Scent your home naturally this holiday season with these easy to make Christmas scented wax melts. I used a holiday set of essential oils and natural flavor oils and soy wax to scent my wax melts with.
DIY Christmas Wax Melts
I've always been a huge fan of wax melts and candles. I started making candles and wax melts over fifteen years ago before I moved to DIY bath and body products.
I used to burn candles all the time, but then my cat stepped in one and wax got everywhere. Luie was fine from the candle, but I'm pretty sure the bath afterwards scarred him for life.
I know it scarred me for life. Literally. He sliced my hand pretty good that night.
That's when I started making wax melts. I like them better because I can turn them off and on without worrying about the wick tunneling.
They are also a lot easier to make since you don't have to worry about wick size and testing so much.
This Christmas, I wanted to make some wax melts with the new Fall and Winter set of natural essential oil blends from Crafty Bubbles.
For more Christmas DIY ideas, check out these posts:
- Christmas Room Spray Recipe
- Candy Cane Body Butter Recipe
- Christmas Simmer Pot Recipe
- Christmas Scented Wax Tablets
- How to Make Diffuser Ornaments
What Do I Need to Start Making My Own Wax Melts?
These wax melts for Christmas are easier than making candles because you don’t need the jars or wicks.
You will need:
Wax. I use soy wax, but you can use paraffin wax as well. Soy wax is natural, which is why I prefer it. However, soy wax is softer and can be hard to get out of your wax melter. I add stearic acid or vybar, but I’ll get into that below.
Scent. I used essential oils and natural fragrance oils. You can also use fragrance oils.
Wax Melter. You can’t melt wax in the microwave or over an open flame. It’s best to use a double boiler. You can use a double boiler insert in a pan on the stove.
Molds. I used a Christmas candy mold, but you can use any mold.
Scale. It’s important to use the right amount of wax and fragrance when making wax melts, so you’ll need to weigh the ingredients with a scale.
Thermometer. You can make Christmas scented wax melts without a thermometer, but I like to use one so I know when to add the scent.
Spoons. Use old spoons for stirring. I like to use metal for easy cleanup.
Colorant. You can use mica or candle colorant to color your wax melts for Christmas. Keep in mind that the white wax while make a pastel color if you use mica.
Is Paraffin or Soy Wax Better for Wax Melts?
I prefer using soy wax because it’s natural and doesn’t release any toxins into the air. Soy is renewable, and it helps support America’s farmers.
However, you can use paraffin wax if you prefer. I don’t recommend using beeswax because it doesn’t hold scent well and gets very hard.
How Do You Make Strong Scent Wax Melts?
Soy wax doesn’t hold as much scent as paraffin wax, so using paraffin will give you a stronger throw. However, wax melts made with soy wax will still have a good throw to scent your home.
If you use fragrance oils, you can use up to 1 ounce of scent per pound of soap, but always read the manufacturer’s directions for usage.
Essential oils, however, are used at ¼ to ½ ounce per pound of wax.
The wax will only hold so much scent. If you try to add more scent, you can get wet spots because it just can’t be incorporated into the wax.
For a stronger scent, you can use two smaller holiday wax melts at a time.
DIY Christmas Wax Melts Supplies
Here’s what you need to make these Christmas scented wax melts:
Essential Oils
I used the Crafty Bubbles Fall/Winter set of natural essential oil blends for these Christmas wax melts. It's a set of 6, but I only have 5 in stock right now so I'm skipping Eucalyptus Spearmint for this tutorial.
The set has:
- Christmas Splendor - A blend of pine and spice
- Pumpkin Pie - Spices found in pumpkin spice
- Apple Pie - Spice found in apple pie spice
- Mint Blast - Peppermint, spearmint, and a touch of wintergreen
- Eucalyptus Spearmint
- Citrus Blend - Sweet orange, lemon, and grapefruit
I don't care if pumpkin pie spice is supposed to be a fall scent; I love it, and I'm using it for winter. I like the citrus blend as a diffuser blend. It's a light scent, perfect for those November and December days when there's barely any sunlight.
If you want to use natural fragrance oils, check out Nature’s Oils. Search for Christmas for a wide variety of natural scents.
You can also create your own blends with these 15 Christmas essential oil blends.
Soy Wax
I buy my soy wax at Bolek's Crafts. They have the best price on soy I've seen anywhere. You can also buy soy wax on Etsy.
They sell container soy wax. This is a softer wax, so it's not recommended for wax melts. It will work, but it can be hard to get out of your wax melter. I add some stearic acid to harden it for easier removal.
Stearic Acid
Stearic acid is usually used in lotions as a thickener. It can also be used in soap and candles to harden them. It's a waxy substance derived from vegetables.
It is optional to use it in these Christmas wax melts with essential oils, but know that your melts will be soft. If you have had to use a spoon to remove melted wax, it was probably because they used a soft container wax.
When you add stearic acid to soy wax, it makes the wax shrink slightly when it cools. This helps you remove the wax from a mold or the wax melter.
Colorant
I used mica to color my Christmas scented wax melts. It did make them pastel since the wax is white.
For a brighter color, use candle colorant.
Wax Melt Mold
I'm using a chocolate ornament mold for these Christmas wax melts with essential oils. It's the perfect size for wax melts. You can use one or two each time, depending on how much scent you want.
How Do You Make Christmas Wax Melts?
Step #1
Weigh the soy wax and place in double boiler. I make one with a Pyrex measuring cup inside a sauce pan. I set the cup on a canning jar ring so it's not over direct heat.
Step #2
Add the stearic acid if you're using it. Heat on medium until melted.
Step #3
When the wax and stearic acid are melted, remove them from heat. Add the essential oils and mica and stir well for one minute.
Step #4
Carefully pour the wax into the mold. Let sit until melted. Unmold them and they are ready to use.
These Christmas wax melts with essential oils make a great gift, too. You can package them in a cute bag or even gift them in a mason jar tied with ribbon.
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Christmas Wax Melts With Essential Oils
materials:
- 1 pound soy wax
- 3-6 tablespoons stearic acid
- 5 mL essential oils (I used the Fall/Winter set)
- Mica
tools:
- Digital scale
- Double boiler
- Ornament mold
steps:
- Weigh the soy wax and place in double boiler. I make one with a Pyrex measuring cup inside a sauce pan. I set the cup on a canning jar ring so it's not over direct heat.
- Add the stearic acid if you're using it. Heat on medium until melted.
- When the wax and stearic acid are melted, remove them from heat. Add the essential oils and mica and stir well for one minute.
- Carefully pour the wax into the mold. Let sit until melted. Unmold them and they are ready to use.