Tag: wax

How to Make Wax Melts with Herbs and Natural Ingredients – Garden Therapy
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Wax melts are a popular way to fill your home with fragrance, but they are often made with artificial scents that can be irritating. Herbal melts are a natural alternative made with soy wax, essential oils, and herbs. As the scented cubes of wax are melted on the top of a wax melt warmer, they release aroma and allow for the ritual of using herbs while safely keeping the dried plant material away from a candle flame. Wax melts are easy to make at home and make a great handmade gift idea.

Ready to make wax melts? This post will cover…

What is a Wax Melt?

A wax melt is a scented square of wax that can be melted in an electric-or candle-heated ceramic vase to release the scent of the wax. Wax melts and warmers are a way to get all of the fragrance and warmth of a candle without the flame.

The beauty of warmers is that you can use botanicals and dry herbs to decorate your projects without the worry of them catching fire. The electric options also keep your home safe from flames if you have young children or pets.

Wax melts can also have a longer burn time than candles.

How to Choose a Wax Melt Warmer

A wax melt warmer looks like a decorative ceramic vase that has a dish set on top. The base can either have an opening for a tea light or votive candle or house the electrical components to heat the upper tray.

Wax cubes are placed in the top dish and gently warmed so they melt. As they melt, they release the fragrance.

A wax melt warmer is not to be confused with a candle warmer, which is an electrically heated tray that you set a container candle on to warm it and release the fragrance.

Here are some great wax melt warmers you can find online:

An electric candle warmer.

Using Essential Oils to Scent Wax Melts

Many commercial wax melts and candles are scented with artificial fragrance, which is why I choose to make my own. Candles and wax melts are often made with fragrance oils because they offer the most consistent and reliable scent, in addition to being less expensive.

They have been formulated to be heated to high temperatures and added to molten wax without evaporation. Fragrance oils also come in a wide variety of lab-created scents like strawberry and green apple that are pleasing and not available as essential oils.

But when it comes down to it, I prefer natural scents of essential oils as the artificial fragrances tend to give me headaches.

Essential oils are natural, but that doesn’t mean that they also won’t cause a reaction. Essential oils are the concentrated volatile oils extracted from thousands of plants squeezed into a tiny bottle, meaning they are very powerful.

It is important to be safe when using essential oils by choosing gentle oils, oils that you and your family don’t react to, and oils that have been approved by your health care professionals.

A good way to test for scent-sensitivities is to smell the oils. If you don’t like the smell, then you should avoid it, even if it has some benefits that you think might be good for you. Trust your senses. The nose knows.

How to Make Wax Melts

You can easily make these at home by melting flaked soy wax, stirring in essential oils and herbs, and then pouring the wax into heat-proof molds to set. The following covers two methods for making wax melts (in the microwave and in a double boiler) and shares some recipe ideas from my book, Make & Give Home Candle Making.

Also, see this resource list for all the supplies you will need to start candle and wax melt making at home: Home Candle Making Supplies and Resource Guide.

Soy wax is my go-to for making wax melts.

Microwave Method

Microwave melting can be tricky as it is harder to control the temperature. If you choose a wax that is labelled as appropriate for the microwave, it will have instructions included that will help you avoid cooking and burning the wax. Here are the steps I use to melt wax in the microwave and how to avoid burning it.

Equipment

Make it!
1. Weigh microwaveable soy wax for wax melts in a heatproof container with a pour spout.
2. Weigh the scented essential oil in a paper cup. Prepare the herbs in advance of using the microwave so you are ready to add them as soon as the wax has melted.
3. Melt in 20-second intervals to melt as opposed to cooking the wax. The first few times you set the timer for 20 seconds, you may be tempted to set the timer for longer, as you will see little change. But, after a few tries, you will see that the wax quickly turns from a solid to a liquid in the microwave. Overheating the wax can cause it to burn, and it smells terrible, so set intervals and check the wax frequently.
4. When the wax has fully melted, stir in the essential oil and half of the dried herbs.
5. Pour the wax into a flower-shaped mould. Choose a mould used for soap making or candy making to be sure it can handle the heat of melted wax.
6. Sprinkle the remaining herbs onto the top of each melt and allow the herbal wax melts to dry completely before popping them out.
Sprinkle with dried herbs and flower petals for decoration.

