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How to make scented candles and wax melts in 6 steps
For a scented candle you need soy wax, a wick, a glass jar and essential oil. Melt the wax in a bain-marie, let it cool until it turns cloudy and stir in 4% essential oil (6% at most). Pour it into the jar. It takes about 30 minutes; after 24 to 48 hours of curing, light it.
- Know how much scent to add: 4%, 6% at most.
- Follow the step-by-step guide for scented candles and wax melts.
- Fix tunnelling, soot and a weak scent yourself.
Scented candle or wax melt: the same basics
You make both a scented candle and a wax melt from melted wax with essential oil. The difference: a scented candle has a wick and burns on its own, while a wax melt has no wick and melts on a wax burner. You use the same wax and almost the same materials.
This guide is all about scent: which wax to choose, how much oil to add and when. Want to learn the basics of candle making first? Then read make your own candles.
- Wick, trimmed to 4 mm
- Soy wax
- 4% essential oil
- Glass jar or tin
4% is the rule of thumb. For a 100 gram candle, weigh out 96 grams of soy wax and 4 grams of essential oil. Always work in grams, not drops or millilitres.
What do you need for a scented candle or wax melts?
These are the materials from our scented candle and wax melt recipes. You only need to buy most of them once.
Soy wax
The base of all our scented candle and wax melt recipes. Prefer a different plant-based wax? Have a look at coconut wax or coconut apricot wax.
Essential oil
For the scent. Our recipes use, among others, sweet orange, patchouli and lemongrass.
Candle wicks
Our 8 cm cotton wicks fit our 120 ml glass jar. Wooden wicks burn with a steady flame and a soft crackle. Not sure which to pick? Try the candle wick mix set.
Glass jar or tin
A glass jar or a tin, as in the Lemon Candle. Use a clean, dry and undamaged jar.
Silicone mould (for wax melts)
Pour wax melts into a flexible silicone mould, such as our silicone soap mould. Once they have set, the cubes pop straight out.
Melting pot
To melt the wax in a bain-marie, without it sitting directly on the heat.
Scales
Weigh both wax and oil in grams. Precision scales are handy for small amounts of oil.
Thermometer
Needed for coconut apricot wax, which you pour at 60 to 65 °C. With soy wax, you watch for the setting point: the wax turns cloudy.
Wick holder
Two wooden sticks or a clothes peg keep the wick straight while the wax sets.
Check the exact quantities in the recipe you choose. That way you can see what you already have at home and what you still need.
View the scented candle recipesWhich wax should you choose for a scented candle?
We sell three plant-based waxes for candles. All our scented candle and wax melt recipes use soy wax.
| Property | Soy wax | Coconut wax | Coconut apricot wax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base | Plant-based, from soya beans | Plant-based, from coconut oil | Plant-based, from coconut oil and apricot kernel oil |
| Melting | Melting point 58 to 70 °C | In a bain-marie until fully liquid | To 70–75 °C, pour at 60–65 °C |
| Scent | 4% essential oil in our recipes, 6% at most | Stir in gently at the recommended temperature | Essential oil 1% at most |
| Curing | At least 24 to 48 hours | At least 48 hours | 48 to 72 hours for the best scent |
| Good to know | Also the base of our wax melts | Blend with soy wax for a harder candle, with beeswax for a longer burn time | Made for candles in glass; adheres well to the jar |
| Price | from €4.49 | from €14.99 | from €14.94 |
Melting points, temperatures and quantities come from the product pages for soy wax, coconut wax and coconut apricot wax.
How to make a scented candle in 6 steps
The step-by-step guide for a soy wax scented candle, as in our Autumn Leave Candle. Allow about 30 minutes of work.
Step 1: Weigh out the wax and the oil
Work with 4% essential oil on the total weight. For a 100 gram candle, weigh out 96 grams of soy wax and 4 grams of essential oil.
Using several oils? Weigh them out together beforehand in a small measuring cup, so you can add them in one go later.
Step 2: Melt the wax in a bain-marie
Put a pan with a little water on the hob and bring it to the boil. Place the melting pot or a heat-resistant measuring jug with the soy wax in it and heat until the wax has fully melted.
Make sure no water gets into the wax and stay with it. Using coconut apricot wax? Then heat it to 70–75 °C.
Step 3: Fix the wick in place
Pour a drop of melted wax onto the bottom of the jar and set the wick in it. Slide a wooden S-shaped wick onto its holder first.
Clamp the top of the wick between two wooden sticks or in a clothes peg so it stays straight in the centre.
Step 4: Add the scent around the setting point
Take the wax off the heat and let it cool to around its setting point: the wax turns cloudy and starts to set at the edges. Then stir in the essential oil quickly but thoroughly.
Do not reheat the mixture afterwards, or the scent will evaporate. Coconut apricot wax works differently: stir the scent in for 2 minutes at 70–75 °C.
Step 5: Pour the wax into the jar or mould
Pour the mixture into the jar straight away and keep the wick straight. Let coconut apricot wax cool to 60–65 °C first, and leave 0.5 to 1 cm of space below the rim.
Making wax melts? Then pour the mixture into a silicone mould, without a wick.
Step 6: Let it cure and trim the wick
Let the candle cure for at least 24 to 48 hours before you light it. That gives the scent time to bind to the wax.
