
Finally, you should also consider getting business insurance to ensure that you are covered should you have any problems when trading. Once you’ve ticked all of the above boxes (which sound way more daunting than they are!), you’re good to go!
Let us know how you get on in the comments below! You can also share your creations with us on social media.
