Learn how to make DIY scented wax sachets with soy wax, essential oils and dried botanicals. Natural wax air fresheners are perfect to fragrance closets, drawers and other small spaces. Scented sachets are also a charming gift for housewarmings or to say thank you. Included are 6 different recipes + printable gift tags!
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DIY Scented Wax Sachets with Soy Wax, Botanicals & Essential Oils
Do you know that stale smell when you open a closet or drawer? I have the perfect fix for that: DIY scented wax sachets! Scented sachets are very easy to create with endless possibilities to customise.
The base of my natural air freshener recipe is soy wax along with essential oils. My favourite part, though, is a handful of dried botanicals that turn the non toxic air fresheners into little pieces of art.
Ready to let your creativity soar? Then let’s get started on this DIY home fragrance idea!
What are wax sachets?
What is a wax sachet? A wax sachet is a solid, natural air freshener made with soy wax or beeswax, dried flowers, herbs and spices, and scented with essential oils. Unlike candles or wax melts, scented wax sachets don’t have to be heated. DIY wax tablets are a creative option to deodorise small spaces such as closets and drawers.
DIY scented wax sachets supplies
Before trying the recipe, take a look at the tools and supplies we need for this easy scented sachets DIY:
Essential wax sachet materials and tools
- wax sachet mould – These wax sachet silicone moulds have the perfect size for DIY wax tablets and come with little holes for hanging. Alternatively, use other soft silicone moulds, for example, a soap mould.
- wax melting pot – A wax melting pot is ideal for melting and pouring wax. A double boiler or heatproof measuring cup can be used, too.
- sox wax – I used Golden Brands 444 soy wax. This wax has a wonderful scent throw and a beautiful, creamy appearance. If you live in a warm climate, use a 50-50 mix of beeswax and soy wax to make the wax sachets harder.
- essential oils – Essential oils lend the wax air freshener sachets a rich, natural fragrance. I have listed a few essential oil blends for wax sachets below, but be creative and create your own blends.
- wax colours and mica (optional) – Soy wax colours or mica powder can be used to tint the homemade wax sachets. Uncoloured soy wax sachets will simply be white.
DIY wax sachets decorations
- dried flowers and botanicals – I love to decorate my DIY scented wax sachets with dried flowers, herbs and leaves. Rosebuds and dried lavender are beautiful. I also like this set, which has many different dried flowers and is much cheaper than buying each flower individually. Pressed flowers are another stunning option. Fresh flowers and plants will rot and aren’t suitable for this project.
- dried fruits – Dried citrus rounds, apple slices, berries and other dried fruit can be used as beautiful accents.
- whole spices – Cinnamon sticks, anise stars, cloves, cardamom pods, pink pepper and other spices not only look beautiful, but they also enhance the fragrance and add richness.
- other decorations – Aside from botanicals, wax sachets can also be decorated with ribbons, seashells, mini holiday ornaments or glitter. Have fun and be creative!
I like choose decorations that reflect the scent or the season/holiday (e.g. dried lavender for lavender sachets, dried orange slices for a citrus-scented air freshener, seashells for summer wax sachets etc.)
How to make wax sachets with essential oils
How do you make wax sachets? You are going to love this! The process for how to make DIY wax sachets is incredibly simple. Essential oil wax tablets are also much easier to create than scented candles – a great natural craft project for beginners!
Melt and pour the soy wax
Here are the steps for how to make soy wax tablets:
- A double boiler is the best way to melt the soy wax. Fill a saucepan with 2 inches / 5 cm of water and bring to a mild simmer.
- Put the wax flakes in a wax melting pot or a heat-resistant measuring cup. Place in the warm water bath and until the wax is melted. Stir occasionally to help the melting process.
- Remove from the heat and add the essential oils. Stir well to combine the wax and essential oils.
- Pour the wax into the silicone mould. It’s a good idea to put the mould on a cutting board or tray so you can lift and move the mould after pouring.
Decorate the DIY scented wax sachets
My favourite part is decorating the wax sachets!