Then trim the wick to 4 mm. The first time you light the candle, let it burn until the wax has melted right up to the edge: this prevents tunnelling.
The recipe gives you the exact quantities and oils. Pick one and get started.
View the scented candle recipesScented candle or wax melt: the differences
This is how a scented candle and a wax melt differ in our recipes.
| Feature | Scented candle | Wax melt |
|---|---|---|
| Wick | Yes, in the centre of the jar | No |
| Wax | Soy wax; with 10% coconut oil in the Spicy Cinnamon Candle | Soy wax (94% in the Christmas Wax Melts) |
| Scent | 4% essential oil, 6% at most | 5% essential oil |
| Shape | Glass jar or tin | Silicone mould |
| Ready | After 24 to 48 hours of curing | As soon as the cubes have set |
| Use | Trim the wick to 4 mm and light it | Melt a cube on a wax burner |
From our shop
Materials for your scented candle
Fixing problems with your scented candle
Is your candle not burning or smelling the way you want? Find the problem and read the fix.
| Problem | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Tunnelling: a hole around the wick | The first burn was too short, so only the centre melted. | On the first burn, let the candle melt right up to the edge of the jar. |
| Sinkhole by the wick | The wax shrinks around the wick as it cools. | Poke holes around the wick and melt the top layer with a hairdryer until it is smooth again. |
| Weak scent | The oil went in while the wax was still too hot, the mixture was reheated, or the candle was lit too soon. | Add the oil around the setting point, do not reheat and wait 24 to 48 hours. More scent? Go from 4% to 6% at most. |
| Soot and a flickering flame | The wick is too long or does not suit the width of the jar. | Trim the wick to 4 mm before lighting. If the jar is wider than about 7.5 cm, use two or three wicks, as in the Lemon Candle. |
| White patches along the glass | Plant-based wax sometimes pulls away from the glass as it cools. | Warm the jar briefly before pouring. Coconut apricot wax adheres well to glass and leaves fewer white patches. |
| Oil on the surface | There is more oil in it than the wax can hold. | Stay within the dosage: 6% essential oil at most in soy wax, 1% at most in coconut apricot wax. |
| Crooked wick | The wick moved while pouring or cooling. | Fix the wick with a drop of wax and clamp it between two wooden sticks or in a clothes peg until the candle has set. |
Recipes
Choose your scented candle or wax melt recipe
Burning your scented candle safely
Never leave a burning candle or wax burner unattended. Place it securely on a heat-resistant surface, away from curtains and other flammable items, and out of reach of children and pets.
Stick to the maximum dosage: 6% essential oil at most in soy wax and 1% at most in coconut apricot wax. Read the safety information on the product page for every essential oil. Do not add dried flowers or other flammable decorations to the wax, trim the wick to 4 mm and put the candle out if it smokes or the flame gets too large.
Frequently asked questions about scented candles and wax melts
Can you make scented candles with perfume?
Perfume is made to be worn on your skin, not to be burned in a candle. Use essential oil instead, weighed out and stirred into the wax: 4% in our soy wax recipes, 6% at most. That way you know exactly what is in your candle.
How much essential oil do you put in a scented candle?
Our soy wax recipes use 4% essential oil on the total weight: 96 grams of soy wax and 4 grams of oil for a 100 gram candle. For more scent, go up to 6% at most. Using coconut apricot wax? Then keep essential oil to 1% at most.
Which wax is best for a scented candle?
All our scented candle and wax melt recipes use soy wax: plant-based, with a melting point of 58 to 70 °C. Coconut wax gives a smooth, creamy surface and you can blend it with soy wax for a harder candle. Coconut apricot wax is made for candles in glass. We mainly sell beeswax for skincare; you can blend it with coconut wax for a longer burn time.
How do you make your own wax melts?
Melt 75.2 grams of soy wax and stir in 0.8 grams of cocoa powder for colour and 4 grams of essential oil for scent. In our Christmas Wax Melts, that is a blend of cinnamon bark, sweet orange and clove. Pour the mixture into a silicone mould and let it set. Then place a cube on a wax burner and let it melt.
How long does a scented candle need to cure?
Let a soy wax candle cure for at least 24 to 48 hours before you light it. For coconut wax, allow at least 48 hours; for coconut apricot wax, 48 to 72 hours for the best scent. During that time the scent binds to the wax.
Why does my homemade scented candle barely smell?
Usually the oil went in while the wax was still too hot, the mixture was reheated, or the candle was lit too soon. Add the oil around the setting point, do not reheat it and wait for the full curing time. Still too faint? Then increase the oil from 4% to 6% at most.
Can I make a massage candle too?
Yes, but that is a different recipe, because the melted wax goes on your skin. Our Massage Candle is made of 45% shea butter, 25% sweet almond oil and 29% soy wax, with 1% lavender essential oil as an option. For a massage candle, follow that recipe exactly and do not use a scented candle recipe with 4% oil.
Choose your scented candle recipe
You now know which wax to choose, how much oil to add and how to make a scented candle or wax melts. Open the recipe that appeals to you: there you will find the exact quantities, the oils and the tools.
View the scented candle recipesLook at the recipe first, then decide which materials you still need.