Double Boiler Method

Making soy melts in a double boiler is much easier to control and will ensure that the wax melts evenly.

Equipment

You can also “make” your own double boiler.

Make it!
1. Set up a small double boiler using a heatproof glass jar to hold the wax and a metal bread pan filled partway with water. Stir the wax frequently until it is fully melted.
2. Weigh soy wax and essential oil.
3. Bring the wax to the specified temperature for adding dye or scent oil (i.e., 160°F—see the instructions that came with your wax). Add in scent and colour (if using) and stir until completely mixed.
4. Pour the wax into a silicone ice cube tray.
5. Allow the wax melts to dry completely before popping them out of the mould for use.
Silicone ice cube moulds work great for making wax melts.

Herbal Sleepy Time Wax Melts Recipe

These herbal chamomile, calendula, and lavender wax melts are the perfect way to send you to dreamland, as the calming scent of herbs will fill the room and relax you as the wax melts. Packaged with a wax melt warmer, they are a lovely self-care gift for a friend who could use a restful night.

Chamomile, calendula, and lavender wax melts.

There are some herbs that wake you up and others that quiet you down. Herbs like lavender, chamomile, calendula, hops, mint, and passionflower are calming for the nerves and quieting for the mind. Using these herbs before bed can help to promote an easier time falling asleep as well as better quality of sleep.

Making this recipe allows the wax, oils, and herbs to melt together at a safe temperature without the risk that the herbs will catch fire.

Materials

Makes twenty-five 0.3 oz (9 g) wax melts

Make it!
1. Make the soy wax melts according to the instructions in either the microwave or double-boiler method.
2. Fill a wax-lined window bag with the herbal wax melts and label it with letter stamps. Use some floral stamps to further embellish it. Move the melts around so that they show their pretty faces in the window.
Citrus Celebration Wax Melts Recipe

Citrus celebration wax melts are the perfect housewarming gift. The festive scent is both cheerful and uplifting and will give any home a refreshing, energizing feel. The bright and cheery aroma of citrus is fresh and lively, but also very calming.

Lemon, lime, and orange wax melts.

Use citrus-scented melts to make your home smell fresh, clean, and welcoming. Give a pretty wax warmer along with some homemade citrus wax melts topped with lemon, lime, and orange zest.

An ice cube mould is a perfect size for these wax melts. You will want to make enough to give away and keep some for yourself, too. Pro tip: just don’t use a grapefruit scent before a dinner party, because it is said to curb the appetite!

Materials

Makes twelve 0.5 oz (15 g) wax melts

Make it!
1. Make the soy wax melts according to the instructions in either the microwave or double-boiler method.
2. Fill a Mason jar with citrus wax melts and pair it with a small tea light wax warmer. Wrap both the Mason jar of wax melts and the wax warmer with a tea light in a clear cellophane bag tied with a satin ribbon.
Frequently Asked Questions About Wax Melts

How do I make wax melts last longer?

If the fragrance isn’t as strong as you would like it, use a reliable brand of essential oil to add more when making your melts.

Fragrance load is how much scent oil the wax will hold. A common fragrance load for soy wax is one ounce of scent per one pound of wax, or a 6.25% ratio.

You can increase or decrease the ratio depending on how strong the scent is. Use 6-8% for a subtly fragrant oil and 8-10% for a strongly scented one

Be sure to check the maximum on the wax you are using if you plan to go higher than the one-ounce per pound rule. Adding more scent than the recipe calls for may end up being too much oil for the wax to bind with, leaving you with excess oil at the top and bottom of the wax melt.

Can you reuse wax melts?