- Wait until the wax has slightly cooled and becomes cloudy.
- When the wax begins to set, sprinkle the scented sachets with dried herbs and flowers, spices, dried fruits and other decorations. Gently press larger items into the wax.
- Let the wax sachets harden at room temperature, which can take 30 minutes to an hour, depending on the heat and humidity in your home.
Unmould the wax sachets
Once fully solid, it’s time to release the wax tablets from the mould. Here is what you do:
- Gently pull the silicone mould away from the wax sachets to break the airlock.
- Pull back the mould and slip the wax tablet out. Wax sachets are delicate so handle them carefully.
- String twine or ribbon through each wax air freshener and tie a knot.
Easy DIY aromatherapy wax sachets
Now that we know how to make DIY wax tablets, let’s play with the scented wax tablet recipe and try different wax tablet fragrance ideas.
Floral wax sachets
These floral sachets are perfect to fragrance any space! A soothing blend of essential oils lends the wax sachets a rich, dewy bouquet with hints of citrus. I went all in and decorated the natural air freshener with an eclectic mix of florals, dried orange and cinnamon sticks.
- 40 drops ylang ylang essential oil
- 40 drops geranium essential oil
- 20 drops lavender essential oil
- 10 drops mandarin essential oils
- 5 drops copaiba essential oil
DIY lavender wax sachets
I will never tire of lavender! Lavender wax sachets give clothes a nice scent and repel moths and other insects. If you prefer a lighter lavender smell, try lavandin essential oil. I used a hexagonal mould, violet mica and dried lavender to craft my lavender wax tablets.
- 100 drops lavender essential oil
Homemade rose wax tablets
I love roses and had to include a rose-scented air freshener. The scent also pairs beautifully with other essential oils. For some variation, blend rose EO with bergamot, neroli, or patchouli. Pink mica, dried rosebuds and baby’s breath are pretty embellishments for rose air fresheners.
- 100 drops rose absolute or rose otto essential oil
Summer meadow essential oil air freshener
These gorgeous essential oil air fresheners have a sweet, citrus fragrance with a hint of spice. The aroma is perfect to scent fabric or a small powder room. I chose a round mould and decorated the wax sachets with dried petals and flowers.
- 40 drops jasmine absolute
- 30 drops bergamot essential oil
- 20 drops amyris essential oil
- 10 drops ginger root essential oil
Refreshing woodland wax sachets
In case your hubby’s sock drawer could do with a little fragrance, try this stimulating blend of lime, fir and cypress essential oil. It isn’t floral or too feminine and your man will enjoy the fresh and woodsy smell. I decorated these wax air fresheners with pressed fern and daisies.
- 40 drops lime essential oil
- 30 drops fir essential oil
- 25 drops cypress essential oil
Coffee-scented wax tablets
Did you know that the smell of coffee neutralises other odours? I wouldn’t use these coffee sachets for clothes or linen, but the warming fragrance is perfect to freshen up stale kitchen cabinets or your pantry. Fresh coffee beans and coffee grounds complement the look of this coffee air freshener.
- 50 drops coffee essential oil
- 50 drops vanilla oleoresin
Citrus blast wax air freshener
The citrus air freshener wax sachets add a bright and invigorating scent that eliminates bad or stale odours. I have these on my desk to feel energised and positive while I work. The air fresheners were decorated with dried orange halves, strawflowers and calendula petals.
- 40 drops grapefruit essential oil
- 30 drops sweet orange essential oil
- 15 drops lemon essential oil
- 15 drops lime essential oil
How to use the wax sachets
What are wax sachets used for? Use the scented wax sachet to refresh your home and impart a lovely fragrance to your linens or clothes. Hang in the entryway, tuck in drawers, cabinets and boxes of off-season clothes, or loop around a hanger in your closet.
I admit that a wax sachet isn’t the strongest room deodorizer, candles and wax melts are stronger. Instead, scented wax tablets are a lovely alternative for scent bags for drawers. You can also place them in a decorative bowl and display on your desk for a subtle, natural room scent.
