Wax Melt Calculator
Calculate the cost per wax melt and per clamshell pack including wax, fragrance, packaging and labour. Perfect for pricing your wax melt business.
Total pack weight: 150g (0.15 kg)
Fragrance
Safe range: soy 8-12%, paraffin 6-10%, beeswax 4-6%
Components
Labour and pricing
Selling price per pack (6 melts)
£10.59
| Cost per Pack (6 melts) | Note | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Wax | 150g @ £8.00/kg | £1.20 |
| Fragrance oil | 8% load | £0.42 |
| Clamshell | £0.80 | |
| Label | £0.25 | |
| Labour | 15 mins | £3.75 |
| Total cost | £6.42 | |
| Selling price (65% markup) | £10.59 | |
Per individual melt
Wax melt pricing tips
Wax melts have lower material costs than candles but need attractive packaging to stand out at craft fairs and online.
Clamshell moulds are the most popular format. Snap bars and hearts are premium formats that justify higher prices.
Fragrance load is your biggest variable cost. Buy fragrance oils in bulk (500ml+) to bring per-unit costs down significantly.
Batch pouring 20+ packs at once cuts your per-pack labour time by 30-40% compared to making them one at a time.
Wax Melt Recipe Basics
Standard wax melt: soy wax (8-10% fragrance load) or paraffin wax (8% load). For a typical 6-cavity silicone mold (each cavity ~14g): 100g wax + 8-10g fragrance oil = 108-110g batch. Multiply by number of batches needed. Soy wax is most popular for at-home melt makers - clean burn, eco-friendly, easier cleanup. Paraffin gives stronger scent throw but petroleum-based.
Equipment: double boiler or melting pot (£10-30), thermometer (essential for wax temperature), 6-cavity silicone moulds (£3-8 each), measuring scales (gram precision), fragrance oils (£5-15 per bottle, hundreds of scents available). Total startup: £30-80 to begin home wax melt making. Ongoing: ~£0.50-1 per finished melt cube depending on materials.
Calculating Per-Batch Materials
Total wax weight: count cavity volumes × number of moulds (each cavity ~14g for standard pots). Add 5-10% buffer for spillage and rim. Fragrance: 8-10% of wax weight (10% for soy, 8% for paraffin). So 100g wax × 10% = 10g fragrance per batch. For 12 standard cavities (about 168g wax + 17g fragrance), you'll fill 12 melts.
Recipe scaling: 5x batch = 500g wax + 50g fragrance for soy. 10x batch = 1000g wax + 100g fragrance. Check fragrance oil supplier's max load - some cap at 6-8% rather than 10%. Going over recommended load can cause separation, sweating, cracking. Use the supplier's specs as your maximum, not aspirational target.
Process and Timing
Melt wax to 80°C (175°F). Add fragrance oil, stir gently 30-60 seconds (don't whip in air). Allow temperature to drop to 60°C (140°F) - this is when fragrance binds best to wax. Pour into moulds. Let set 30-60 minutes at room temperature. Trim/clean any rough edges. Total active time: 15-30 minutes per batch. Total elapsed: 60-90 minutes before melts ready.
Cure time matters. Fresh-poured melts smell faint - they need 1-2 weeks of curing for fragrance to bind throughout. Cured melts have stronger scent throw. Many makers sell only after 14+ day cure. Some popular fragrances need 4-8 weeks cure to peak strength. Patience pays - rushed sales of fresh melts get poor scent reviews.
Scaling Production
Hobby scale: 1-2 batches per session, dozen melts per month. Markets/Etsy small business: 5-10 batches per week, hundreds of melts per month. Wax pourers used: tabletop pour pot (good to 500g/batch) or commercial melting tank (up to 5kg/batch). Production efficiency improves dramatically at higher volumes - one experienced maker can produce 100+ melts per hour at peak.
Pricing: small handmade wax melts retail at £2-4 per pack of 6 (smaller cavities) or £3-5 for 6-melt large packs. Higher-end designer melts: £5-10. Cost of goods: £0.50-1.50 per pack. Margin appears generous but consider time, packaging (£0.30-1), shipping prep, marketing, platform fees. Profitable at scale; barely break-even at very small scale. Use the [Candle Cost Calculator](/candle-cost-calculator) for related cost analysis.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between candle and melt wax?
Candle wax has a wick to hold the flame; needs structural integrity. Melt wax is shaped into chunks placed in warmer (no wick); needs cleaner pour and good fragrance throw. Different blends: 'pillar wax' for candles, 'container wax' for jar candles, 'melt wax' designed for warmer use. Soy wax is the most universal - works for all three with different additives.
How long do wax melts last?
Standard 14g cube in warmer: 5-8 hours of fragrance throw before scent fades. Bigger cubes (20g+): 8-12 hours. Cheaper paraffin melts often longer than premium soy (paraffin holds scent longer). After fading, the wax can be removed (it doesn't 'burn off' like candles - just deactivates) and replaced with a fresh cube.
Can I sell wax melts online?
Yes, with regulatory compliance. UK: CLP (Classification, Labelling, Packaging) regulations require fragrance oil safety datasheets and ingredient labels on packaging. Etsy and Amazon Handmade enforce these. Some fragrance oils require prop65 warnings for California sales. Insurance recommended (handmade craft insurance £100-200/year covers small-scale sellers).
Why do my melts have white spots?
Frosting - cosmetic only, doesn't affect performance. Soy wax is prone to it. Reduces with: pouring at lower temperature (60-65°C instead of higher), faster cooling, using wax labelled 'low frosting'. Doesn't appear in paraffin or coconut blends. Some makers embrace frosting as 'natural soy aesthetic'.
Related Tools
Candle Cost Calculator
Calculate the cost to make a candle including wax, fragrance oil, wick, container and labour. Supports soy, paraffin, beeswax and coconut wax with batch pricing.
Fragrance Load Calculator
Calculate how many grams of fragrance oil to add to your wax based on percentage load. Shows safe maximum fragrance loads for soy, paraffin, beeswax and coconut.
Etsy Fee Calculator
Calculate your true Etsy seller fees and profit per item. Includes listing fees, transaction fees, payment processing, offsite ads and regulatory fees for 2026.