Wax melts, also called cubes or tarts, are chunks of wax that are placed into a warmer and heated gently to release a scent. They’re a great way of filling your space with a relaxing aroma and are a fantastic alternative to traditional scented candles.
What’s more, they’re much less expensive and safer too. So as well as adding a delicious scent to a room, they are great for getting rid of unpleasant odours or for relaxing.
Wax melts come in a different range of sizes, types, and fragrances. The scent of a wax melt can last any time between a few hours or a few days. When the wax melt has run out of scent, the leftover wax is thrown away, and a new one is added.
If you plan to start making wax melts to sell as a business venture or even if you just want to buy some Luxury wax melts you may be wondering which is the best type of wax for making wax melts. So with that in mind this article is going to give you the information needed to make the right choice.
So what is the best wax for wax melts? The short answer is beeswax. This wax is the most natural and most environmentally-friendly. However, it’s also the most expensive. As for the most popular wax for making wax melts, that is certainly soy wax due to its price and non toxic nature.
There are lots of considerations when choosing wax melts. Let’s take a look.
Wax melt size and design
There are lots of variations in design and size when it comes to wax melts. However, wax melts have really taken off as a scented candle alternative in the last half a decade, which has led to more and more people making them.
Sometimes, wax melts look like baked goods, which is why you can also see them marketed as ‘wax tarts’.
The most popular shapes of wax melt include tubs, circles, cubes, hearts, and stars. Most wax melts are in segments or blocks, with each piece being the right size to put into a wax warmer.
Depending on the warmer’s size, you can choose smaller or larger wax melts. They’re often soft, which means they can easily be cut into smaller pieces for different size wax burners.
For more information on wax melts check out my what are wax melts and how do you use them guide
Types of wax for wax melts
The type of wax used for making wax melts varies between sellers. Most common waxes include paraffin wax, soy wax, beeswax, gel wax, and palm wax. Each type of wax has strengths no, weaknesses, and its own uses. Let’s take a look in more detail.
Paraffin wax
This is one of the cheapest types of wax available. Paraffin wax melts usually produce very strong scents.
However, lots of people are beginning to turn away from paraffin wax as an ingredient since it is derived from petroleum and is actually a by-product of the processing of crude oil and petroleum.
What’s more, studies have shown that paraffin wax releases carcinogens and toxins when burnt. That said, the wax in wax melts doesn’t burn, so there is a lesser risk of people breathing in harmful substances.
Paraffin wax can come in the form of granulated wax. These little beads have a melting point of 140° F and don’t need to be molded before use.
Check out this paraffin wax on Amazon if you want to make your melts using paraffin.
Soy wax and soy wax flakes
This wax is a preferred wax for many because it is a more sustainable and environmentally friendly product. In addition, soy wax is derived from soybeans and so is entirely plant-based; it doesn’t control any harmful substances, unlike paraffin.
If you want a natural wax for environmental reasons, you need to be wary still with soy wax. This is because the soybean industry has been responsible for destroying many small farms and rainforests in Brazil.
So, while it is much better for the environment, some of the practices that go on mean it is not a perfect solution and is not without a downside.
In terms of melting, soy wax has a lower melting point, which means it doesn’t require as high a temperature to become molten and release its scent. This makes it great for wax melts.
If you are looking for cheap but quality, pure soy wax for your melts have a look at this supplier on Amazon.
Palm wax
Like soy wax, palm wax is a natural product derived from plant material. In this instance, it is made from hydrogenated palm oil. Compared to soy wax, palm wax is not as soft. Despite it being plant-based, there are also environmental issues with using palm oil to make wax.
Like soy, but perhaps even more so, palm oil manufacturers are clearing valuable forests to grow palm trees and make money.
There are palm oils that describe themselves as ‘sustainable’, so if you want to use palm wax, you should look at the provenance of the product before buying.
However, even sustainable palm oil isn’t free from controversy: even initially, native forests have to be cleared to grow the palm trees. What’s more, having sustainable palm oil means that there is a market for palm oil, and as such, more people want to tap into that market and grow palms trees – many of them in a non-sustainable way.
Gel wax
Gel wax melts are made from a mixture of mineral oil and a polymer resin. In fact, gel wax isn’t really a wax at all. Gel wax is translucent, like gelatine.
It burns for a long time and melts slowly, making it a great product for long-lasting wax melts. Gel wax melts, being translucent, can often have non-flammable and decorative items added to the gel.
Beeswax
One of the oldest substances for making candles is beeswax. Beeswax has its advantages: it is an entirely natural product. Even without added fragrance, beeswax gives out a delicious natural honey scent.
Of all of the wax types, beeswax is by far the most natural. But it is also the most expensive, especially when the beeswax comes from organic beekeeping. As well as being the most natural wax, beeswax is also the most environmentally friendly.
The production of beeswax is taken care of by the bees themselves. The worker bees are responsible for excreting the wax through special glands in order to build a honeycomb.
For more information about beeswax check out this helpful beeswax guide.
This beeswax available on Amazon is absolutely perfect for making wax melts. take a look it is 100% pure.
Blends of wax
You can find wax melts in wax blends. These waxes have additives like UV light stabilizers to prevent their color from fading.
There are so many different types of waxes used in wax melt and candle production and each has their own benefits and downsides. If you would like to know more then please check out my waxes guide
Get the strongest fragrance from a wax melt
If scent throw is important to you, paraffin wax is probably the best wax for this. However, there is another way to achieve a stronger fragrance when using wax melts.
Once your wax melt has become molten in the burner, you can add a few drops of fragrance oil. You should stir to mix it in gently. For a stronger aroma, simply add more of the fragrance oil.
When compared to scented candles, wax melts emit a much stronger scent. They also emit the scent for a longer period of time. Compared to traditional candles, wax melts last around five times as long. This is because the wax doesn’t burn away.
You may notice that some wax melts actually contain essential oils instead of fragrance oils.
Wax melts losing their scent
No matter the wax type, all wax melts will lose their scent eventually. You can reuse old wax melts until you can no longer smell the scent.
If you buy wax melts and don’t use them, they will lose their scent over time.
Check out this guide to do wax melts expire for keeping your wax melts fresh.
Or this article has some great information about how long wax melts last.
Final thoughts and conclusion – what is the best wax for wax melts?
If you’re someone who cares a lot for the environment, the best wax for wax melts is certainly beeswax. This is the most natural of waxes, made entirely by worker bees!
It’s also the most environmentally friendly of the natural waxes as it doesn’t require any deforestation, unlike soy wax and palm wax. However, beeswax is the most expensive type of wax, so if cost is an issue, you might want to consider alternatives.
For scent throw and cost, the best wax is paraffin wax, but you really need to weigh up the concerns of toxins and it being a by-product of petroleum and crude oil, a fossil fuel.
All in all, deciding which wax is the best wax for wax melts isn’t easy, and it really depends on your priorities.
I started Scents and Aroma as a way to share my knowledge from owning a candle, wax melt, diffuser and bath bomb business so that you can make your home smell lovely too.
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