To avoid wax stains on fabric, wrap your wax sachet in tissues or a handkerchief before placing in a drawer or closet.
I don’t recommend using wax sachets as a natural air freshener for your car as they can melt if exposed to heat or direct sunlight.
How long do scented wax sachets last?
Wax sachets can last for many years, but the fragrance will lessen over time. Make sure to keep the wax sachets out of direct sunlight and away from heat sources.
Scented wax sachet gifts with free printable labels
Botanical wax sachets are charming homemade presents and an eco-friendly gift idea. Give them as a sweet thank you, housewarming present, zero-waste party favour, Mother’s Day or holiday gift. With countless customisation options, you can create DIY scented wax sachets for any recipient and occasion.
Cyna created printable gift tags, which include instructions on how to use scented wax tablets. Print the gift tags, cut out, make two slits where indicated, and thread the hanger through. And there you have an easy, beautiful and natural gift!
Printable Gift Tags
Tab or click the button to download your free printable scented sachets gift tags!
DIY Scented Wax Sachets Recipe
Learn how to make DIY scented wax sachets with soy wax, essential oils and dried botanicals. Natural wax air fresheners are perfect to fragrance closets, drawers and other small spaces. Scented sachets are also a charming gift for housewarmings or to say thank you.
Materials
- 2 cups / 180 g / 6 oz soy wax flakes
- 100 drops essential oils
- dried flowers
- dried orange slices
- 1/2 tsp mica (optional)
- ribbon or twine for hanging
Instructions
- A double boiler is the best way to melt the soy wax. Fill a saucepan with 2 inches / 5 cm of water and bring to a mild simmer.
- Put the wax flakes in a wax melting pot or a heat-resistant measuring cup.
- Place in the warm water bath and until the wax is melted. Stir occasionally to help the melting process.
- Remove from the heat and add the essential oils. Stir well to combine the wax and essential oils.
- Pour the wax into the silicone mould. It’s a good idea to put the mould on a cutting board or tray so you can lift and move the mould after pouring.
- Wait until the wax has slightly cooled and becomes cloudy.
- When the wax begins to set, sprinkle the scented sachets with dried herbs and flowers, spices, dried fruits and other decorations. Gently press larger items into the wax.
- You can also stir dried petals or herbs in the wax for a textured effect.
- Let the wax sachets harden at room temperature, which can take 30 minutes to an hour, depending on the heat and humidity in your home.
- Gently pull the silicone mould away from the wax sachets to break the airlock.
- Pull back the mould and slip the wax tablet out. Wax sachets are delicate so handle them carefully.
- String twine or ribbon through each wax air freshener and tie a knot.
Notes
How to use the wax sachets
Use the scented wax sachet to refresh your home and impart a lovely fragrance to your linens or clothes. Hang in the entryway, tuck in drawers, cabinets and boxes of off-season clothes, or loop around a hanger in your closet.
Scented wax tablets are a lovely alternative for scent
bags for drawers. You can also place them in a decorative bowl and display on
your desk for a subtle, natural room scent.
To avoid wax stains on fabric, wrap your wax sachet in tissues or a handkerchief before placing in a drawer or closet.
I don’t recommend using wax sachets as a natural air freshener for your car as scented sachets can melt if exposed to heat or direct sunlight.
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Irena xx
Hello again ladies! I am once again making some of your adored items. I need some trouble shooting advice. I made them in the recommended molds and they seemed to be okay but more delicate than usual. I also made a version in a much thicker hard plastic cavity, about 1″ thick. Instead of essential oils for both molds, I used a 10% fragrance load so about 0.4 oz per each 4 oz cavity. The issue is, the larger version came out very soft and cakey. Is there any way to harden up the soy flakes naturally with maybe some salt or sodium lactate? I want to be as environmental-friendly as possible, although I know fragrance is not the best choice as well, but it gives a stronger scent. Any suggestions on what I could do better next time? Maybe another soy flake or wax that is much harder? Thanks in advance! Love all you do! 🙂 Carol
Hi Carol! It could be that the thicker wax sachets take longer to harden or you might have added a touch too much fragrance oil.
