How to Make Beeswax Wax Melts

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You can create lovely melts with this wax melts recipe using beeswax. Made with small pieces of scented wax, they release scent as they melt. Most commercial products are made with petroleum by products. Make your own at home using natural ingredients.

Three homemade beeswax melts image.

Creating your own natural melts is a simple beeswax craft that anyone can do. The customization possibilities are endless as you experiment with different fragrances. Enjoy one of the most common uses of beeswax in this creative project.

Homemade Wax Melts with Beeswax

Wax melts are usually small cubes of various waxes that melt with heat. Why do people love wax melts so much?

It must be the size and variety of ways to make and use them. They come in many different fun shapes and colors-but they don’t have to be fancy.

Beeswax is a common natural wax used to make these types of products. But, they can be made with other materials too such as soy wax.

When creating your diy beeswax melts, plan to experiment a bit until you find the best wax or combination that fits your needs.

How Wax Melts Differ From Candles

Most candles (except for hand rolled beeswax candles used mostly for decoration) are lit at some point. They are designed to be burned.

Unlike a candle, beeswax melts do not have a wick. The wax is not burned – it is only warmed to release the fragrance. This can be an important safety issue.

Not every spot is suitable for a candle with a live flame. Of course, this does not mean you should not take some precautions. Spilled wax can make a mess – even if you don’t get burned.

A wide range of essential oils and fragrance oils are used when making homemade wax melts. Color is sometimes added for a visual effect but the focus is always fragrance.

Homemade Wax Melts are Safer for Some People

Commercial wax melts are often made of paraffin and other substances. When heated, there is a danger of indoor air pollution from the wax and added synthetic fragrances.

By making your own beeswax melts at home, you can be sure of the ingredients that you are using – regardless of the kind of wax you wish to use in your recipe.

Some people with allergies that find burning candles irritating might be able to tolerate natural wax melts better.

Why Is Beeswax Good for Melts?

Beeswax is a great choice for making wax melts. A renewable resource, beeswax is made by honey bees.

Excess wax is left over after the honey harvest and can be used in many ways in the home. The colony is not harmed when only excess wax is harvested by a considerate beekeeper.

Natural raw beeswax diy products will only contain the ingredients that you add. This lets you control the recipe for your homemade health and beauty items.

Materials

Here are the primary materials you need to make your own beeswax melts. This recipe includes coconut oil too and I feel that combination makes the best product.

It is a good idea to gather all of your materials before starting this project. Wax can be messy. Spreading newspaper or freezer paper on the counter to create an easy to clean work space is advised.

  • beeswax
  • coconut oil
  • essential oil – your choice of scent

Beeswax

You need clean beeswax to make melts. When buying commercial beeswax – it is usually clean and ready to use but you pay more for the convenience.

If you buy raw wax from a local beekeeper, be sure to clean the wax before using. You can even make your own solar wax melter for a few bucks. It is actually a rather fun thing to do with the kids as long you supervise to prevent cuts or burns.

When making beeswax projects, I measure my ingredients by net weight. A simple kitchen scale is perfect for the job.

Your measurements do not have to be exact here. We are not making “rocket fuel” or anything that requires precise computations.

If you do not have a scale – no worries. You can measure your ingredients and use a ratio. For example, in this recipe you want twice as much beeswax as coconut oil.

Coconut Oil

This wonderful oil can be used in so many ways. It’s a great idea to keep a small tub on hand. In addition to this project, I use it in my beeswax lotion recipe and when making some of my natural beeswax lip balm recipes too!

Coconut oil is semi-solid if the room is cool and becomes a liquid when temperatures are warm. But, even when solid it is easy to measure and use.

Essential Oils vs Fragrance Oils

Essential oils are easy to find and work well in most beeswax melt recipes. You can also purchase fragrance oils from crafting companies that are designed to work with melts.

Unbleached natural beeswax has a slight honey smell. If you want a different fragrance, choose a strong scent such as peppermint, pine needle or orange.

How Much Fragrance Oil to Use in Your Beeswax Melts

The type of fragrance oil or essential oil used will play a role in the amount needed. Also, personal preference matters too – you may not want a strong scent.

It is wise to begin with a small amount of fragrance – you can always add more. In general, fragrance oil should not exceed 6% or 1 ounce per pound of wax.

Using Your Homemade Melts

The easiest and most common way to use your melts is with a burner. They are specifically designed for this purpose and are not subject to over heating. Remember, we only need to melt the wax – it does not need to be boiling hot.

