How to Make Candle Melts

Candle melts, also known as scent chips, wax melts and scent tarts, are simply pieces of wax scented with essential oils. When you melt the wax in a potpourri or essential oil burner, a rich fragrance fills the room. Candle melts make great gifts for family and friends. With a few simple tools, you can make your own candle melts in your kitchen, using your favorite colors and fragrances. You can even reuse and recycle by melting down old candle stubs.

Things You'll Need

• Old candles or candle wax
• Mini-muffin pan
• Double boiler or two pots or pans, one smaller than the other
• Essential oil or fragrance oil
• Fire extinguisher
• Candy thermometer

Instructions

1. Remove the wicks from the candle stubs and clean off any dirt.

2. Add the candle wax to the smaller pot. Fill the larger pot with 1 or 2 inches of water. Place the smaller pot inside the larger pot. If using a double boiler, fit the double boiler top to the bottom.

3. Turn the stove burner on at medium heat. The water in the larger pot or double boiler should come to a boil. Once the water boils, turn the heat down and maintain the water at a simmer. Add more water to the larger pot or double boiler if needed.

4. Stir the wax in the smaller pot often. Use the candy thermometer to check the wax temperature as it melts. The wax should never be hotter than 180 degrees F.

5. Add a few drops of essential or fragrance oil to the melted wax. Keep stirring the wax to blend the oils.

6. Remove the smaller pot or double boiler top after blending in the fragrance oil. Pour the melted wax into the holes in the mini-muffin pan.

7. Your candle melts should cool for 12 hours before use. For quicker cooling, let the wax cool to room temperature, then place the mini-muffin pan in the freezer for 30 minutes.

8. Turn over the pan and hit the back of the molds. The candle melts should slide out and be ready to use!

Tips & Warnings

• Always have a fire extinguisher on hand in case of emergency. Small wax fires can be extinguished with a pot lid. Never leave your wax unattended. Never directly boil the wax. It will overheat and catch on fire. Only use essential oil or fragrance oils specially formulated for candle making to scent your candle melts. You cannot use commercial potpourri or lamp ring oils.