Next time, try starting with a smaller fragrance load, about 5% to 6%. You can gradually work up from there to find the sweet spot.
To make soy wax sturdier, add a bit of cetyl alcohol. Cetyl alcohol is a white, waxy substance that helps to bind the fragrance oils and harden the soy wax. Let me know if you want to go down this route, and I’ll share more tips.
If your current batch remains soft, you can either remelt it and add more wax. Or you can simply use the sachets as wax melts and melt pieces in a wax melter. It’s a lovely way to scent a room.
Please let me know how it goes! We’re always here for you!
Best wishes,
Irena
Do these have a better cold scent throw if left in an airtight box to cure for a while like candles should? Also is the scent stringer if added at 185 degrees or does this not matter?
Thank you
Hi Ruth! Yes, you can cure the wax sachets in sealed container. Curing helps the essential oils and wax to bond better and should create a better cold throw.
The temperature matters. Once the wax reaches 185°F, take if off the heat and stir in the essential oils. Stir 30 to 40 times to combine everything well. Let cool to 135°F, then pour.
I hope this helps you out and happy making!
Are there temperature requirements for making these? I have had issues with some melts having a dip in them. Thx!
Hi Holly! Wax shrinks as it cools, that is normal. To avoid dipping in the center, be sure to fill the mold all the way. If you use Golden Brand 646 soy wax, wait until the wax cools to 135°F to 140°F / 57°C to 60°C before pouring to minimize the risk of shrinking. I hope this helps you out and happy making!
Hi, I have a question, so if I wanted to use one pound of soy wax, how many drop of essential oil would I use and also how many wax sachet would I make? Thank you for your time!
Hi Ashley! 1 pound soy wax will make 10 to 12 wax melts and you could use 200 to 250 drops of essential oils. Happy making!
Please give me some idea of how many fluid ounces are needed to get 100 drops of essential oils. I can find essential oils near by but they come in very small bottles—0.33 fluid ounces. Hope to hear from you soon as I am excited to make the scented wax sachets.
Hi Sue! 100 drops are approximately 0.17 fl oz — 0.33 fl oz are roughly 200 drops. I hope this helps and happy making!
Hi ladies! Sorry if I posted twice, but my Mica settled all the way to the one side of the sachet. Did I do something wrong? I made sure the wax was fully melted. Maybe I did not stir enough?
Hi Carol! I’m sorry you had an issue. Some of the mica is bound to sink to the back of the sachet, but it shouldn’t be all of it. My guess is that the pouring temperature might have been a little too high. Next time, let your wax cool in the pitcher longer and stir occasionally as it cools. And give the wax a good stir before pouring.
Soy wax is transparent in liquids form, but opaque once solid. If you used a light pastel mica, you may have to use slightly more. The color may look strong when the wax is liquid, but will appear much paler as the wax cools.
I hope this helps and please keep me updated!
I made these and they were lovely. I used the amount of mica suggested. The color was quite strong and perfect, but once it molded, the mica coloring mostly disappeared. What did I do wrong?
Thank you for this wonderful recipe, I am excited to make this DIY, a thoughtful gift to someone.
Thank you so much, Melissa! I hope you enjoy making these wax sachets.
These are beautiful. I cannot wait to try making them! Everything on this site is lovely!
Thanks!
Thank you so much, Carol! I hope you enjoy this project!
Can I use Fragrance Oils instead of Essential Oils? How does the proportions change in that case?
Hi Sonam! Yes, you can use fragrance oils instead of essential oils. But I can say how much you should use because some fragrance oils smell stronger/weaker than essential oils. I recommend you start with 100 drops and then see if you prefer a stronger or milder scent.
Hi Irena
I really liked the idea and I want to try it myself. I would like to ask you about the ratio between the weight of essential oil and the soy wax?
Thanks so much .
Thank you so much, Aseel! You can add up to 6% essential oils to soy wax.
