Wax melts are gradually replacing candles because of their flame-free formations and less soot production. Whether you’re just interested in it as your next DIY project, or willing to launch a wax melts business, you must know how to make wax melts. This article will walk you through the ways to put together wax melts with beautiful shapes and pleasant scents.
Making wax melts is an art, and like any other art, it requires specialized techniques to turn a simple wax into elegant and impressive masterpieces. Over the past few years, wax melting has become quite a thrilling experiment and even a hobby for many.
🎨 Why DIY Wax Melts?
✅ Custom scents & shapes
✅ Eco-conscious ingredients
✅ Cost-effective & gift-worthy
✅ Safer than open flames
✨ Fun Fact: Wax melts don’t require a wick and are reusable until the scent fades.
🚨 Safety First: Precautions Before You Begin
Although it isn’t a biting a bullet kind of a task there are certain precautions that one must follow:
- ❌ Never heat wax directly on a stove
- 🧻 Cover your workspace with newspaper or paper towels
- 🥽 Wear protective eyewear
- 🧤 Use oven mitts or heat-resistant gloves
- 🔥 Keep a fire extinguisher (or sand) nearby—never use water on wax fires
- 🚫 Keep children and pets away from your work area
🔍 What Are Wax Melts?
Wax melts are small pieces of wax (either in cubes or other interesting shapes) that release fragrance when gently warmed in a wax burner or electric melter. Unlike candles, they don’t burn—they melt.
How Are Wax Melts and Scented Candles Different?
Although wax melts and scented candles both have similar compositions however, they differ in how they work and how they’re used:
🔥 Wax Melts vs. Scented Candles
Feature |
Wax Melts |
Scented Candles |
| 🔥 Flame-Free | Yes | No (uses open flame) |
| ⏳ Longer Scent Time | Yes | Often shorter |
| 🌱 Safer Indoors | Yes | Less ideal with pets/kids |
| 🕯️ Wick Needed | No | Yes |
🧪 Best Wax for DIY Wax Melts
If you’re willing to know how to make wax melts, you must know about different kinds of waxes that are readily available in the market and their properties. Here’s a breakdown of popular wax types properties and qualities of different waxes:
S. NO. |
TYPE OF WAX |
SPECIFICATIONS |
| 1 | Paraffin Wax | It is composed of hydrocarbon molecules, lasts a little shorter, and is generally used for therapeutic benefits like relaxation or stress relief.
Color: White/Colorless Aroma: Odorless (but works with scent oils) Melting Point: 115-142℉/46-61℃ |
| 2 | Soy Wax | This one is a 100% natural vegan wax which lasts longer, and is an eco-friendly alternative.
Color: Opaque White Aroma: Gaelic forest aroma Melting Point: 113-131℉/45-55℃ |
| 3 | Gel Wax | It isn’t exactly a wax but a polymer resin and mineral oil and works great with embedded decorations or flowers.
Color: Transparent Aroma: Odorless (but works with scent oils) Melting Point: 180℉/82℃ |
| 4 | Beeswax | This is a natural wax alternative obtained from honeycomb.
Color: Yellow Aroma: Sweet and honey-like aroma Melting Point: 144-147℉/62-64℃ |
| 5 | Carnauba Wax/Palm Wax | It is obtained from the oil of palm leaves of Brazilian tropical climates.
Color: Pale Yellow or Yellow Aroma: Sweet aroma Melting Point: 180-187℉/82-86℃ |
| 6 | Coconut Wax | This is a natural wax alternative obtained from cold-pressed coconut meat or coconut oil mixed with soy max.
Color: Clear White Aroma: Odorless (but works with scent oils) Melting Point: 124-127℉/51-53℃ |
| 7 | Rapeseed Wax | It is a natural wax that is quite popular for its eco-friendly properties.
Color: Off-White Aroma: Neutral aroma Melting Point: 124-127℉/51-53℃ |
As discussed in this section, some waxes are natural whereas others are synthetic or a mix of both. In addition, the melting point of a wax plays a crucial role because waxes with lower melting points are easier to work with and melt faster. You can pick the one based on your requirements or the composition you’re willing to attain.
🌿 Tip: Choose soy or beeswax for natural, non-toxic melts. Paraffin offers a stronger scent throw but is petroleum-based.
How To Make Wax Melts At Home?
Making wax melts at home is a splendid way to customize them as per your preferences. Producing wax melts at home will be a cinch once you get going with this step-by-step procedure. So quickly enlist the items required for making your DIY wax melts.
🛠️ Tools & Ingredients You’ll Need
- Paraffin Wax (or any wax of your choice)- 100g
- Infrared/Food Thermometer
- Silicone Mold/Clamshells (any shape of your choice)
- Wax Dye Color Powder/Drops/Chips/Crayon- 2-3 drops (refer to point 5)
- Fragrance Oil- 10% of solution (refer to point 6)
- Spatula/Wooden Stick/Spoon for stirring
- Weighing Scales
- Pouring Cup
- Metal Pitcher (or Saucepan)
🧑🍳 Step-by-Step: How To Make Wax Melts at Home
1. 🧼 Prep Your Workspace
To start with, you first need to have an empty flat surface near the area where you’ll melt your wax. In addition, keep your weighing scales, thermometer, and everything else with you readily available.
