Fragrance Oil Of The Week: NO. 1015 - Inspired By: Ocean Eyes & Grace Vanderbilt Hotel Soaps & Candles Fragrance Oil

NO. 1015 - Inspired By: Ocean Eyes & Grace Vanderbilt Hotel Soaps & Candles Fragrance Oil Showcase

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NO. 1015  Fragrance Oil leads you on an aromatic rollercoaster around coastal shores and through the waves.

You are met by bracing salty sea air, and then the Ocean rises to meet you and sets you down into a bed of herbaceous, coastal Sage. The scent even reminds you of its sophisticated green-gray color. 

Bright citrus Bergamots meld with Orange blossoms and cardamom which lift you onto the crest of a wave. Jasmine and Rose pull you down into their sumptuous trough before you are plunged into the depths of alluring Musk and immersed in rich Dark Amber. 

You have no choice but to surrender to the aromatic undertow of it and be in awe of the wild beauty of it all.

Fragrance Notes

• Top Notes: Bergamot, Aquatic Ozone, Neroli
• Middle Notes: Jasmine, Rose, Sage, Cardamom
• Bottom Notes: Sandalwood, Musk, Dark Amber

Welcome To A New Look 

Regular readers will notice that we have swapped things around, but it’s good to keep things fresh and interesting! 

First up, there is a whole new section called ‘How Would I Blend It’? Learn how to construct a Blending Framework with this fragrance oil and build your skills in applying it to other fragrances.  

Then, comes Blending Recommendations, Diffuser Blends, and our tried and tested professional recipes.

We suggest you start here if you are new to VINEVIDA fragrance oils. How To Get The Best From Your Soaps & Candles Fragrance Oil covers everything you need to know about working with Soaps & Candles fragrance oils including ways to inspire you how to use them and any safety considerations you might need to pay attention to.  It is jam-packed with useful information, professionally written tutorials, and tried and tested recipes you can trust. 

Two Important Points About VINEVIDA Fragrance Oils

Free From Nasties & Cruelty 

VINEVIDA is committed to delivering excellence, not just in our products, but also in how our products affect your wider lives. This is why we take your skincare just as seriously as you do. 

Rest assured that none of our fragrance oils contain nasties like SLES, SLS, Phthalates or Parabens.  

We also care for the world’s creatures and their place in it. Our fragrance oils are never tested on animals and are always cruelty-free. 

Two Different Variations of NO. 1015 - Get The Right One!

We stock two different versions of NO. 1015 - Inspired By: Ocean Eyes & Grace Vanderbilt Hotel Fragrance Oil at VINEVIDA.

1. Soaps and Candles Fragrance Oil
2. Diffuser Fragrance Oil

Soaps and Candles Fragrance Oil

VINEVIDA Soaps and Candles Fragrance Oil have been professionally designed for professional and home applications they have a variety of applications and are exceptionally versatile. 

• Professionally designed
• For both professional and home applications 
• Perfect for making soaps and candles
• Withstands intense heat and rigorous production processes
• Resilient and persistent aromas in soaps, candles, home and topical products
• Perfect for scented home products
• Ideal for formulating professional toiletries, skincare, and perfume 
• Amazing versatility across numerous applications
• Incredible product

How To Get The Best From Your Soaps & Candles Fragrance Oil gives you all the information you could ever need.

Diffuser Fragrance Oil

We have designed and professionally formulated Diffuser Fragrance Oil for Nebulizing or Cold Air Diffusers. These types of machines work differently to other types of diffusers, so always select NO. 1015  - Diffuser Fragrance Oil, It has been specifically formulated for these diffusers so please, use it for this purpose only. 

Blending Recommendations

NO. 1015 is a sophisticated oceanic symphony that lifts and then plunges you into aromatic depths. It’s quite sensational. 

Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that NO. 1015 is just an oceanic scent of summer, it has so much more than that to offer. Its complexity has a sophisticated elegance that can be enjoyed all year round.

There’s a bracing marine introduction with bright, fresh citrus notes. Then herbaceous notes meld with heady flowers in the heart, before drying down to a rich, smooth musky finish.

How Would I Blend It?

I am asked all the time “Well, how would you blend this”? It is a great question that I always enjoy answering. 

