Fragrance vs. Essential Oils: Choosing the Perfect Scent for Your Wax Melts

When it comes to crafting many people want to start making their own wax melts, but are usually stumped at the beginning when deciding between essential or fragrance oils.

We have only ever used fragrance oils and there are a few reasons for that. However, in this blog, we will discuss the pros and cons of both and why we chose to use fragrance oils instead of essential oils.

Understanding Fragrance Oils:

Fragrance oils are a blend of plant based and synthetic ingredients created to mimic a wide array of scents, ranging from the fresh notes of a spring morning to the cozy embrace of a crackling fireplace to naughty smells in the bedroom (if you know, you know). Crafted by skilled perfumers, these oils offer unparalleled versatility and consistency in scent. They are carefully formulated in lab settings to ensure a long-lasting fragrance that remains stable over time, making them an ideal choice for wax melts.

One of the key advantages of fragrance oils is their ability to hold their scent when exposed to heat. Unlike some essential oils, which can evaporate quickly, fragrance oils maintain their potency, ensuring a consistent aroma throughout the melting process. This stability is essential for wax melts, as it allows you to enjoy your chosen scent for hours on end without the need for constant reapplication. Also as a maker it allows us to create amazing scent throw consistently and reliably.

Additionally, fragrance oils offer an extensive range of options, allowing you to explore an endless variety of scents to suit your preferences. Whether you crave the tropical allure of coconut and pineapple or the soothing aroma of lavender and chamomile, there's a fragrance oil to satisfy everyone and why we have such an extensive range of quirky fragrances.


Though fragrance oils don't have the health benefits of essential oils, using them to make your home smell nice can still help you feel calm and relaxed. Just like how lighting a candle and enjoying the smell can be soothing, even if it's not from natural oils. Plus, the little flame from the tea light candle or light from the electric burner, makes the atmosphere even more cozy.

Despite fragrance oils not being totally natural, they're still made partly from plants and some essential oils. That means they're safe to use in your burner, just like pure essential oils. But it's a good idea to check the label if you have any allergies. And make sure to keep your room well-ventilated to keep the air fresh.

Speaking of allergies, one of the main reasons I went with fragrance oils in the end for my wax melt brand was simply down to being terribly allergic to pure essential oils! I had such a battle with them and ended up going with the safer fragrant oils. Also just as a bonus tip not all essential oils are vegan, most are and most places do create them to be vegan, however, full natural essential oils like musks are not vegan, so always keep that in mind when thinking about your customer.

Finally, fragrance oils work out cheaper to buy in than essential oils which is awesome from a small business perspective.

Exploring Essential Oils:

On the other hand, essential oils are natural extracts derived from plants, flowers, and fruits through methods like steam distillation or cold pressing. These oils boast a myriad of therapeutic benefits, from calming the mind to invigorating the senses. While essential oils offer a pure and authentic fragrance experience, they present certain challenges when used in wax melts.

One of the primary drawbacks of essential oils in wax melts is their volatility. Due to their organic nature, essential oils can evaporate quickly when exposed to heat, resulting in a diminished scent throw and shorter-lasting fragrance. This volatility makes it difficult to achieve the robust and enduring aroma that fragrance oils provide, particularly in high-temperature environments.

Furthermore, essential oils can vary in quality and potency depending on factors such as extraction method, source, and storage conditions. This variability can impact the consistency and intensity of the scent, making it challenging to replicate the same fragrance experience with each use.

Why Fragrance Oils Reign Supreme:

In the world of wax melts, fragrance oils emerge as the undisputed champion, thanks to their superior scent retention, longevity, and versatility. Their synthetic composition allows for precise control over fragrance profiles, ensuring a consistent and reliable product in the making of our wax melts, not to mention controlled for allergen levels.

Whether you're crafting wax melts or buying ours as gifts for loved ones, fragrance oils offer endless possibilities for creativity and customization. From complex blends that evoke distant memories to simple scents that soothe the soul, fragrance oils allow you to create the best all round wax melts for affordability with high quality and vegan friendly certainty.

In conclusion, while essential oils hold their rightful place in aromatherapy and natural skincare, when it comes to wax melts, fragrance oils reign supreme. With their unmatched stability, longevity, and diversity of scents, fragrance oils offer an unparalleled sensory journey that transforms any space into a fragrant sanctuary. So, the next time you indulge in the comforting glow of a wax melt, or are undecided in your wax melt making journey which oil to use, remember the magic of fragrance oils and the role they play in mimicking fragrance to the best levels possible while maintaining cost efficiency that can be passed onto your customers.

Lots of Love
Bubba x