2. ♨️ Set Up Your Double Boiler
To melt candle wax, you first need to prepare a double boiler. For this, fill a saucepan with water (about 2-3 inches). Then let the water boil, meanwhile, you can go to the next step of how to make wax melts.
⚠️ Microwave method? – If you’re using a microwave to melt wax, then ensure that you use a large microwave-safe container and take it out at an interval of every 30-60 seconds. Also, stir the wax liquid every time you take it out and again heat it until it’s completely melted without any lumps.
3. ⚖️ Measure the Wax
Now, put your solid wax in a container to measure. Using weighing scales measure the quantity of wax based on how many wax melts you want to make. We’re using 100g of wax for now.
4. ♨️ Melt The Wax
Now take a metal pitcher or any large heat-resistant saucepan or container with a bottom size smaller than your previous saucepan so that it can sit over it. Put the solid wax into the metal pitcher/container and wait for the wax to start melting. Use the infrared/food thermometer to keep a check on the temperature of the container with wax and ensure that it doesn’t cross 80℃ (nearly 175℉). Keep stirring the melted wax with a spatula or a wooden stick/spoon to ensure there aren’t any lumps.
5. 🎨 Add Color
Next, you need to mix the color powder or chips or crayon shavings with your melted wax but before that check that it isn’t any hotter than 70℃ and turn off the flame. Give it a nice stir until it achieves the desired shade.
🖌️ Note: For Paraffin wax, you need to add very little quantity of color. In case, you’re using vegetable wax like Soy wax, you’ll require relatively more quantity of color powder or chips or color crayon. If using color drops, you can add 2-3 drops at a time to get the desired color. You can also refer to the ideal amount prescribed on the color dye packet/bottle.
6. 👃 Add The Fragrance Oil
At last, you need to mix the fragrance oil into the melted liquid. It is suggested to add 6%-8% oil of wax melt liquid, but not more than 10%. This is to say that if you’re preparing a 100g wax melt solution, you can add a maximum of 10g of fragrance. Give it a nice stir.
7. 🫙 Pour Into Molds
Now ensure the temperature of molten wax reaches 54-57℃. Then transfer the wax solution into a pouring cup or jug or container because pouring candle wax directly from the heated saucepan can be risky.
Keep your silicone molds or clamshells ready to pour the wax and set them aside for at least a few hours or 1-2 days (if you don’t need to use them urgently). Then pop them out of the molds and keep them packed in an air-tight container to let them cure.
8. ⏳ Cure Your Wax Melts
Cure time allows better binding between the fragrance oil and wax. The ideal cure time that you should allow for wax melts is 1-2 weeks. Or if you require them a little faster, it is recommended to keep the wax undisturbed in a cool and dark place to let it completely cure for at least 5-7 days. However, if you need to use them urgently, you can let them cure only for a few hours.
This was all about general instructions on how to make wax melts at home. It is noteworthy that variations in wax type, color dye, fragrance oil, etc. can affect the final product. Not every material will work for every type of wax.
🧊 Stuck wax? Freeze the mold briefly to pop them out easily.
🌸 Scent Combo Ideas
Theme |
Scent Ideas |
Color Suggestions |
| 🌿 Fresh Clean | Eucalyptus + Mint | Soft green or teal |
| 🧁 Sweet Bakery | Vanilla + Cinnamon | Cream or warm beige |
| 🌊 Ocean Breeze | Sea salt + Lavender | Blue or aqua |
| 🍊 Citrus Burst | Orange + Lemongrass | Coral or yellow |
🔌 How To Use Wax Melts
- Place 1–2 melts in a wax burner dish
- Use a tealight or electric burner below
- Enjoy hours of fragrance! Replace when scent fades
♻️ Mix different melts to create custom scents!
📦 Storing Wax Melts
- Store in a cool, dry, dark place
- Use airtight containers or zip bags
- Keep away from sunlight and heat to prevent scent loss
🙋 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What Is Cure Time For Wax Melts?
Cure time begins when you keep the wax melts in an air-tight container once they get set. It helps the scents and wax blend nicely. Ideal cure time for wax melts can vary based on the type of wax you’re using, quantity, and quality of wax, scents, oils, etc. Nevertheless, it is believed that wax melts should be left undisturbed to set for 1-2 weeks ideally or at least a couple of hours.
2. How To Use Wax Melts?
You can use heat resistant wax melt liners with an electric wax burner or with a wax warmer. They are easy to replace and eliminate the need to clean the wax burner plate every time after use. Electric wax burners require a light bulb whereas normal wax melts require a tea candle for melting wax melts.
3. What Is The Pouring Point Of A Wax Melt?
The usual pouring point of wax melts is 130-135℉ (54-57℃). However, this temperature can vary depending on the type of candle you’re using.
4. When Should I Add Fragrance Oil Into My Wax Melts?
It is recommended to add the fragrance oil to the melted wax when it reaches a temperature between 180-185℉. However, it might vary as per the type of wax you’re using. Make sure to turn off the heat source before adding in the oil.
5. What Should I Do To Take Out My Wax Melt?
If your wax melt is stuck inside a jar or a mold/tray, freeze it for a few hours. Freezing shrinks the size of wax melt which makes it easier for it to pop out.
✅ Final Thoughts
DIY wax melts are an affordable, fun, and customizable way to infuse your home with your favorite scents. Once you master the basics, the possibilities are endless—from seasonal blends to luxe gift sets.
🕯️ Ready to melt, mix, and pour your way to a fragrant home?