It depends on how long you burn them. Typically, a cube should last between 6-12 hours, depending on the size of the cube, the temperature it burns at, and the quality of the wax.

The melted wax will not evaporate, but the fragrance will. You can reuse your wax melts until you no longer notice a fragrance.

Are wax melts safe to leave on?

As long as you’re home, you can leave your wax melts on for as long as you like. They can scent a room pretty quickly, so it’s up to you if you want to keep them burning or turn them off to make them last longer.

Whether it’s an electric wax warmer or a classic warmer, never leave the burner unattended while it’s being used.

More Candles and Handmade Gift Ideas
How to Make Herbal Wax Melts in the Microwave

You can easily make homemade wax melts with just a few simple items! These wax melts are made with all natural ingredients including essential oils and herbs.

Microwave

Heatproof container with a pour spout

Silicone molds – I like these flower shapes or cubes

Weigh out the soy wax in a microwave-safe bowl. Then weigh the essential oils in a paper cup.

Melt the wax in the microwave for 20 seconds at a time. Stir between each time.

When the wax has fully melted, stir in the essential oils and the herbs.

Pour the wax melt mixture into silicone molds and sprinkle some herbs on top. Then allow them to dry completely before using.
A city girl who learned to garden and it changed everything. Author, artist, Master Gardener. Better living through plants.
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Stephanie Rose

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December 5, 2025
5 Key Things To Know About Cannabis Concentrates

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When you are young, you can experiment, but as you age – you want to minimize after effects…we got you when it comes to the next step with marijuana

High school and college were the days of experimenting. Lessons leads to stories about crazy things and some unfortunate times. But as you age and move to a more sophisticated self, it is important to have the knowledge regarding having fun. Marijuana has become mainstream and some are moving into a connoisseur phase. This encompasses flavor, impact, and potency. In this journey, here are 5 key things to know about cannabis concentrates.

It is not for beginners

Concentrates are extremely potent. This is helpful for cannabis enthusiasts who have built up a high tolerance and know how marijuana affects them. However, it can overwhelm people who are still new in consuming. Don’t rush into the max and until you have gotten your weed legs steady. Dabbing is the way to consume concentrates, and is a bit more of a process.

Concentrates may or may not be better flower

Photo by Darrin Harris Frisby/Drug Policy Alliance

RELATED: Marijuana 101: Dabbing Wax Vs. Vaping Wax

There is a myth concentrates are better than flower, but it depends on the person who’s consuming it and the effect that they’re looking for. If by “better” you mean “stronger,” then yes, concentrates are stronger than cannabis flower. There’s a higher THC potency in concentrates than the one a joint or a bong hit could provide, but there’s also plenty of differences between the two. While you’ll likely have a stronger high when consuming concentrates, smoking flower is more flavorful and easier to manage, which is why some people prefer that method, just like other people prefer to consume edibles. Like most things cannabis, it all depends on personal taste.

You can have a bit of a longer high

Photo by Keenan Constance via Pexels

RELATED: Differences In Marijuana Highs: Flowers, Edibles and Concentrates

Similar to smoking/vaping, the effects of dabbing usually last 1 to 3 hours. If using a high THC concentrate, you could feel the effects for 10-12 hours. If you are feeling uncomfortable or worried, the best thing to do is take a nap and sleep it off.

Concentrates are to be respected

Photo by rgbspace/Getty Images

RELATED: Dabbing Is On The Rise Among Teens — Here’s What Parents Should Know

You can find a ton misinformation surrounding the dabbing process, some reports claim overdoses have been influenced by the recent popularity of concentrates. While there might be an existing relationship, marijuana advocates claim concentrates are safe and produce the same positive results as cannabis flower. Even if you get too high from ingesting the wrong dose, no one has ever died from consuming them.

Concentrates are like other products

Photo by bartystewart/Getty Images

While the process of making concentrates is one involving the use of complex chemicals, facilities are equipped to handle these solvents and are very strict when it comes to how they’re produced. All the information should be clearly stated on the product’s label, and concentrates should be made by professionals who are working responsibly. In short, dangerous concentrates are rarely found in a regulated, legal market.