Some fragrance oils are easier to construct blending frameworks for than others, and it can be challenging if you are a beginner.  But, all you are doing is identifying ‘gaps’ in the scent profile, so you can add harmonizing oils and create new accords. 

These harmonizing oils could be fragrance oils or essential oils, or perhaps, a combination of them both. Once you start to get to grips with the ideas and put them into practice, it is easy to master.  

Blending NO. 1015  

While No. 1015 is already quite a complex blend, there is still room to play with it with some carefully selected elements in the right places. 

The top notes are oceanic, marine notes and bright, zingy citrus. Always a great combination and this gives us some space here to play with. 

The heart notes are complex. They move from herbaceous Sage, through intense floral notes and then to a flourish of citrus spice with Cardamom.  Note how the spice compliments the citrus top notes. Introducing new elements here would be difficult because they could upset the balance. This is where I would exercise caution. 

Alluring Musk and smooth Amber are simpler base notes. This gives us some space to make it a bit deeper and more sophisticated than it is. 

Top Notes

The top oceanic and Bergamot notes give you that first feeling of being lifted skyward. Be cautious about messing with that experience because, after all, this is what the perfumer originally intended, for you to be uplifted.

You could extend that ‘lift’ using gray/green menthol-based aromas like Spearmint, or Eucalyptus. They would elevate the introduction and make it a tad lighter overall. Personally, I feel that Peppermint might be a step too far, but it’s a fine line for sure.

There are Citrus notes so you can add to that freshness and vibrancy by choosing bright, sharp notes like Grapefruit or Lime or even ramp up the Bergamot. I’d avoid going to Orange which could wash out the sharpness. 

With a little caution, you could add some herbaceous notes, but we’ll look at this in the heart notes section. 

Dwarf Pine could be a bold and interesting choice but if you do choose this, I wouldn't put anything else into the heart notes. Instead add a wood, like Cedarwood, into the base notes to compliment it. 

Suggestions for Essential Oils

Choose sharp, refreshing citrus notes, like Grapefruit, Lime and Bergamot.

Go for a resinous green and woody aroma with fresh and bright Dwarf Pine. 

Suggestions for Fragrance Oils

I think I have found just about the best complimentary fragrance oil out there!  NO. 1112 - Inspired By: Eucalyptus Spearmint By Bath & Body Works.

With top notes of citrus, heart notes of Eucalyptus and Spearmint and base notes of Musk and Amber, not only will it complement the existing citrus, Musk and Amber notes but it will add a new dimension to the Eucalyptus and Spearmint. 

Heart Notes

The heart notes are beautifully complex. They jostle you between strong herbaceous Sage, heady Rose and Jasmine, and a Cardamom bookend.

With so much going on, where do you go? Where is there a gap?

Well, there is an obvious one that straddles the line between top and heart notes, which is to use herbs. Many herbs open with zingy top notes and then dry down into deeper heart notes. We can use this! 

Choose herbs that are gray-green when they are alive. Helichrysum with her wonderful floral scent, Bay or luscious Lavender are all potent options. Administer with a steady hand though, don’t go overboard! 

You could build on those Rose and Jasmine flowers but we need to ask, what effect am I trying to create? If you want to make it more feminine, you could deepen this area with Gardenia or even Lilac. 

There is another gap. This straddles the heart and base notes where spices work great. We could have a lot of fun here, but again, get clear on what you are trying to achieve.  For more feminine notes stick to the fruity spices like Cardamom, Pink Pepper and even a dash of Coriander. Maybe just add depth and subtle warmth with Ginger and Black Pepper.

Suggestions for Essential Oils

Add rosy tones with Rose Geranium and Palmarosa or go extra heady in the floral heart by adding in more Jasmine.

Spice things up in the heart with warming notes like Ginger and Black Pepper.

Suggestions for Fragrance Oils

Want more feminine floral heart notes? Add extra dimension with NO. 38 - Gardenia or NO. 49 - Lilac Blossom.

Add a smooth masculine twist with Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Clove and Vanilla notes in NO. 40 - Gingerbread.

Base Notes

You have plenty of room in the base notes to play with. 

For a masculine slant, choose spices that have a good depth like Cinnamon and Star Anise to add interest and that extra dimension.  Ramp them up further with the deeper notes of Cloves.

