How to make wax melts in 6 easy steps
Consider yourself a candle connoisseur? Scented candles make a home feel cosy and inviting – but if you use your craft skills, you won't need to buy candles. Knowing how to make wax melts is a fun hobby than anyone can try and it could save you money.
Wax melts are also referred to as wax tarts and they're a relatively new way to make your home smell amazing. They're essentially a chunk of scented wax that releases fragrance when they're melted, and you can do this in an oil burner heated with a tealight.
How is a wax melt different from candles?
Unlike candles, wax melts don’t have a wick. They need to be heated in either a tealight or an electric wax burner. They also don’t evaporate like candle wax, so you can keep reusing and reheating your wax melt several times. When the wax stops producing a fragrance, that's when you know it's time to replace it.
Wax melts are a more affordable option because you can easily make them at home. Once you've made a bar, you can then break it up into smaller pieces so that you can add fragrance in all the different rooms of your home. You can also make small wax melts using moulds. These are available in every shape you can image from hearts to letters.
Knowing how to make wax melts is a skill you'll use again and again. Wax melts are a great gift throughout the year as you can personalise the colour and fragrance for the recipient.
To colour your homemade wax melts you can either use white soya wax flakes and add candle dyes or mica powder, or you can use coloured wax which often comes in small beads, making them easy to melt.
Fancying giving wax melt making a go? We've rounded up what you need to know to have a go at making wax melts yourself, with useful tips from the experts at Cosy Owl.
What do you need to make wax melts?
Cooker hob
You'll need a hob so that you can melt your wax.
Pan
This is where you'll melt the wax into, a Bain Marie is ideal.
Moulds
There are moulds available in every design imaginable, from bars you can break into smaller pieces to shaped objects.
Pouring jug
To help you pour your melted wax into the moulds measure quantities.
Stirrers
So help the wax melts evenly.
Thermometer
This is how you'll know your wax is ready for the fragrance to be added.
Fragrance
There are many candle fragrances to choose from aromatherapy scents to retro sweet flavours.
Mica powders
These add colour and sparkle to your wax melts.
Wax melt essentials
We spoke to the experts at candle-making specialists Cosy Owl for their advice and tips on how to make wax melts.
Follow their six simple steps for how to make wax melts...
STEP 1
Only weigh out as much wax as you need for your chosen mould because it's tricky to know what to do with leftover wax and you don’t want to waste it. Don’t discard wax down down your sink or use it in a dishwasher. Put your wax into your container and turn on your hob.
STEP 2
For soy wax melts, Cosy Owl recommends melting the wax at 76°C to 82°C (169°F to 180°F), however check the instructions on the wax that you're using as temperatures can vary. Heat your wax in a pan until it melts through and give it a good stir.
STEP 3
Check the fragrance oil flash point temperature before adding it to the wax. The flashpoint of a fragrance is the temperature where the oil will start to evaporate. You can find it out from the packaging. Don't be tempted to guess, every scent has a different temperature at which it needs to be added. To ensure the wax melts keep a good scent, the fragrance oil needs to be added to the wax at its specific flash point number. Use your candle making thermometer so that you know when to add the oil.
STEP 4
If you're adding dye, try to ensure you mix the wax and dye together without creating air pockets. Cosy Owl recommends using a 'figure of 8' mixing technique to help incorporate all the dye into the wax.
STEP 5
If you're using mica powder, use as much as your heart desires! The more you put in, the more your wax melt will shimmer with colour. It can also be added as an extra once the wax has been poured into the moulds to add even more sparkle on top.
STEP 6
Before pouring your wax into the moulds, check it's at a safe temperature to do so – if it's over 50°C, take it off the heat and waiting for the wax to cool. This is where your candle thermometer will come in handy again.
If this has whetted your appetite for all things waxy and you fancy giving candle making a go at home, we’ve also rounded up some of the best candle making kits on the market.
Happy crafting!
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