Homemade wax melts are easy to make & fun to customize
So we were cleaning out Hana’s room several days ago and came across her adorable electric wax melt warmer.
We hadn’t used it partially because her room was a disaster and we forgot about and also because we try to use things with only natural fragrances, like essential oils.
Most manufactured wax melts are made with artificial fragrances and perfumes. Many times the base is paraffin wax, a by-product of petroleum, which does more harm than good when it comes to air quality.
So instead of paraffin for the base of this wax melt recipe, we are using soy wax. Soy wax is non-toxic and clean burning, making it a much better choice. (Beeswax is another good alternative)
Ever notice the soot that can form from burning paraffin based candles?
Soot is the solid particle that results from incomplete combustion of carbon containing fuels, primarily petroleum based fuels. Called petro-carbon soot, it is not found in soy wax. No petro-carbon soot means better air quality for your home!
And then the fragrance… When you see the word fragrance on a label for products such as detergent, soap, perfume, candles, air fresheners, dryer sheets, it can have hundreds of different chemicals in it. “Fragrance” is called a cluster ingredient because it can encompass hundreds of chemicals. The worst of it is that we just don’t know for sure what is lumped into the fragrance label.
“Fragrance” can bring with it a plethora of health concerns. Many of the chemicals used are known carcinogens and hormone disruptors. They are linked to cancer, respiratory problems, central nervous system disorders, neurological disorders as well as allergies and eczema. Crazy what we do to make our homes smell “good”.
Thankfully there’s a simple alternative, we replace the mystery “fragrance” in our homemade wax melts with essential oils. Be sure to use a high quality brand so you don’t replace one problem with another, but good essential oils are a simple swap! Do your research on quality, and we’re happy to chat with you about what to look for.
What are some good oil combos to use?
Have fun creating your own signature scent for your home. Here are a few suggestions to get you started, but be creative and make something one of a kind that you’ll love. This make great gifts for friends too!
Harvest Time: Cinnamon, Clove, Cedarwood, Cardamom
Restful: Lavender, Roman Chamomile, Wild Orange
Energizing: Wild Orange, Bergmont, Tangerine
Flower Garden: Lavender, Ylang Ylang, Magnolia
You can use essential oils for lots of other DIYs from personal care to cleaning like these great toner or our fav all purpose cleaner.
Homemade Wax Melts
Equipment
- Silicone mold
Materials
- ½ cup soy wax flakes (or beeswax pellets but we prefer the soy wax)
- 1 tablespoon grapeseed oil (or avocado or coconut oil)
- 20-25 drops essential oils
Instructions
- Melt soy wax and grapeseed oil in double boiler. Once completely melted, remove from heat and add essential oils. Pour into mold. Allow to cool. Place in refrigerator for a few minutes before you remove from mold. Store in an airtight container. If more essential oil is needed, you can add a few drops to warmer after the wax melt has melted.
- Helpful hint: Keep a record of the oils and quantities used. You think you’ll remember, but speaking from experience, you won’t. If the combo is great, you’ll want to be able to repeat the recipe, or if it needs tweaking, you’ll want to be able to do that as well. I find keeping notes on my phone to be the best method for me. If I jot it down on paper then I have to remember where I stuck the paper…LOL