There are few woods in the original formula, so you could introduce something like a Cedarwood, especially if you add those green elements. It will balance those beautifully.

More Sandalwood would meld beautifully with the Musk and Amber offering a smooth roundness and extra depth. 

I like the idea of adding an extra dimension with more resinous fragrances like Frankincense and Myrrh. They both offer a sense of warmth and complexity and both dance on your senses like the original scent. I have a bottle of Frankincense under my nose right now, and my bottle has almost orange-like notes and a rich warmth that is otherwise lacking here.

Vanilla gives a more sensual and feminine finish to the profile as will Oud, that can be ramped up to make it more masculine.  

Essential Oil Recommendations

Vanilla (Oleoresin) offers you that gorgeously smooth finish, adding an extra sense of luxury.

Give it an extra dimension with the resinous notes of Frankincense and Myrrh, it offers a warmth that the original slightly lacks. 

Give it a good final blast of the hot and spicy with Cinnamon and Clove. Though it will tip it over into more masculine territory, so be cautious here. Less adds a subtle and warmth, more hits home, but could swamp those bright citrus notes and the sense of ocean air…. Which in my opinion is the best bit of this fragrance oil.

Suggestions for Fragrance Oils

Go for feminine depth with NO. 1107- Inspired By: Cashmere Glow By Bath & Body Works with its complimentary notes of Citrus, Jasmine, Vanilla and Sandalwood.

NO. 32 - Frankincense & Myrrh offers you those gorgeous resinous notes. 

Final Blending Thoughts

I hope these suggestions give you some ideas on how to ‘construct’ your blends. Remember that the sense of being lifted on the crest of a wave is part of the joy of this fragrance. You always want to be either enhancing that feeling or balancing what is already there to offer you a better chance of success.

If you lose that uplifting sense, it becomes a whole different beast altogether, how tame that beast becomes, is entirely up to you! Have a go at creating your bespoke blends by blending NO. 1015 with other VINEVIDA essential oils and fragrance oils, or use it as it is. Either way, a stunning result. 

Creative Ways To Blend NO. 1015  

Let’s start this next section by proving to you just how versatile and incredible our fragrance oils are by creating some exciting diffuser blends to get things started. 

A Reminder About Cold Air Diffusers.

For those of you with Cold Air Diffusers, always use the variation labeled DIFFUSER Fragrance Oil. The Soaps & Candles variations are too viscous for these machines, so please, DO NOT use them! How To Use Vinevida Oils will give you more information on the differences between the two variations of fragrance oils. 

How to Make Diffuser Blends With NO. 1015  

NO. 1015 is a sophisticated, complex aroma that lifts you up and down on waves of joyous fragrance. It’s so joyous you might not want to mess with it, but let's show you how you can and keep that wonderful feeling of being uplifted. 

There is a little room in the scent profile to add your unique touch. If you are feeling playful and creative, turn this genderless fragrance into something more specific and tip the whole gender balance whichever way you fancy. 

Just have fun creating diffuser blends for your home with these amazing fragrance oils

It’s so exciting for beginners and the more experienced amongst us to learn more about blending fragrances and essential oils. As all the diffuser blends are quite different, be sure to try them all. In doing so, you will build up your confidence and your blending skills.

Right, onto the Blending Framework where I am going to show you how to create harmonious accords by using the recommended scent companions. Use these suggestions to build on these accords and use them to create amazing diffuser blends of your own.

Fragrance Notes	Original Scent Profile	Ideal Companions
Top	Bergamot, Neroli, Aquatic Ozone	Lemon, Lime, Kaffir Lime, White Grapefruit, Dwarf Pine, Eucalyptus, Spearmint
Top/ Heart	Straddles both	Bay leaf, Helichrysum, Lavender
Heart	Jasmine, Rose, Sage, Cardamom	Black Pepper, Cardamom, Ginger, Nutmeg, Pink Pepper, Gardenia, Jasmine, Palmarosa, Rose, Rose Geranium
Heart/ Base	Straddles both	Cinnamon, Star Anise
Base	Sandalwood, Musk, Dark Amber	Amber, Amyris, Cedarwood, Clove, Oud, Sandalwood, Vanilla

