Learn how to make DIY wax melts with essential oils and fill any room in your home with fragrance. Natural, non-toxic materials are perfect for refreshing a room. Wax warmers can be lovely home accents and great to refresh any space of your house. If you use an electric wax warmer, you don’t even have to worry about a flame.
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Homemade wax melts
I love walking into a room and being greeted by a fresh scent, especially in areas where I spend a lot of time like my desk or living room.
When I recently received a beautiful wax warmer from a dear friend (thanks Gemma!), I decided to put it good use by making my own wax melts with soy wax and an aromatic blend of essential oils.
And honestly, making wax melts is infinitely more fun than buying them, right? Plus, you can create any scent, shape or size you want to match your preference or occasion. So let’s do this and read on to learn how to make DIY wax melts with essential oils at home!
Materials and supplies for DIY wax melts
Pouring your own wax melts is pretty simple, and I find it easier than pouring container candles. Before talking about fragrance options, let’s have a look at the materials you need to make your own wax melts at home:
Soy wax
As the name suggests,waxis the main ingredient. I recommend to use soy wax, which is a neutral wax, has an excellent scent throw and melts evenly.
I usedGolden Brands 464 soy waxto create this citronella candle recipe. This soy wax burns cleanly, has a high fragrance load and will produce great looking wax melts.
My recipe uses 300 g (10 oz) soy wax, which means you can add up to 54 g (1.9 oz) essential of fragrance oil(s).
Personally, I found that 35 g (1.2 oz) gives a lovely scent throw that is perfect to fragrance your workplace or a small room. However, if you prefer a strong scent throw simply go higher than that.
The scent load for other soy waxes usually ranges between 6% to 12%, so make sure to follow the recommendations of the manufacturer.
Wax dye
I usedwax dyeto give my melts pretty colors. Anysoy candle dyethat is suitable for pillar or container candles is ideal for this project. If you skip the dye, your wax melts will be white, which is pretty as well.
I think adding a little bit of color is fun and also helps you to distinguish different wax melts when you make more than one fragrance.
Wax melt mold
Finally, you need asilicone or plastic moldto form the melts. I used afloral moldthat produced cute, little flowers. Any type of soap or candy mold works. You can also use the mold for soap-making or DIY beauty projects afterwards. But please don’t prepare food in the mold.
Essential oils blends for spring
Wax melts are very versatile, and you can pretty much add any essential oils you want. I love the ability to create a certain mood or change the scent according to the different seasons of the year.
Since spring is almost here (yay to that!), I have put together a few ideas for essential oil blends that capture the spirit of spring. I also stated mixing ratios, which you can adapt to your personal preferences.
Refreshing & Revitalizing
- lemongrass(2 parts)
- eucalyptus(1 part)
- ginger(1 part)
Sweetly Floral
- tuberose absolute(2 parts)
- geraniumorrose geranium(1 parts)
- ylang-ylang(1 part)
- rosewood(1 part)
Soft & Calming
- chamomile(1 part)
- bergamot(1 part)
- blue cypress(1 part)
How to make DIY wax melts with essential oils at home
Making homemade wax melts is an easy and straightforward process: measure out the ingredients, melt the wax either in the microwave or over a double boiler, add the dye and fragrance, then pour and let harden.
Using a glass jug makes pouring easier. It’s also a good idea to place the molds on a tray or cutting board so you can easily lift the mold without spilling liquid wax.
To get the best scent throw, use a digital laser thermometer, so you know when to add the essential oils and when it’s time to pour the wax. I have stated the proper temperatures in the instructions.
Gift homemade wax melts
Wax melts are an excellent DIY gift idea: they’re easy to create, the cost of the materials won’t break the bank, and you can make them in advance to have them ready when you need a last-minute gift.
I give wax tarts all year round for many occasions, such as birthday presents, hostess gifts, party favors, or to say thank you. These spring-themed flower wax melts are also perfect little gifts for wedding, bridal and baby showers, and adorable Easter basket stuffers.
DIY Wax Melts Recipe
Yield: 12 - 20 wax melts
Active Time: 30 minutes
Cooling Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Difficulty: easy
Learn how to make DIY wax melts with essential oils and fill any room in your home with fragrance. Natural, non-toxic materials are perfect for refreshing a room. Wax warmers can be lovely home accents and great to refresh any space of your house. If you use an electric wax warmer, you don’t even have to worry about a flame.
Materials
- 300 g (10 oz) soy wax flakes or pellets (I used Golden Brands 464 soy wax)
- wax dye (I used the light green and pink from this candle dye kit)
- 35 g (1.2 oz) essential oils (see tips above)
Instructions
- Melt the wax. Place the wax in a microwave-safe jug or container and melt in 30-second intervals in the microwave set to medium-high. Stir the melting wax between each interval. Alternatively, put the wax into a heatproof bowl or container and melt over a double boiler.
Tip: It’s important not to overheat the wax while melting. Otherwise, the wax melts may show little white specks. Don’t worry if this happens, the melts are still good to use. - Add the dye and fragrance. Add the dye and stir until entirely incorporated. If the color doesn’t mix, microwave on low for a few seconds. Add the essential oils or fragrance once the wax has cooled to 65°C (150°F) and combine thoroughly. If you want to use different scents and dyes, divide the wax equally between different jugs, and proceed as described.
- Pour and chill the wax. Slowly stir the wax until it has cooled down to 50°C (125°F). Carefully pour the wax into the cavities of the mold. Let the melts harden in a cool place for several hours or overnight.
Tip: I don’t recommend putting the cooling the mold in the fridge as cooling down the wax too fast can result in cracks. - Release the wax melts from the mold. Once the wax has completely hardened, pop the melts out of the silicone mold.
Notes
I recommend using heatproof glass jugs or containers for melting and pouring wax as wax can be tricky to clean. If you use a plastic container keep in mind that some wax dyes can discolor plastic. Afterwards use warm, soapy water to clean the jug or container.
How to use DIY wax melts at home
Heat 2 to 3 wax melts in the tray of a melt warmer. Let the heat melt the wax to diffuse the fragrance into the room.
Do not touch the heated wax to avoid burns. If wax remains in the tray after use, wait until the wax is cold and has solidified, then press the wax out of the bowl.
Mix and match different melts to create your personal blend.
You can also put the wax melts in an organza bag and use it to fragrance a drawer, cupboard, or closet.
Storing the wax melts
It’s best to store these homemade wax tarts in an airtight container in a cool and dark place to retain the scent and color.