There are numerous styles of electric wax burners to chose from and they may be the safest option. However, some users enjoy the elegant clay burners with tealights.

Can you use a wax melt without a burner? Sure you can. Place your melts in a wide mouth glass jar (mason jar) and sit in a pot with water.

Gently heat the water until steaming and then set off the heat source. The wax should melt and release the fragrance into the room.

Ceramic burner for wax melts using a tea light as a heat source.

More Projects to Try

Want to try a similar project that’s bit different? These scented beeswax and soy tarts are a lot of fun. This project uses soy instead of coconut oil – they have a different melt behavior. It is fun to experiment.

Creating with beeswax is easy and fun and there are hundreds of ideas. You will find projects for every skill level.

Try creating a unique Christmas ornament with blackened beeswax. A great way to start a new tradition.

What about some beeswax crafting projects to pamper your body – they make great gifts too: luxurious body butter, foot balm made with beeswax – and of course the ever popular – beeswax lip balm.

FAQs

What do you do with wax melts?

The whole purpose of wax melts is to fill the room with a pleasant scent without the use of a flame – as you would have with a candle.

How long do beeswax melts last?

The fragrance of beeswax melts will last various lengths of time. This depends on the type of fragrance and strength used in the melt.

Are wax melts better than candles?

Melts are safer than live flame candles. They are also cheaper to buy and make due to the fact that the fragrance lasts longer when not exposed to flame.

Can I reuse beeswax wax melts?

Yes, you can. Once the scent has faded – you can remelt the wax and add more fragrance oil.

Final Thoughts

You may be surprised to learn how easy it is to make beeswax wax melts. You can vary the recipe to fit the fragrances that you love. Explore the many craft projects that you can enjoy with this product from honey bees.

Three homemade beeswax melts image.

DIY Beeswax Melts Recipe

Charlotte Anderson @ Carolina Honeybees, LLC
Step by step instructions for making wax melts or tarts with beeswax.
4.50 from 4 votes

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Supplies
 

Instructions
 

  • Melting beeswax: While you can use the microwave, the best and safest way to melt beeswax is by using a double-boiler.
    I am loving this small double-boiler. It is easy to clean and is large enough for most of my projects.
    When paired with a pot to hold water, it makes a great tool for melting beeswax.
    Double boiler insert for melting beeswax for making melts image.
  • Add coconut oil: Measure 4 oz. (net wt.) of beeswax and 2 oz. (net wt.) of coconut oil.
    Place these in your double boiler and turn the heat to medium.
    As the water in the bottom pot heats up, your wax will begin to melt. It will take longer for the beeswax to melt than the coconut oil.
    Gently stir occasionally until everything is melted and combined.
    Melting wax and oils for beeswax melt recipe image.
  • Add fragrance oil or essential oil: Remove the melting pot from the hot water bath.
    Now, it is time to add our fragrance. Adding fragrance to hot oils can affect its aroma. Your beeswax melt recipe mixture should not be above 185° F when oils are added.
    I added 50 drops of Balsam Fir Essential Oil to this recipe because I wanted a strong scent. You may need to experiment a bit to choose the best one for you.
    Fragrance, molds and materials for beeswax melts image.
  • Molding: This is the fun part.
    As soon as the fragrance oil is added – give the recipe a quick stir. Then pour the hot ingredients into any type of mold or form that you wish.
    There are many types of molds to choose from but silicone cupcake wrappers work well too. If not using silicone, you may need a mold release spray.
    Pouring melted beeswax mix for melts into molds image.
  • Cool and remove from mold: Allow the mixture to cool for a couple of hours. As it cools, the mixture will harden and take the form of the mold.
    Once the mixture is set, you can easily remove your wax melts from the mold.
    They are ready to use! Add a cute bee bag and ribbon for a quick homemade gift.
    Homemade wax melts made with beeswax in a gift bag image.

Notes

*Don’t overdo the fragrance – you can always add more. Fragrance oil should not exceed 6% or 1 ounce per pound of wax.
  • beeswax is flammable (as are most other oils)- avoid overheating
  • pots and pans exposed to wax are hard to clean – used dedicated craft pots
  • take every precaution to prevent burns – use pot holders, safety glasses and gloves where needed
Learn more about bees and using products from the hive!Join me on Pinterest – @carolinahoneyb

4.50 from 4 votes (4 ratings without comment)

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2 Comments

  1. Hi! Why add coconut oil? Can these be made without it? Thanks!

    1. Charlotte Anderson says:

      In my experience, you need to add something that has a lower melting point – plain beeswax ones did not get hot enough in my melters to work.