If you are not a fan of candles, then jump into the wax melt bandwagon. Wax melts are designed using mica. It is a name for a mineral group that is chemically and physically similar. Micas are known to be relatively light and soft. Also, the sheets and flakes are much flexible. However, the question is… Can you use mica in wax melts?
You can use mica in wax melts. Mica will not mix completely even with the wax so the mica may drift to the bottom of the wax melt as it hardens, however, you will not encounter any of the issues with mica in wax melts that you will in candles.
Mica is silicate minerals, namely sheet silicates. It is so as a result of distinct layers that they form. Micas are fairly light and relatively soft, and the sheets and flakes of mica are flexible. It is heat-resistant and doesn’t conduct electricity.
Although mica is not suitable for making candles, most people use its powder to decorate its outside.
What Are Wax Melts?
Besides the standard candles, have you ever used wax melts? They are scented wax that comes in various sizes and shapes. The wax melts produce a slight fragrance during the cold weather. To use it, you need a wax warmer or a tart. The wax warmer is electric, while the pie uses tea light as a heating source.
The work of the warmer is to heat and melt your solid wax. As it melts, the area is filled up with a delightful fragrance. These wax melts are gathered from candle makers who look to repurpose the leftover wax that pours when a candle is burning.
How to light up wax melts
Wax melts are very easy to use. Pick the wax melt and put with one or two in a melter or warmer. If you are using an electric heat warmer, you can either turn it on or light up the tea light. When you are done using the wax melt, you should remove or turn off the heat source. After that, the wax melt solidifies until you want to use it again. The next time you want to use it, you should turn your source of heat again. You can use any type of warmer that you have.
Mostly, manufacturers recommend one to use two cubes of wax melts in every warmer. However, if you require a subtle scent in a smaller space, one cube is enough.
When you are ready to dispose of the used wax melts, you allow the wax to harden, then allow it to heat for a few minutes to loosen it, and it should pop right out. Nowadays, wax melts are increasingly getting popular for a great reason. They are much more affordable than using candles.
How to use mica in wax melts.
Mica powders are unique natural colors. They are popularly used in eye shadows, mineral makeup, and much more. The powder has gained more fame as the best natural alternative to make coloring, eye-catching, pearl-scent sheen wax melts. To have a shimmering effect, using about 5 % of mica powder will be more effective.
Materials to collect to make a wax melt with mica powder:
- EcoSoya Melt
- Mica Powders
- Berko candle dye
- Clamshell
- Thermometer
- Scales
- Pouring jug
- Saucepan
- Fragrance oil
- Bowl
How To Make Wax Melts With Mica
Step 1 – Measure
Using scales and bowls, you can measure about 80 grams of the EcoSoya Melt Wax. This wax is preferred since it exhibits a sweet scent throw, excellent mold, and vibrant color. Note that it is vegan, eco-friendly, and cruelty-free. Lovely, right?
Step 2 – Melt
Next step, take your pan and pour some boiling water halfway. Place it on medium-low heat. Begin to stir until it all melts. Once melted, remove from the heat. On the other hand, if you opt to use a microwave, you can place the wax in your container and use medium heat for about 5 minutes. In case the entire wax is not completely melted, stir it and return it to your microwave until it fully melts.
Step 3: Prepare the Moulds
As your wax melts, take that time to prepare the molds. A bit of mica powder is to add at the bottom of the mold to make the melted wax glittery. For the mica powder to have perfect coverage, rub it around the bottom to the top.
Step 4 – Colour
Shift the wax in a pouring jug. Before this, we would use a chip dye and violet chip dye to attain our purple melted. In achieving an orange melted wax, An orange chip dye would be used, as in the video.
Step 5 – Fragrance
Before adding in your choice of fragrance oil, cool the wax to 180 degrees. There are over 200 fragrances to choose from and are all cruelty-free and vegan!
Step 6 – Mica powder
To melted wax and fragrance, add the mica powder. To obtain purple wax melts, we chose to use a silver lilac. We opted to use a buttercup yellow mica to get our orange wax melts. We use a ratio of 5 % mica powder to wax.
Step 7 – Pour
Into a chosen clamshell, slowly pour your wax mixture. Leave your clamshells overnight to set, and we do recommend two weeks round for cure time to take place.
Step 8 – Remove The Wax Melts
You can remove the molds from the wax melts once it has completely set. For the wax melt to pop out, taking great care, push the mold from the bottom.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much mica to use in wax melts?
Use about 5% mica when making wax melts. This means if you are making 4 lbs of wax to make wax melts you would multiply .05 x 4 lbs = .2 lbs or 3.2 ounces. However, you can use more or less depending on taste, the mica will not impact the wax melts as it would a candle.
How to use mica powder in wax melts?
Use mica powder in wax melts by adding it to the mix at the same time you are adding your fragrance oil. Mix it gently, but thoroughly to make sure that the mica is well distributed, and then briefly mix again just before pouring.
What is Mica made from?
Mica is a naturally occurring mineral that is extracted from igneous rock and volcanic material through mining.
How is Mica extracted?
Mica is extracted through open-pit mining using heavy equipment such as bulldozers, excavators, and rock trucks. They are essentially digging a hole to remove the overburden in order to gain access to the rock formation that contains mica.
Can you color wax with Mica?
You can color wax melts with mica, however, mica should not be used in candles. Mica should not be used in candles because it does not mix evenly with the candle wax and it can clog the candle wicks causing the flame to burn irregularly.
Conclusion
It’s time to put to practice what you’ve learned. The guides are easy and straightforward on how you can use mica to make wax melts. You could even use multiple colors according to your preferences. Although mica is not used to make candles, you can use it to decorate its outside. The reason why mica is not used is that it could clog its wick. Commonly said to be a potential for a fire hazard.
Besides, Wax melt is preferred since it is safe enough in places with small children. You don’t need a matchbox or lighter to light it up. No flames involved thus convenient to use. If traveling, they are the best to carry around. They are easy and compact to carry around. Also, they can be excellent gifts to your loved ones.
Therefore, if you are torn between candles and wax melts, choose wax melts; they allow you to become more creative since you can easily use more than two different fragrances to customize a wax melt. Take this opportunity and pop your favorite wax melt on the burner and enjoy the fantastic fragrance!