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Terry Hacienda

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February 21, 2024
Curious About Cannabis CRC Extracts
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Cannabis is legal in some form in 40 states and the DEA has been advised to reschedule it. It has become more mainstream as the majority of the population believe it should be legal. Smoking, long the most popular way to consume has given away to vaping and edibles. Like alcohol, there are dozens of way to enjoy it – and one is CRC.

CRC (color remediation column) is a type of cannabis extract that is made using a process called “column chromatography.” It was initially started to remove dark colored substances left over from low-quality extraction, which signaled to the consumer its low grade.

The process makes the extract appear lighter, as lighter color extracts are associated with high quality. The idea was to enhance the visual aesthetic of a cannabis extract so it would sell better.

CRC has started to become a mainstream practice used by legal and illicit manufacturers to enhance the appearance of cannabis extracts. CRC has evolved and is now used to remove pesticides, unpleasant flavors, and other wanted byproducts.

CRC is most commonly used with butane hash oil. The color of low-grade hash oil changes from nearly “black, or dark brown, to light gold, or even white” when it undergoes CRC.

What is CRC extraction?

CRC extraction is a post-extraction process that uses technology to enhance the appearance of cannabis extracts and concentrates.

Column chromatography works by using a column (often a steel cylinder) and packing it with a filtration medium. Common filtration mediums include:
- Activated bleaching earth (used to remove colors)
- Activated carbon/charcoal (paired with activated silica gel to withdraw chlorophyll)
- Activated silica gel (used to remove very dark colors from an extract)
- Bentonite clay (used to remove colors and impurities)
- Diatomaceous earth (helps to create a fine filtration process)
- Magnesol (used to remove colors and impurities)
- Sand (used to remove impurities)
- T5 clay (remove colors and impurities)
The cannabis concentrate is then pushed through filtering mediums that result in the removal of color-impacting pollutants and other impurities. Pollutants and impurities that can be removed (depending on the filtration medium) include:
- Chlorophyll
- Carotene
- Lipids
- Lycopene
- Pheophytins
- Xanthophyll
One of the downsides of CRC is that it will also strip a concentrate of its terpene content. A way to tell if an extract or concentrate has undergone CRC is the smell. It may smell of chemicals, or may smell excessively fruity or earthy, indicating that it may have had terpene infused to attempt to restore the original flavor profile.

Photo by eskymaks/Getty Images

Is CRC wax bad for you?

This question is up for debate. A manufacturer who uses CRC will say CRC is safe, while a cannabis consumer advocate might not.

The debate is rooted in the fact that cannabis lab tests that deem if a product is safe for consumption do not currently test for CRC filtration mediums. As a result, a cannabis concentrate can be approved for sale despite containing contaminants from CRC filtration.

RELATED: Guess What Is Gumming Up The Marijuana World

Some people believe CRC wax is not safe because:
- There is no regulation and testing for filtration mediums in the end product
- Long-term studies show that miners who inhaled bentonite clay and diatomaceous earth experienced respiratory damage, so vaping extracts that have trace amounts of bentonite clay and diatomaceous earth could lead to respiratory harm
- Bentonite clay can have elevated levels of lead
- The inhalation of silica gel can cause respiratory damage
- Manufacturers claim filtration materials are safe for use because the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) deemed them as “safe” but the safety approval only applies to ingested food products that could impact the stomach the approval does not apply to not inhaled products that impact lung tissue
- When CRC manufacturers push too much extract through a filtration medium at once, the filtration doesn’t work properly and results in contaminants in the final product
- Activated carbon from natural sources can release carcinogenic metabolites such as benzopyrenes
- Not switching out activated carbon mediums can result in the activated carbon breaking down and releasing heavy metals when overuse.
Photo by Cappi Thompson/Getty Images

In theory, if a manufacturer properly does CRC extraction, the concentrate could come out with fewer contaminants.

RELATED: What Is Kief And How Do You Use It?

