How to Make Your Own Wax Melts at Home
Get ready to treat yourself! Ever wondered how to make wax melts? DIY wax melts are the ultimate therapeutic self-care project. Read more to learn how to make your own wax melts at home.
What are Wax Melts?
A wax melt is a small piece of scented wax heated by a wax warmer to release heavenly fragrances around your home. A wax melt is a candle’s sibling, albeit there is no flame when a wax melt is warmed.
Candlemakers created wax melts while trying to figure out a use for their leftover candle wax. The melts can come in different shapes, sizes, and colors. The most common shapes are bars, cubes, or other shapes like stars. Wax melts are also commonly referred to as wax tarts or wax cubes.
Wax melts are often used for aromatherapy, with various scents sparking different feelings and benefits. They get their scent from clean, natural essential oils instead of fragrance, which is commonly used in candle making. Essential oils are a natural alternative to fragrance, which releases chemicals into the air that can potentially be unhealthy in high amounts.
Which Essential Oils to Use
There are many different essential oils you can imbue wax melts with. Each oil draws unique aromatherapeutic properties from the natural ingredients it was distilled from, so the sky’s the limit when deciding on how you want your wax melts to smell. For example, peppermint may remind you of the joyful feelings the wintery holiday season invites. Here are a few recommendations that you can find at Public Goods!
Lavender Essential Oil
Lavender is a gentle versatile scent known to wash you with calming tranquility. It promotes balance, relaxation, and a wellness atmosphere. The perfect aroma for bedtime!
Eucalyptus Essential Oil
This essential oil is known for its cleansing properties. It’s invigorating scent supports mental focus and sinus relief. Allergy season doesn’t stand a chance against this oil!
Peppermint Essential Oil
A holiday favorite! The minty aroma provides a cooling effect that helps your concentration and promotes focus. This oil would make a great study buddy.
Rosemary Essential Oil
The energizing scent of rosemary is said to boost memory, reduce hair loss, and relieve pain and stress. Warm up a rosemary wax melt and banish burnout for the day.
How to Make Wax Melts
There’s no secret to making your own wax melts! DIY wax melts can be made in six simple steps with a few simple ingredients and household items. In fact, the only item you’re unlikely to have already is the wax warmer itself.
Wax Melt Ingredients
- Wax flakes
- Color dye (optional)
- Silicone mold (an ice cube tray works too)
- Essential oils of your choice
Tools You’ll Need
- Pipette
- Spoon
- Saucepan
- Thermometer
- Glass measuring cup
- Wax warmer
With everything in one place, it’s time to start the process.
Step One: Prep your area
Clear a surface to make sure you have plenty of room for a potential mess. Before making wax melts, you want to remove any items in case of spillages.
Step Two: Melt the Wax
There are two different ways to heat your wax. One method is to place your wax flakes into a heat-proof container. Set the container into a saucepan. Then fill the pan with water about halfway up the sides of the jar. Another method is the microwave. Warming it in the microwave requires you to heat it in 30-second intervals, followed by a stir for a total of two minutes.
Step Three: Check the Temperature
Allow the wax to simmer and completely melt. Use a thermometer to check the temperature. It’s always a good idea to look and see if the wax you’re using has any specific temperature guidelines.
Step Five: Add Your Essential Oil
Once fully melted, remove the container from the heat. Let it cool for 3 minutes. Add the essential oil of your choice, then stir. During this step, color can be added as well. Make your wax melt as fragrant as you want! Stir everything for about two minutes. Look through our selection of essential oils for some scent inspiration! Don’t be shy to buy!
DIY wax melts have no limit to how much oil you should add. The amount depends on how strong you want your homemade wax to smell once it’s heated. Start with two tablespoons but don’t be afraid to experiment!
Step Six: Pour the Wax
Carefully pour the wax into the mold of your choice to allow it to cool. You should leave your wax melts for two hours. For the best aromatic results, you should let them fully set for 24 to 48 hours.
Tip: Your wax can cool quickly after stirring. If you let it cool too much the wax will become too firm to pour into the molds.
How to Use a Wax Warmer
To use your wax melts, place between one to three on top of your wax warmer. The heat source used to melt the wax varies. Some warmers use electricity, while others use a tealight candle. If a tealight candle is being used, it must be blown out when you’re done using it.
How to Clean a Wax Warmer
It is important to maintain your wax warmer to keep it working effectively. Luckily, one benefit of the warmer is its easy upkeep. Once the wax is done melting, it’ll return to a firm state. Make sure the wax is completely hardened before removal to avoid a mess! If electric, make sure to unplug your warmer after use. An effective way to remove the wax is by popping it out with a plastic knife. After that, you can either throw away the leftover wax or use it to make candles.
How Long Do Wax Melts Last?
Your wax melt should be swapped out whenever the scent can’t be smelled while the warmer is on. The aroma expectancy varies from melt to melt. For some, this could be as often as 5 to 8 hours, meanwhile, others may be able to hold up for a full day. An entire wax bar can last 50 to 80 hours.
Benefits of DIY Wax Melts
Using wax cubes creates a natural aroma in your home. They take heat slowly while releasing a lovely scent without burning the oils. There are a number of advantages to using wax melts.
They’re Safe
The warmer is the wax melt’s wick. A nice alternative for candle-lovers. Unlike its flamed counterpart, the wax melts are wickless. The wax tarts are usually melted by an electric warmer that has a bulb that can warm it within five minutes.
They’re Fun
Making wax melts can become a fun science experiment for children! Let them in on the creative process by letting them stir or watch it go from a liquid to a solid. Not only is it fun for the kiddos but also for the adults! Let your creativity run wild with the melts! Mix and match different oils. Make the melts rainbow-colored hearts.
They’re Green
Take them wherever you go! They can be placed anywhere from the comfort of your home to the top of your desk at the office. People often use wax melts as a replacement for using paraffin wax candles in their homes. Many scented candles use paraffin as the main ingredient. However, paraffin is made up of petroleum, which could be an issue for people with asthma or chest problems.
DIY wax melts are a long-lasting, safe, and fun way to keep your home smelling wonderful! If you’re looking into buying essential oils for your DIY wax melt endeavors, browse our website. Public Goods has a wide range of lovely scented essential oils and candles suited for any room!
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