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, wax is the main ingredient. I recommend to use soy wax, which is a neutral wax, has an excellent scent throw and melts evenly.
I used Golden Brands 464 soy wax to 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 used wax dye to give my melts pretty colors. Any soy candle dye that 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 a silicone or plastic mold to form the melts. I used a floral mold that 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)
- geranium or rose 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
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.
Hi.. Some people suggest melting the soy wax till 185°F n then add fragrance then dye.. And pour around 150F . I watched candlescience you tube video.. Can you guide what to do.. And sorry i should mention that your content is really helpful.. I’m a newbie in candle making n learning a lot from your blog.. Gratitude..
Hi Rashmi! I’m glad that you find our content helpful. The exact melt and pour temperature depend on the wax you’re using and can vary from brand to brand. I would check the manufacturer’s instructions to what they suggest. I hope this helps and happy making!
I have the most wonderful flowering scented plant in my garden with a short flowering season and my question is, can I use those fresh flowers in a wax melt to create and prolong the gorgeous smell they provide whilst flowering? It is a rhododendron fragrantissima hybrid?
Hi Paul! I love your idea, but I’m afraid that wax melts won’t preserve the scent. Fresh flowers will wilt quickly and the scent will fade as well. Only dried flowers are suitable for this type of project.
However, you could try to make an alcohol extract or a glycerite with your flowers. Please let me know if this is of interest to you, and I’d be happy to advise more.
my melts have bubbles in how can i stop this?
Hi there! You can 2 things to avoid bubbles: stir the melted wax very slowly so you don’t introduce air into the wax. And then check if you see any bubbles after pouring the max into the mold. If you do, use a toothpick to pop them. Hope this helps and happy making!
Hi!
I’m trying to start making candles, but I’m a bit confused as to know if I should decrease the amount of wax to hold the percentage of EO like most people do with FO. Is this what I should do with EO as well?
Hi Rebecca! Can you explain what you mean by decrease the amount of wax? The use of EOs in candle making is very similar to use of FOs. Wax can hold a certain amount of essential oils or fragrance oil, usually between 6-10%. If you reduce the amount of wax, you will also have to reduce the amount of EO/FO to maintain the correct percentage. I hope this helps and please let me know if you have another question!
Hi is fragrance oils safe to use around pets as not sure if it’s toxic, wanted to use my make and use my own melts to be as safe as possible
Hi Angela! Some essential oils are safe for pets and others are not. Could you let me know which fragrance/essential oil you have so I can advise more?
Hi could you advise me what essential oils is safe to use In waxmelts that are safe for dogs please
Hi Vicky! The following essential oils are considered safe for dogs:
lavender, peppermint/spearmint, frankincense, vetiver, chamomile, cedarwood, lemongrass, citronella, cardamom, eucalyptus, fennel, helichrysum
The following essential oils are considered harmful/toxic to dogs:
cinnamon, citrus essential oils, bitter almond, pine, tea tree, wintergreen, ylang ylang, anise, clove, thyme, juniper
I would also recommend to leave a door open if you use wax melts so that your dog can go to another room if he or she doesn’t like the smell.
I hope this helps and please let me know in case you have another question!
How much wax would you need to fill a half pint canning jar?
Hi Gail! You will need approx. 8.5 oz wax for a half pint canning jar. The simplest way to measure wax for any jar is to fill the jar with wax flakes to the rim. Then dump the wax into your melting pot. Fill the jar a second time and melt everything. I hope this helps!
Do you have to let melts cure?
Hi Tina! No, you can use them right away. Happy crafting!
I’m so excited! Thank you
For Christmas I was given 5 pounds of Natural Soy 444 wax by Golden Brands (from Amazon) and a set of Natrogix essential oils. Any suggestions? Do you know the scent load for this kind of wax? Thank you for your time.
What a great gift! Golden Brands 444 soy wax is a high-quality container wax and excellent for making wax melts. I recently used Golden Brands 464 wax, which is similar to the 444, to make eucalyptus candles and loved the result. I also have a recipe for wax melt brittle coming up tomorrow, which I made with the 444.
The maximum fragrance load of the 444 soy wax is 10%.
I haven’t used Natrogix essential oils so I can’t say how well these oils work in wax melts or how long-lasting/strong the fragrance is. My suggestions is that you make a small test batch first to see how the wax and oils act together. I don’t want you making a large batch and then be disappointed.
Please let me know how it goes and feel free to ask more questions – I’m here to help!
Thank you so much. I’ll definitely let you know how it goes. I appreciate your time and advise
Thank you, Tina!
I tried to subscribe to your YouTube channel via the link but it keeps saying “oops something went wrong.” I also tried searching for Country Hill Cottage on YouTube with no luck
I’m sorry, Tina. Our channel was stolen and as a consequence the videos had to be deleted. We still need to update some links. If you wanted to stay connected, follow us on Pinterest, Facebook, or Instagram.
And if you want to see another easy wax melt tutorial, try this wax brittle.
Hi, does 35g of oil roughly equate to 35mil, and so I’d need to use 3.5 bottles of essential oil in this recipe (when using 10ml bottles)?
Thanks
Hi Laura! 35 g of oil are approx. 37 ml, so 3.5 10-ml bottles sounds about right.Happy making!
How long do you think the scent lasts on homemade wax melts? I’m excited to make some!
Thank you for stopping by, Crystal! Wax melts with soy wax last about a year. How long the scent will last depends on different factors. Here are three important things to consider:
Fragrance oil vs. essential oil
The type of oil you mix into the wax melts will affect how long they last. Synthetically made fragrance oils are not as volatile and sometimes last longer than essential oils. Essential oils on the other hand are volatile which means they evaporate over time.
I prefer wax melts essential oils because of their aromatherapeutic benefits and they last for 8 to 12 months if stored correctly.
Wax temperature
Wait until the wax has cooled to 150°F / 65°C before you add the essential oils and stir well to disrepute the oil evenly throughout the wax. If the wax is too hot the essential oils will evaporate.
How you store the wax melts
The way you store your wax melts will affect the scent throw. Make sure you store your wax melts in a cool, dark place and away from heat and direct sunlight (exposure to heat will release the scent.)
I wrap my wax melts in plastic wrap and keep them an airtight container in a cupboard and they still smell great 8 months later.
Please let me know how it goes or in case you have another question. Happy crafting!
What a great idea! I definitely want to make these for spring!
Many thanks, Rebecca!
Hi I got your recipe for Wax Melts. But can you please tell me what temperature I should melt the wax to.
Hi Terry! Heat until the wax reaches 156°F / 68°C. I hope this answers your question and happy making!