Cactus Candle Melts Essential Oil DIY
Create fun cactus candle melts with this easy essential oil DIY. Put the lime in the coconut, and shake it all up with a Margarita essential oil blend!
Have you strolled through stores, eyeing those adorable candle melts in various shapes and scents, but a nagging thought about their ingredients stopped you in your tracks? If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. I’ve been there, too, which led me to learn how to make candles at home with natural ingredients.
And if you love finding fresh ways to use your favorite essential oils? You’re going to love this easy essential oil DIY!
These charming cacti-shaped candle melts are adorable and infuse the air with a bright, sweet coconut scent like a margarita. Their aroma has the lyrics of Coconut, “Put the lime in the coconut, and shake it all up,” repeating in my head.
So, if you’re in the market for a fun essential oil candle scent, this meets the mark!
I’ll show how to blend rich coconut and soy wax to craft these sweet little cactuses with essential oils, ensuring every melt provides a clean and fragrant experience.
We’re keeping it all-natural with an essential oil DIY you can make in minutes!
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What are candle melts?
You may know candle melts as wax tarts or wax melts. These are one in the same – scented pieces of wax. You can find them in countless shapes and sizes, colors, and fragrances.
You can likely tell them apart; what’s the difference between candles and candle melts?
- Candle melts have a burn time of up to five times longer than candles. A single candle melt has an average of 8 to 10 hours of scent.
- Candle melts are heated by a small bulb of 15 to 25 watts or a tea light that slowly melts the wax and releases the infused essential oils.
- No wick or flame is required; Yay!
- You’ll find candle melts are more affordable to make than candles because they require less materials.
Related To: Cedarwood and Lavender Candle DIY
What’s The Best Way To Use Candle Melts?
Essential oil DIY candle melts can help create a fun vibe in the office. Or if you’re hosting a small get-together with friends, these cactus candle melts can set the perfect mood.
Follow my tips for how to use wax melts, and the scent will last a long time!
Place a single candle wax melt in the basin on top of a tea light warmer, plug-in warmer, or tabletop wax melt warmer. You’ll see in the photos I’m using an essential oil burner that doubles as a wax warmer! It’s made of eco-friendly bamboo, a ceramic bowl, and a ceramic spoon for a tea light. (I shared how to make these tea light spoons.)
Whichever warmer you choose, you’ll appreciate how the wax gently melts as it’s heated, releasing the fragrance into the air. And when you turn off the wax warmer once the wax tart has melted, you’ll still smell the scent for hours. Seriously, try it, and you’ll be surprised how much longer your essential oil candle melts last!
Tuck them into a glass jar to add little cactus decor to your surroundings, and pop them in the warmer one at a time for a treat! – ONLY when the scent does dissipate after many uses, let it solidify, then pop out the cactus candle melt with the edge of a spoon, and add a new little cactus melt into the warmer.
Related To: How To Use An Essential Oil Burner
Can You Turn Old Candles Into Wax Melts?
I don’t know why this is a tip; let me explain why it’s not advisable to use old candles or crayons, for that matter, when making wax melts.
Flammable Fragrance:
Candle fragrances are typically designed to be released slowly over time when the candle is burned. When you melt down old candles to make wax melts, the fragrance is not balanced for this application. This can result in an overpowering, inconsistent scent and potential fire hazard!
Soot and Impurities:
Old candles often have impurities, like dust or burnt wicks, that can be transferred into your wax melts. These impurities can affect the appearance and scent of your melts and may even create soot when burned, harming your health and creating a mess.
Unknown Ingredients:
You don’t know what’s in the wax when you melt down old candles. Many candles contain additives, fragrances, and dyes unsuitable for melting and may release harmful chemicals when heated. Using unknown materials can lead to unpredictable results and potentially unsafe fumes.
Crayons Contain Harmful Chemicals:
I’ve seen some reels using crayons to add color to their homemade candles and wax melts. However, crayons are not designed for melting and contain pigments and additives that may release toxic fumes when heated. These fumes can be harmful when inhaled.
For safe and effective wax melts, it’s best to use a fresh, eco-friendly wax specifically designed for melting and the correct amount of scent. This way, you can ensure a consistent and safe experience without any surprises or potential health risks.
How Much Essential Oil Do You Need To Make Candle Melts?
The sweet, upbeat aroma of lime, vanilla, and peppermint in these DIY candle melts makes them unique. Their aromatherapy can easily lift your mood, putting a spark in your step!
When making candle melts, 50 drops of essential oil per every ¼ pound of candle wax is recommended.
Print an essential oil conversion chart from our Oily Chic Library for quick measurements.
How much essential oils are in a bottle:
5ml bottle = 100 drops = 1 tsp
15 ml bottle = 300 drops = 1/2 oz
30 ml bottle = 600 drops = 1 oz
To make essential oil candle melts, you can choose from one of these methods:
- Use half of a 5ml bottle of essential oil, such as lime
- Choose a 5ml bottle of a pre-made blend of essential oils such as Stress Away or Sacred Mountain.
- Another option is to create your own blend of essential oils, for example, by adding ¼ teaspoon of lime, ⅛ teaspoon of peppermint, and ⅛ teaspoon of vanilla.
No matter what option you choose to scent your candle melts, you can’t go wrong with essential oils!
Creating DIY Cactus Candle Melts
It’s quite easy to make these cactus candle melts with few supplies. I used this set of cactus silicone molds that make 8 cactus melts per tray.
I chose a hassle-free coconut soy wax blend that melts perfectly in the microwave and requires no candle equipment! It’s great for small-batch candle melts or tea lights and ideal for those new to candle making.
Then, I created a fun Margaritaville essential oil blend and sprinkled it all with dried spearmint leaves. The leaves float in the wax as they slowly melt in a tea light or wax warmer. Follow the steps below to make yours.
Supplies To Make Candle Melts:
7.50 ounces coconut soy candle wax
1 teaspoon lime essential oil
⅛ teaspoon peppermint essential oil
½ teaspoon vanilla essential oil
⅛ teaspoon dried spearmint leaves (optional)
Candle Melt Instructions:
Place a glass liquid measuring cup on a digital kitchen scale. Tap tare weight and measure 7.50 ounces of coconut soy candle wax.
Next, place the glass measuring cup of wax inside the microwave to melt (only do this if your candle wax is microwavable). I love how these coconut soy wax beads quickly melt so that you can craft in a short amount of time!
Melt the wax beads in two 20-second intervals in the microwave. Then, carefully remove the pitcher from the microwave and set it on a hot pad.
Use a no-touch infrared thermometer to monitor the wax temperature. When the temperature is 125°F, add 1 teaspoon of lime essential oil, ⅛ teaspoon of peppermint essential oil, and ½ teaspoon of vanilla essential oil into the melted wax.
Slowly stir for 1 to 2 minutes to thoroughly incorporate the essential oil.
Sprinkle an optional ⅛ teaspoon of dried spearmint leaves into the 2 cactus silicone molds. Then, carefully pour the wax into each cavity and allow the candle melts to cure in the mold for at least 1 hour. And wait an additional 24 hours before using one for a strong scent.
MORE ESSENTIAL OIL DIYS:
- DIY Reed Diffuser
- DIY Body Shimmer Spray
- How to Make Foaming Hand Soap
- Essential Oil Roller Bottle Recipes
- Eucalyptus Diffuser Blends
Pin this tutorial on how to make candle melts to your Pinterest DIY board, and while there, follow Oily Chic for more inspired ideas. And don’t forget to print your own chart!
P.S. Did you know you can tag #oilychic on Instagram to share your essential oil DIYs with us?