If you are concerned about contaminants in your cannabis concentrates, ask your budtender if the product you’re interested in underwent CRC and what filtration mediums were used.

Key takeaways about CRC extracts
- CRC, or color remediation column, is a process used in the cannabis industry to remove impurities from extracts and enhance visual aesthetics.
- The debate surrounding CRC wax is whether or not it is safe for consumption. At the time of writing this, cannabis labs do not test for residual filtration mediums, so it’s hard to state definitively whether or not CRC-processed extracts are safe.
- Long-term exposure to some of the materials used in CRC processing (such as bentonite clay and diatomaceous earth) can be harmful to respiratory health.
- If you’re interested in purchasing a CRC extract, you can ask your budtender what filtration methods were used.
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Terry Hacienda

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February 15, 2024
5-Star Houston Spa Bare Necessities to Open New Location in Tanglewood

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The award-winning Montrose skincare institution is expanding to a second location.

Press Release
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updated: Jun 19, 2018

HOUSTON, June 18, 2018 (Newswire.com)
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Bare Necessities, the Montrose waxing and facial spa named Houston’s Best Spa by the Houston Press two years in a row, will open its second location in the Tanglewood neighborhood on June 25.

The first 100 guests to book an appointment at the new location will receive a special offer: a complimentary facial wax (upper lip, chin, eyebrows, or side burns) to be redeemed at their next appointment.

Tanglewood is an area we believe is underserved by elite skincare professionals, and we’re very much looking forward to bringing a smoother, silkier feel to the neighborhood.

Christina Jenkins, Owner

The Tanglewood location will offer the same award-winning waxing and skincare services as the original spa in a more upscale environment, says founder Christina Hartmann Jenkins.

“Montrose has been very good to Bare Necessities, but the time to branch out is now,” Mrs. Jenkins said. “We can no longer accommodate the high demand for our gentle beautifying treatments with a single location, even after expanding our business hours to seven days a week this year. Tanglewood is an area we believe is underserved by elite skincare professionals, and we’re very much looking forward to bringing a smoother, silkier feel to the neighborhood.”

Established in 2011, Bare Necessities quickly became one of Central Houston’s most celebrated spas. The winner of multiple customer service awards, the Montrose skincare institution achieved a perfect, five-star Yelp rating with more than 250 reviews. The business plan is to offer the same, top-tier waxes and facials its loyal clients have come to expect at its Tanglewood facility, as well.

Unlike the cozy, Bohemian feel of Bare Necessities’ spa cottage on Richmond Avenue, its new spa at 1379 South Voss Road will be sleek and grand, conveniently located in the Woodway Collection business park. Bare Necessities will host a weekend-long grand opening event beginning at 9 a.m. on July 6 with refreshments, giveaways, and grand tours of the pristine skincare facility.

“We’re particularly excited to show off our new Dermalinfusion equipment,” Mrs. Jenkins said. “This cutting-edge rejuvenation technology simultaneously exfoliates, extracts, and infuses skin with condition-specific serums. It gives men and women their best skin ever in less than 30 minutes.”

To book an appointment at either Bare Necessities location, please visit www.BNwax.com.

About Bare Necessities

Bare Necessities was founded in 2011 by Christina Hartmann Jenkins, a skilled veteran of the skincare industry since 2004 who studied esthetics at the International School of Cosmetology and Esthetics. Upon graduation, Mrs. Jenkins worked in many different service positions in some of Houston’s top spas, and even worked for a time at a Michelin-starred restaurant in Napa Valley, California. Christina’s passion for esthetics and the utmost employee and customer care brought her back to Houston to open her own spa, where customer and employee gratification are paramount. Bare Necessities has been named Houston’s Best Spa by the Houston Press and achieved a perfect, five-star Yelp rating after more than 250 customer reviews. Its gentle, blemish-free waxing and skincare services are now available at two Houston locations.

For more information, please visit BNwax.com.

Source: Bare Necessities

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June 18, 2018