Frequently Asked Questions
The Wax Melts.
What is a wax melt?
Although wax melts have been around for some time now a lot of people still don’t know what they are. Essentially a wax melt is a candle without the wick. They come in all different shapes and are often much smaller than your average candle, so that they are able to fit into the top of an oil burner or wax warmer. The scent is often a lot more concentrated and if used correctly and in the right conditions, it can fill a room with wonderful aromas.
What is best: burner or warmer?
When it comes to melting the wax melt you can decide between two methods; The oil burner is the most common choice as you simply pop the wax melt into the top of the oil burner, place a lit tea light underneath and allow wax to gradually melt. Ideally use a tea light made from a natural wax to aid a clean burn. Rapeseed oil wax tea lights I find are best!
Depending on the size of the oil burner you may find the wax heats up faster and burns the scent off quicker. When using smaller oil burners, the naked flame is much closer to where the wax sits and can almost scorch it. To avoid this from happening choose an oil burner on the larger side. Remember to never overfill the oil burner with wax melts, opt for just using one at any one time. When the tea light flame becomes too small, you’ll notice the wax melt begin to solidify, if you want to continue to enjoy your melt, safely extinguish the tea light and replace with a fresh one. If you’re after buying a unique burner whilst supporting a small business try Rachel In The Dales Pottery; She incorporates the natural materials she finds out in the Yorkshire Dales into her work to create really beautiful, unique pieces!
Using an electric wax warmer is the second option; Instead of using a naked flame, the wax is placed in a dish (provided with the warmer) which is then placed over the warmer light. The heat from light bulb gently warms and melts the wax, creating a much more subtle but constant scent throw from the melt. The electric wax warmers often double up as room lights too and there are lots designs you can choose from. It might also be helpful to know that when purchasing a wax warmer be sure to check it’s maximum temperature. Beeswax has a melt point of around 62 degrees celsius (144 fahrenheit) so the warmer needs to be able to heat to that temperature to be able to melt the wax. Some wax warmers are more suited for soy wax melts as soy wax has a much lower melting point, so it’s always good to double check.
Please note: Both options should be treated with caution. Never leave a naked flame or wax warmer unattended.
What is the turnaround time?
As all the wax melts are made to order the turnaround time will be around 1-2 weeks from time of placing your order, to receiving it. The reason for this is that the beeswax and essential oils need time to be able to bond and cure to enable a quality scent throw.
Why beeswax and not soy WAX?
When experimenting with different blends I did at first try soy wax; it has a good scent throw, is fairly cheap, easy to work with and has the added benefit of being classed as vegan. However after weeks of further research I found out a few things that put me off using this wax; Soy is in such high demand these days with a growing population looking for more of a meat free alternative diet that acres of rainforests are being cleared to make way for soy plantations. It’s almost as bad as the issues around palm oil and although there are sustainable plantations in the US, the use of GMOs then comes into question.
I decided to scrap the soy and turned to beeswax instead; It made sense to use something completely natural, raw, traditional and available a little closer to home. I originally tried white beeswax (bleached by the sun) but found that every type I tried had a whiff of burnt rubber. Not good! So I finally decided on going completely as natural as can be and began working with raw beeswax.
I’ve been lucky enough to have sourced Grade A beeswax from a honey company in the UK who either get their beeswax from UK beekeepers or from beekeepers in Hungary. The wax arrives in huge chunks and smells incredible; sweet like honey but earthy and floral too. Whenever possible, I source the beeswax from here in Yorkshire. Not only does that cut down the miles travelled but it’s supporting local beekeepers in the county.
How do I store my wax melts?
When your melts arrive they’ll be wrapped in recyclable greaseproof paper. It’s best to keep them wrapped and somewhere cool and dry until you’re ready to use them. Like any wax, if left in the heat it’ll melt, so be sure to pop your order away somewhere safe when it arrives.
How long will each melt last?
The longevity of the scent throw all depends on what melt you’re using and how you’re melting it (remember if you’re using a burner the scent from the essential oils burns faster), opting for something quite light like Hive Sweet Hive and the scent will be subtle and can throw for up to 3 hours. If you burn a melt that has more of an intense base note oil like Ylang Ylang or Cardamon, then the scent lingers for much longer.
Why can I not just purchase one of each melt?
I’ve decided against selling the melts individually for now; when I work it’s often with specific quantities of ingredients that make up a certain number of melts, therefore for now I think it’s easier to make the melts up, price and sell them in sets.
DO You Do Bespoke melts for wedding favours?
I do. If you’re looking at having a unique, bespoke scent for your big celebration then please don’t hesitate to get in touch and share with me your thoughts. Please do bear in mind however that I only use essential oils and natural ingredients in my melts so costs for bespoke melts will vary depending on what I use. Pop me an email across to talk ideas and quotes.
The Bottle Blends.
What Are The Bottle Blends?
The bottle blends come in 10ml amber glass bottles and contain my essential oil blends. These blends can be used in a diffuser or oil burner for their air clarifying and aromatherapy benefits.
Are The Bottle Blends Vegan Friendly?
Yes! I’m so excited to be able to say that vegans can now enjoy my blends too! Not only that but the essential oils I use in my blends are cruelty free and sustainably sourced!
Can I Reuse My Glass Dropper?
Absolutely! The top of the dropper is made of a small amount of rubber and plastic, the dropper itself is glass and personally it seems like such a waste to dispose of when you’re done. Please wash it, keep it and be sure that you only then order a bottle blend in the future with just the recyclable aluminium cap on it and then swap the tops when your order arrives.
Where should I Store My Bottle Blends?
Please try to keep your bottle blends somewhere cool and dark with the cap on securely. If left in direct sunlight, such things as temperature increases can effect the oils. The glass bottles the blends arrive in are amber, which should help protect the contents from UV light. But it’s always best to air on the side of caution.