DIY Project

Candles and soap · Christmas · Adults

Soy wax melts

Scented wax melts in snap-apart clamshells, one of the fastest candle-adjacent products to make and sell.

Soy wax melts
LevelBeginner
Time45 minutes plus 48 hours curing
Cost$20 to $35

What you'll need

Materials

Tick them off as you find them.

Tools

  • Double boiler, or a metal pouring pitcher in a pot of water
  • Candy or digital thermometerFind it →
  • Kitchen scaleFind it →
  • Metal spoon

How to make it

Safety

Melt wax only in a double boiler, never leave it on the heat alone, and smother a wax fire with a lid, never water.

  1. Step 1: Melt the wax
    1

    Melt the wax

    Melt the wax in the double boiler and bring it to 185 F.

  2. Step 2: Add color
    2

    Add color

    Stir in a small piece of dye chip until it dissolves. It looks darker melted than set.

  3. Step 3: Add fragrance
    3

    Add fragrance

    Take it off the heat and stir in the fragrance for 2 minutes.

  4. Step 4: Pour the molds
    4

    Pour the molds

    Let it cool to about 150 F and pour into the clamshells. Fill each cavity to the line.

  5. Step 5: Let them cure
    5

    Let them cure

    Close the lids once the wax is solid. Wait 48 hours before using or selling so the scent settles in.

  6. Step 6: Label them
    6

    Label them

    List the scent and a caution line on each label. Customers want to know what's in them.

Edie's tip

Make a test batch at 6, 8 and 10 percent fragrance. Smell them in a warmer to find your sweet spot.

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