Learn how to make wax brittle with essential oils and herbs. This is an easy DIY to make at home with soy wax, essential oils, and herbs. Use it like you would a wax melt for a natural scent in your home and aromatherapy.
I am happy when my house smells good. I used to use candles and wax melts, but now I make my own. I use my essential oil diffuser or use essential oils to make wax melts.
I want to show you how to make wax brittle with essential oils. Wax brittle, or wax bark, is similar to a wax melt. However, it's poured in a thin flat layer so it breaks apart. It gives it an interesting look, so it looks pretty even while you're storing it.
What I really like about soy wax brittle is that you can use as much or as little as you want. It's also easy to combine scents because you can use a little bit of this and a little piece of that to create a custom scent.
For this DIY, I made peppermint and lemon wax brittle and made them a little extra with some herbs on top. The herbs also release a natural scent, and they look so pretty on top of the wax.
How to Make Wax Brittle With Essential Oils and Herbs
What is Wax Brittle?
Wax brittle is similar to a candle or a wax melt. You'll use the same ingredients, but you pour it in a thin layer. When it's set up, you'll break it apart like a bark or brittle food recipe.
They have a fun and unique shape. I like to store my extra soy wax brittle in a bowl because it looks pretty in a bowl.
How to Use Wax Brittle
You use wax brittle just like you'd you'd use a wax melt. Turn your melter on and place a few pieces of wax brittle in the bowl.
You can use as much wax as you want. I recommend starting with less than you think you'll need and adding more as needed.
You can use a wax melter that uses a tea light or an electric warmer. I prefer the electric ones.
Wax Brittle Mold
One major benefit to learning how to make soy wax brittle versus making wax melts is that you don't need a special mold!
I use a cookie sheet with sides or an 8x8 pan. Be sure to line it with parchment paper or you'll be really sad when the wax sets up.
The Best Wax for Wax Brittle
I prefer to use soy wax for how to make wax brittle. It's renewable, and it supports American farmers.
Soy wax also burns cleaner, so I don't have to worry about soot or having chemicals in the air.
As much as I like soy wax, it is a soft wax. You can use just soy wax, but plan to use a spoon to scrape the wax out of your wax melter.
You can also add stearic acid or vybar to the wax. This doesn't affect the wax brittle or the scent.
Vybar makes the soy wax harder so you can pop it out of the wax melter after it cools. It also helps the wax retain its scent for a better throw.
I use 1/4 teaspoon to 1/2 teaspoon per pound of soy wax. If you use more than that, it can actually inhibit the scent throw.
I use stearic acid in my soy wax. Stearic acid also helps the scent last longer the throw stronger. When the wax cools, the stearic acid makes the wax shrink. This helps the spent wax pop out of the mold so you can toss it (or reuse it).
Use 3 to 6 tablespoons of stearic acid per pound of soy wax. I use 3-4 when I make my own wax brittle or wax melts.
Essential Oils
I used lemon essential oil and peppermint essential oil for this soy wax brittle. When used in aromatherapy, lemon essential oil has a crisp and clean scent. It's said to be uplifting.
Lemon essential oil can help reduce depression and anxiety. It is also said to relieve cold symptoms and help you fell energized.
Lemon pairs well with peppermint essential oil. I use peppermint often in the winter because it's said to help reduce coughing. It also promotes clarity and is said to improve mental function.
You can use any essential oil. You could also halve this recipe and make the lemon and peppermint separately and then use them separately or combine them.
I get my essential oils from Simply Earth or Crafty Bubbles. Both are high quality pure essential oils at affordable prices.
Herbs
The herbs that you use will also help scent the soy wax brittle. I used lemon zest (find on Etsy or Starwest Botanicals) and peppermint (find on Etsy or Starwest Botanicals). If you aren't using this right away, then you should only use dried herbs. I used fresh peppermint because I'll be using this daily until it's gone.
Since you are using this in a wax melter and not in a candle, then you can use any herb without worrying about about a fire hazard. I don't recommend using any fresh or dried herbs in a candle that is meant to be lit.
I like to get my herbs from Starwest Botanicals. However, if you only need a small amount, it's better to get them on Etsy because you can buy smaller amounts.
Soy Wax Brittle Tips
Essential oils can burn off if you add them when the wax is too hot. I recommend letting the wax cool to about about 125 degrees before you add the essential oils. I use a laser thermometer to check the temperature.
Soy wax can only hold so much essential oils, generally no more than 10 percent. Using more essential oils can cause the oils to leak out of the wax. You can always use less essential oil than in the recipe, but don't use more than what is called for.
I did not add color to my soy wax brittle, but you can if you want to. You can use liquid candle colorant or mica. I usually use mica just because I use it in other recipes.
Line your pan with parchment paper. If you don't, the wax will be almost impossible to get out of the pan.
This makes a lot of soy wax brittle. You can prepare several smaller pans and separate the wax after it melts to make different scents. You can also cut this recipe in half or in fourth to make less at a time.
For more ways to scent your home naturally with essential oils, check out these posts:
Soy Wax Brittle Ingredients
- 1 pound soy wax
- 3 tablespoons vybar or 1/2 teaspoon stearic acid
- 0.5 ounce to 1 ounce essential oil
Tools and Supplies
- Double boiler
- Laser thermometer
- Digital scale
Soy Wax Brittle Directions
Step #1
Weigh the wax and place in a double boiler to melt over medium heat. Stir occasionally until all of the wax is melted.
Step #2
Carefully remove from heat. Let the wax cool to 125 degrees Fahrenheit. Meanwhile, line a cookie sheet or several pans with sides with parchment paper.
Step #3
When the wax is cooled to 125 degrees, weigh and the essential oils and add to the wax. You can also add colorant at this time if you want.
Step #4
Pour the wax into the the pan. Add herbs to the top if desired. Let cool completely.
Step #5
Carefully break the wax into small pieces. Use a small piece in a wax melter to naturally scent your home.
I hope you enjoy this recipe and learned how to make wax brittle! Have fun playing with the recipe and using different scents.
How to Make Soy Wax Brittle
materials:
- 1 pound soy wax
- 3 tablespoons vybar or 1/2 teaspoon stearic acid
- 0.5 ounce to 1 ounce essential oil
tools:
- Double boiler
- Digital scale
- Laser thermometer
steps:
- Weigh the wax and place in a double boiler to melt over medium heat. Stir occasionally until all of the wax is melted.
- Carefully remove from heat. Let the wax cool to 125 degrees Fahrenheit. Meanwhile, line a cookie sheet or several pans with sides with parchment paper.
- When the wax is cooled to 125 degrees, weigh and the essential oils and add to the wax. You can also add colorant at this time if you want.
- Pour the wax into the the pan. Add herbs to the top if desired. Let cool completely.
- Carefully break the wax into small pieces. Use a small piece in a wax melter to naturally scent your home.
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