Wax Melt Guide - All you need to know!

Wax melts are scented pieces of wax which release fragrance when they are warmed and melted in either an electric or tealight ‘powered’ wax warmer (some available here). The melts can come in all shapes and sizes and can be made from a variety of waxes, however, LeaMadeItWithLove Wax Melts are only made from soy wax.

Unlike paraffin wax, soy wax is natural, biodegradable, made from a renewable source and does not contain the nasty toxins that paraffin wax does. The soy wax I use is manufactured especially for making wax melts. I would also recommend using vegetable wax or beeswax tealights if you can. You can purchase tealights here.

I won’t speak for others, but LeaMadeItWithLove Wax Melts are great value, easy to use and brilliant at filling your space with wonderful, long-lasting aromas. With scented candles, the wax comes into direct contact with the flame, which can burn off much of the scent. With wax melts, this doesn’t happen, so the ‘throw’ is much stronger.

Wax melts can give off a scent when cold, however, ‘throw’ is how far the scent reaches (throws) when it's melting. The biggest influence on the throw is the quality of the wax. LeaMadeItWithLove Wax Melts can last for years (pre-melt), if kept in a sealed packet/container and stored in a cool, dark, dry place. I’m confident you won’t have them hanging around that long though, not when they smell as good as they do! Other factors that can affect the throw include room size, room shape, room temperature, traffic in the room, location and size of the warmer and, of course, the fragrance used. Some of my scents are bold, some are more subtle, but they are all long-lasting.

All the fragrance oils used in LeaMadeItWithLove Wax Melts are manufactured in the UK and conform to all IFRA (International Fragrance Association) standards in relation to safety and general industry expectations and guidance. The oils have been produced to be suitable for wax melts (as well as other cosmetic uses), have not been tested on animals, are vegan and EU complaint. All products carry their relevant CLP label (European Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 on Classification, Labelling and Packaging), and all safety datasheets are available on request. Please follow safety guidelines included with your wax melts and any item purchased from my store.

I use non-toxic dyes that are specially formulated to be used in candles and wax melts alongside cosmetic grade and ethically sourced mica powders (the same stuff used to make eyeshadows). The glitter used is also non-toxic, cosmetic grade, cruelty free and biodegradable. So everything is shimmery, shiny, but most importantly, safe.

This is known as ‘frosting’ and is a natural by-product of a using a natural wax such as soy wax. Frosting is caused by tiny crystals that can sometimes form during the process of making the melts, but rest assured, it in no way affects the melt ability or throw.

Soy wax is sensitive to fluctuating changes in temperature which can cause the oils to separate from the wax resulting in what looks like sweating. Don’t worry, this does not affect the quality of the wax melt. All you need to do is wipe off the excess oil with a paper towel and use as normal.

Remove any packaging and place a wax melt or a section of your wax melt bar in the well / bowl / dish of your wax warmer. Light an unscented tealight underneath the wax and as it melts, the fragrance will be released. If you are using an electric warmer, same thing applies except instead of using a tealight, you plug it in. Never leave a burning candle or wax warmer unattended. Never heat an empty warmer. Never move a warmer while warm or while wax is still liquid.

Wax warmers, or oil burners that are used to melt wax, come in a range of different shapes and sizes, affecting the depth of the bowl or dish. When filling a bowl with liquid, it is easy to see when to stop so that it does not overflow. Wax melts, however, are not in a liquid state to begin with and they also vary in shape, size and volume. If the bowl is small, the wax may overflow when melted. This is dangerous! For this reason, some oil burners may not be suitable for wax melts. All the wax warmers that I sell on my site are suitable for wax melts. Please ensure you follow safety instructions supplied with any wax warmer.

As a guide, I would suggest starting with one piece so you can see how much melted wax your warmer can accommodate. By adding small pieces of wax gradually and monitoring the fill level, you can avoid wax overflow. Each melt will give you at least 4-6 hours of fragrance, usually more.

As mentioned above, you should use unscented tealights and I recommend the use of natural wax tealights as they are cleaner and produce less (if any) soot. Soot can impair the heat exchange of your wax warmer. It is also essential that an appropriately sized tealight is used. A large tealight in a small warmer can mean the naked flame is too close resulting in overheating and cracking. I would advise the use of the smaller, 4-hour maximum tealights. Try these.

No. Nothing in LeaMadeItWithLove wax melts can produce smoke, however you may see vapour emitting from the wax. Please do not be alarmed, this is the fragrance being released and is normal. If you feel the fragrance is ‘burning’ off too quickly, reduce the heat source.

Once the wax pool has cooled and fully solidified, try gently pressing one side of the wax as it may slide out straightaway. If this doesn’t work, try heating the solid wax for a minute to loosen and then slide out. Never use sharp objects to remove used wax as this could scratch or damage the burner. Used LeaMadeItWithLove wax melts are biodegradable.

I have strict standards when it comes to scenting the wax for safety reasons, but I’m a bit more of a free spirit when it comes to decorating them! No matter what they look like, the fragrance will be consistent and as I sell by weight, the amount you get will always be consistent as well.

Have I missed something? Leave me a comment or email LeaMadeItWithLove@gmail.com and I’ll put on my research cap to find you an answer.

Toodles! x