Hi Irena,
I have two questions, what essential oil type is used (pure or the ones used in the diffuser) ? . Also, Can I use the same oil blends used with the diffuser?
Thank you
Hi Aseel! I usually use pure essential oils but a blend will work, too. Just keep in mind that if the oils are diluted the scent might be a little weaker.
Hi thanks for sharing. I have a query.. when I start pressing the botanicals the above layer becomes uneven… how do I avoid this?
Hi Shabreen! When you press the flowers into the wax, some of it gets pushed aside. So you will always have a little unevenness. The best way to avoid that is to use flat flowers and lay them very gently on the wax surface. I hope this helps and happy making!
Hi! I live in the UK and the plant therapy oils are quite difficult/expensive to get here. Can you suggest any other essential oil brands that would work as well as the plant therapy? Thanks!
Hi Holly! Tisserand offers excellent, high-quality essential oils. Their products are made in England and I believe the offer free UK shipping for orders over £30. I had the opportunity to use these EOs and loved the quality. You can find them at https://www.tisserand.com/
I hope this helps!
hi, how many wax sachet can you made from the 180g of soy wax?
Hi Celine! The 180 g soy wax are enough o make approx. 6 wax sachets.
Hi! Can’t wait to try making these! Do you think coconut would be a scent that would work for these? And if so any suggestions on what to pair it with?
Hi Hayley! Coconut sounds delicious and it should work fine. I think coconut pairs well with vanilla (think the rich, sweet scent of coconut macaroons), or any member of the citrus family in case you prefer a fresh fragrance. Lime and/or orange would be great additions. You could also combine coconut, lime and vanilla and create a key lime pie smell. I hope this helps and let me know how it goes.
Do they last a long long time or can be somehow put in some kind of sealant, like a poly to keep for a long time? The reason I’m asking is because my brother passed away about 30 years ago, I still have pressed rose pedals from the funeral and I wanted to make these for my parents to have the pedals… but I wanted to see if they could be sealed up to last longer once the smell goes away so they have a keep sake of him. Thank you!
Hi Kristen! What a beautiful and thoughtful gift for your parents! Soy wax is said to have a shelf life of 2 years, but this is mostly relevant for making candles or cosmetics. I have sachets that are 5 years old and still look lovely. It’s important to store them properly, ideally in an airtight container and at a reasonable temperature (soy wax begins to soften/melt at 120°F.)
If you want to coat/seal them, you could probably use epoxy resin. But I haven’t done this so I can’t comment on how long sachets would last.
Another idea is to make resin ornaments/pendants. You could buy the moulds I used to make the wax sachets, pour a thin layer of resin into each cavity, then sprinkle with the dried rose petals, and add a second pour on top. That way the petals are protect forever and your parents have a beautiful keepsake.
I hope this helps and happy crafting!
Can you please let me know the weight of one tablet
Hi Deepali! The sachets are very light-weight, approx. 1.7 oz / 50 g per piece.
Can you use regular candle wax?
Hi Elizabeth! Yes, you can use paraffin wax, too. Just be sure to check how much essential/fragrance oils you can add as it may be different from the soy wax I used. Happy crafting and let me know how it goes!
Hi Irene! These look so pretty and I am very excited to try this! One question – at what point should I add the mica colour into the wax?
Hi Lavanya! So glad to hear you like this project. You can add the mica once the wax is melted. Give it a good stir so the mica colours the wax evenly. Happy crafting and please let me know in case you have another question.
These are so pretty! I’d love to try the lavender.
Thank you so much, Michelle! The lavender one had the loveliest scent.
Soooo pretty! We bought molds for this DIY months ago and it’s still on our list! Gorgeous!
Thanks a lot, ladies! We can’t wait to see what air fresheners you’ll create with this mould!
These are so pretty. I’ve had this mold in my saved list for a while. It’s time to take the plunge!
Thanks a lot, Rebecca! This mould is wonderful, I can’t wait to see your creations!
These are gorgeous! Thanks for the great blends!
Thank you, Cari! I planned on doing only one design but loved it so much that I ended up with seven.