Wax melts are a popular and flame-free way to scent your home. Instead of a wick, they’re placed in a wax warmer, slowly melt, and release fragrance. Making your own gives you full control over the scent, ingredients, colour and even shape – plus it’s fun and cost-effective.
Our wax melt guide is a must-read for beginners and perfectly complements our wax melt starter kits, as they contain all the key ingredients which are listed below.
Benefits of making your own Wax Melts?
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Total control over ingredients (wax type, fragrance, colour)
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Custom scent blends and strength
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More cost-effective, especially for small batches
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Ideal for gifts or small business production
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You can avoid harmful additives or low-quality materials
Key Materials:
• Pillar Wax
• Fragrance Oils
• Candle Dyes
• Clamshells
Additional Items:
Now let’s get started with the exciting craft of candle making!
- Preparation
Before you begin your wax melt making, it is important to prepare your space, especially as dealing with wax can be quite messy! Make sure you have a clean flat surface to work on, moving anything you don’t want to get wax on. Also, make sure you have your clamshells at the ready, as the process can go a lot faster than you might initially expect. Weigh/measure how much wax you need. For this example, we are using 100g.
- Melting the wax
Empty your now measured wax into your heating pot. Heat your wax to 70°C whilst stirring gently. Do not exceed 80°C. It only takes 10 to 15 minutes to melt. For this example, we placed a glass bowl into a pan filled halfway with water. Use your thermometer to keep an accurate reading of the temperature.
*Please note that paraffin wax takes a little longer than soy wax to melt as it has a higher melting point, persevere!
- Adding Colour
Once your wax has reached 70°C, open your bag of candle dye and empty into the molten wax. Stir gently until all the colour has dissolved and spread evenly. We suggest using 0.2%, therefore a 10 g bag of dye will colour 5 kg of paraffin wax. Vegetable waxes may require a higher loading. (If you are using liquid candle dye, use a few drops at a time to get your desired colour.)
- Adding Fragrance
Once the dye is fully dissolved take your wax off the heat, regularly check the temperature until the wax reaches 65°C. Once the wax is at 65°C, open your bottle of fragrance and pour in. Gently stir the wax whilst pouring the fragrance. We suggest using up to 10% fragrance oil therefore 500 g of fragrance oil will fragrant 5 kg of wax.
- Pouring
Now all your ingredients are mixed, with your wax is at 60-65°C, it is time to pour the wax. Pour your molten wax out of the container and into a pouring jug. Slowly pour your wax into your wax melt mould. (If you are using paraffin wax & plastic wax melt moulds, ensure you pour at 60°C, any hotter will melt the moulds & cause them to leak.) Your wax melts should now be setting. Allow a good few hours for them to set & fully solidify. We recommend storing your wax melts in a cool, dark place for approx. 2 weeks to cure’. This isn’t essential however, so if you’re super excited to get melting a few hours after they’ve set, then that’s fine too!
Please note, this wax melt making guide is a general starter guide for beginners in wax melt making. Variations in waxes, fragrances and dyes can all affect the finished product, what works for some wax melts may not work for others.
The key to great wax melt making is trial and error.
Tips & Best Practices
- Use a wax appropriate for melts (often harder wax or blends designed for melting).
- Avoid overheating — too high temp can degrade your fragrance or cause discoloration.
- Stir consistently when adding fragrance so the scent is evenly distributed.
- Use clean molds (rinse and dry) to avoid residue affecting your finish
- Try small test batches before scaling up.
- Monitor scent strength — too much fragrance can cause blooming or weeping (liquid under hardened wax).
- Be patient with curing — fresh melts often improve in scent over days.
- Avoid direct sunlight or heat in storage; store in a cool, dark place.
FQA
How long should I cure my wax melts before using them?
It’s best to allow 7 to 14 days of curing in a sealed, cool environment so the fragrance fully binds and the scent throw improves
Why do my wax melts sometimes crack or sink in the middle?
Common causes include cooling too fast, overpouring, or wax shrinking as it solidifies. Use moderate cooling, avoid overfilling, and use waxes with slight shrinkage characteristics for easier release.
What wax is best for melts — soy, paraffin, or others?
Soy wax is popular for its clean burn and eco-friendly appeal. However, paraffin and blends can give stronger scent throw. Choose a wax rated for melts or one with a firmer finish. Test your options.
How do I remove the wax from molds if it sticks?
Try chilling the mould slightly (e.g. place in fridge for a few minutes). Use flexible silicone moulds that allow you to “pop” them out. Avoid force or bending hard moulds excessively.