Follow This Blending Framework

1. Into the top notes add sharp uplifting fruit, such as Lemon, White Grapefruit and Lime. Use Bergamot by all means, but shy away from the other orange citruses.
2. Introduce those gray/green aromas of Spearmint or Eucalyptus, for that breath of fresh air effect. 
3. Plump for some more of those herbs that are gray/green in plant form, Helichrysum and Lavender are perfect with herbaceous floral tones. 
4. The heart space already has quite strong floral notes. You can enhance femininity with one careful choice like Gardenia. Only choose one, as it would be easy to upset the balance, don’t try to get overly complex here,
5. Introduce some spice to compliment the Cardamom, fruity spices like Pink or Black Pepper always complement the orange tones of Cardamom.
6. Tip it towards more masculine heart notes, and warm spices like Ginger or Nutmeg.
7. Make it warmer still by straddling the line between the heart and base notes with Cinnamon and Star Anise.  
8. The base notes allow you to play with the balance and composition of this fragrance oil quite delightfully. You can add more spice for a more floriental effect like Clove.
9. Add in extra wood notes to complement the Sandalwood. Amyris and Cedarwood offer rich wood notes, but they are quite different from one another. So try one.
10. I love the idea of adding resins in here with Frankincense and Myrrh to add new, unexpected elements. It will also keep that lovely wave-like effect of being uplifted and sunk into troughs of gorgeousness before rising you back up to the crest. It’s like ninth-wave heaven! 
11. Teach yourself to blend patiently, and experiment one drop at a time.  By adding a drop, stopping and then mixing everything thoroughly. You give yourself a chance to avoid making mistakes. 
12. Then, simply test it. 
13. It pays to gauge the scent outside of the bowl or bottle. Use cost-effective scent strips, it makes a big difference when evaluating your blends.
14. Working in this way, you stand less chance of making mistakes, and potentially expensive ones if you are using essential oils and absolutes. Trust me, it’s a fairly foolproof method but it does require discipline and patience! (No, I’m not good at that either, you’re in good company, but I have learned from my mistakes and so can you)! 
15. Remember to offer your nose a break after working for about 20 minutes and come back to it. That way you can avoid going nose blind and get a better gauge on the scent. 
16. Try and maintain the balance of the original scent, it is key to the process and will improve your chances of success.

For successful outcomes with your diffuser blends, simply follow this framework to achieve incredible results.

IFRA Guidelines for Diffusers

Diffuser Blends fall under IFRA Category 12 where NO. 1015 fragrance oil carries no safety restrictions in this category. 

Method:

1. Diffuser Blends are a wonderful entry project for learning to experiment with fragrance oils.
2. Start by reading the recipe through and noting the proportions used. There are always extra clues in the proportions used! 
3. Carefully measure out all of your fragrance oils and essential oils and combine them in a small measuring jug. Give them a really good stir to combine.
4. It is useful to keep your bottle oil-free, if nothing else it helps your label stick better. So, using a funnel, decant your diffuser blend into a 10ml dropper bottle. 
5. Scrape every last precious morsel of oil from the jug and funnel into the bottle. This is where a good quality silicone spatula is invaluable.
6. Using a water and oil-proof label, list all of the ingredients, date them and apply them to your clean and oil-free bottle.
7. Always label your bottle as ‘UNDILUTED’ for obvious safety reasons, please.

How To Use These Diffuser Blends:

1. In the first instance, you must always consult your manufacturer's instructions and get specific guidance on your diffusers please.  
2. It may be that your manufacturer’s guidance states to dilute your blend in some way. Please follow their instructions. 
3. If you have thrown your instructions away with the box, How To Use Vinevida Oils will give you some generalized advice, but please follow your manufacturer's instructions where possible.

DIY Diffuser Blends to Make from NO. 1015 

Surfers’ Paradise

This diffuser blend evokes The Ninth Wave, the perfect moment in space and time where nature falls into harmony with the surfer and joy abounds. 

It pulls you up onto the crest of the wave and over the falls carving your way into watery heaven. Uplifting you with sharp citrus and Eucalyptus. Careen through the barrel into warming and uplifting notes of Ginger before Cedarwood drops you back on the beach; breathless, exhilarated and eager for more. 

We like this for any room in the house, it’s a very versatile fragrance and is still relatively genderless. Its bright, fresh edge is perfect for bathrooms too. 

