How to Make DIY Wax Melts At Home | Using Essential Oils

Did you know you can make your own DIY wax melts for your wax warmer? Today I’m sharing an easy recipe on how to make wax melts using simple ingredients, like essential oil.

 

*Coffee more your style? Try the Peppermint Mocha version of this recipe at the end of this post*

Who doesn’t love their homes to smell warm and welcoming? Last year I shared a recipe for simmering potpourri, and it had all the scents of fall: cinnamon, clove, orange and vanilla. Now that it’s summer, warming my home with the stove-top does not sound very appealing, so I tried some DIY wax melts using lavender and rosemary. They turned out beautifully and smell amazing.

What You Need to Make DIY Wax Melts

 

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Ingredients Needed to Make Wax Melts at Home

• Soy Wax Flakes– There are other wax options available, like paraffin and beeswax, but honestly, I had a lot of soy wax flakes leftover after making my DIY Coffee Candle, so that’s what I’m using in this recipe.
• *Lavender Essential Oil– You are welcome to switch up the essential oils to create whatever scent you want. As mentioned above, I have a Peppermint Mocha version of these wax melts below. Not sure where to buy essential oils? Check out this post.
• *Rosemary Essential Oil
• Dried Rosemary– Again, you can switch up your “add-ins” or omit them all together.
• Dried Lavender

*I link to essential oil brands I believe provide high quality oils and are transparent with their testing (in other words, the company publicly provides GC/MS results). I also try to link to the essential oil that will give you the “biggest bang for your buck” (often times buying a 30ml bottle of oil means greater savings per ml than purchasing a 10ml bottle). I provide more information on where to buy essential oils so you can choose a brand you feel is right for you.

Supplies Needed to Make DIY Wax Melts

• Microwave Safe Glass Measuring Cup
• Silicone Mold– I used a mini muffin mold, but you can use candy molds as well, which allow for all kinds of fun shapes. Just make sure they’re silicone as this makes it easier to pop the wax melts out once they harden.
• Wooden Craft Stick– I highly recommend using a wooden craft stick for stirring your wax as you can throw it out when you’re done (vs having to pick wax off a spoon).

How to Make Wax Melts

 

Start by filling a 2 cup glass measuring cup with approximately 1 1/2-2 cups of the soy wax flakes. (You can certainly go with less, just adjust the other ingredients accordingly). Microwave on high for 1 minute. Using a wooden craft stick, stir the contents. After the first minute, continue to microwave (on high) in 30 second increments, stirring in between, until all the wax melts.

You can also do this step using a double boiler set.

 

*Please be very, very careful. Use an oven mitt or hot pad when removing the measuring cup as both the handle and contents can get extremely hot.

 

While the wax is still melted*, stir in the lavender and rosemary essential oils (or whatever essential oils you choose to use). I went with a total of 40 drops of the essential oils (30 drops of lavender and 10 of the rosemary). In truth, I wish I had added more drops to the wax as the scent isn’t as strong as I would have liked. Next time I’ll probably go with 50 drops of lavender and 20 drops of rosemary.  You can adjust the ratio depending on whether you prefer a stronger scent of one oil over the other.

*The ideal temperature to add essential oils to soy wax is 185°. This allows the essential oil to fully bind with the wax and give the strongest throw (scent to fill a room). (Source)

Once the essential oil is stirred into your wax, carefully pour the mixture into your silicone mold.

 

Sprinkle a little dried lavender and rosemary onto the tops and allow the wax to harden.

 

Once the wax has completely hardened, pop the wax melts out of the mold.

 

For the strongest scent, it is recommended that you allow the wax melts to cure by placing them in a Ziploc bag for 7-10 days prior to using.

When you are ready to use your DIY Wax Melts, simply place 2 or 3 in a wax warmer and enjoy!

Just FYI… I recently discovered wax warmer liners! These liners help with easy clean up and allows you to easily switch between scents.

Peppermint Mocha Wax Melts

To make the Peppermint Mocha version of this wax melt recipe, simply change the essential oil to peppermint and add ground coffee instead of dried lavender and rosemary.

 

Looking for more ways to add scent to your home? Try these ideas!

• Simmering Potpourri
• DIY Room Spray
• Fall Diffuser Blends
• Spring Diffuser Blends

Common Questions About Homemade Wax Melts

Are There Benefits to Using Wax Melts Instead of Candles?

Yes! Wax melts tend to be a safer alternative to candles because there is no open flame. Most wax warmers use electricity to warm the wax. If you happen to live in an apartment or dorm where candles are not allowed, wax warmers allow you to have that “candle scent” without actually having to burn a candle.

Do I Have to Use Soy Wax to Make Wax Melts?

No. There are other waxes you can use to make wax melts. As mentioned above, I made a homemade candle using soy wax flakes and had a ton of flakes leftover; that’s why I used soy wax. I have seen others use beeswax or paraffin wax. I haven’t heard the greatest things about the safety of paraffin wax, so I personally don’t use it, however, here is a link to a wax melt recipe using beeswax.

Beeswax Wax Melts Recipe via Carolina Honeybees

Can I Use Fragrance Oils Instead of Essential Oils to Make Wax Melts?

You certainly can. I like to use essential oils because I know I am not adding any additional chemicals to the air in my home, but there are fragrance oils specifically designed for candle-making. If you choose to go with fragrance oils, be sure to follow the directions on the oils for proper dosing and use.

Can I Add Color to Wax Melts?

Yes. Again, I like to go as natural as possible so I have never added dye to my wax melts, but there are dyes made specifically to color wax for candle-making. Make sure you buy dye that can be used for the specific wax you are using and follow the instructions for proper dosing and use.

Where Can I Buy A Wax Warmer?

You can find wax warmers at many retail stores. I have seen them at Target and Kohls. Amazon (of course) also has a plethora to choose from as well. I linked a couple below.

White Ceramic Wax Warmer | Black Forest Wax Warmer | Metal “Farmhouse Style” Wax Warmer

 

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This post was originally published at Clean and Scentsible on June 10, 2016.