Ingredients:

• 7 ml of NO. 1015 - Inspired By: Ocean Eyes & Grace Vanderbilt Hotel Fragrance Oil
• 20 drops of White Grapefruit Essential Oil (Citrus Paradisi)
• 20 drops of Eucalyptus Essential Oil (Eucalyptus Globulus)
• 10 drops of Ginger Essential Oil (Zingiber Officinale)
• 10 drops of Cedarwood Essential Oil (Cedrus Deodara)

Safety:

• Not designed for use on the skin.
• Do not diffuse where cats are present. (Grapefruit and Eucalyptus)

Riding The Ocean Breeze

Imagine standing facing the sea, as a storm approaches, the warm air meets the cold air of the storm, fresh on your skin as the electricity prickles and makes your hair stand on end. Waves crash on the beach, reminding you of the power of nature. Breathe deep and let it all endlessly exhilarate you. 

Create that sense of cool freshness rushing in, meeting soft warmth, for a blend of contrasts. But one that works perfectly! 

It is ideal for use anywhere in the home with its crisp, fresh and uplighting aroma, yet it’s softened enough for those more relaxing areas of the home too.  It brings me alive and I hope it does the same for you! 

Ingredients:

• 5 ml of NO. 1015 - Inspired By: Ocean Eyes & Grace Vanderbilt Hotel Fragrance Oil
• 4 ml of NO. 2100 - Inspired By: Breakline By Hollister Fragrance Oil
• 1 ml of NO. 1405 - Lemongrass & Ginger Fragrance Oil

Safety:

• Not designed for use on the skin.

Flowers Of The Ocean

I’m tipping the balance on this one into a more feminine vibe.

Adding to the citrus freshness, but also filling in those blurred lines that straddle between notes. Capitalizing on herbaceous florals and deepening down into more heady and exotic flowers and finally smooth woods for a distinct feminine touch. 

Bring a bright feminine fragrance to your home, where it is extremely versatile and can be used anywhere in the home. You’ll love this one!  

Ingredients:

• 5 ml of NO. 1015 - Inspired By: Ocean Eyes & Grace Vanderbilt Hotel Fragrance Oil
• 3 ml of NO. 1402 - Inspired By: Citrine By Nest
• 10 drops of Helichrysum Essential Oil (Helichrysum Splendida)
• 10 drops of Lavender Essential Oil (Lavandula Angustifolia)
• 10 drops of Neroli Essential Oil (Citrus Aurantium)
• 10 drops of Amyris Essential Oil (Amyris Balsamifera)

Safety:

• Not designed or formulated for topical use on the skin.

DIY Recipes Using NO. 1015 

Let us ignite your senses and show you the incredible potential and sheer versatility of VINEVIDA’s soap and candle fragrance oils. We can’t hide our enthusiasm and excitement about them and we hope to get you just as excited about them too!

It’s not hard to find inspiration with these fragrance oils, especially when they so readily combine with other base and natural ingredients. They offer you such unrivaled versatility. 

Don’t forget you can combine them with essential oils, with their amazing range of active benefits and properties. You can have an intense, resilient fragrance and all the benefits of the essential oils, allowing you to get the best of both worlds. Why wouldn’t you?

Looking For Inspiration

If you have some experience and want to veer off and do your own thing with NO. 1015, check out Unlock The Power Of Aromatherapy: 100 Ways To Use Essential Oils (& Fragrance Oils), it's overflowing with over a hundred links.

If you want tried and tested, professionally written tutorials and exciting recipes that you can trust, look no further! It is an absolute treasure trove of inspiration.

It also provides you with a great place to start formulating your recipes as it highlights the hundreds of different ways to use fragrance oils. Whether you are making topical products or something for the home or garden, you are sure to find an interesting project to whet your appetite. 

More DIY Recipes

This week, we have the oceanic joy of NO. 1015. Let it lift you onto the crest of the wave, slide you through the barrel and into a sublime finish. 

Fresh in citrus and marine notes that meet blowsy florals, herbs and a hint of spice before that smooth, musky, woody finish. 

It is a scent that is perfectly suited to scented candles, wax melts and soaps and it has been a long while since we covered any of these… So let's pick a couple now.

Wax Melts are a wonderful entry-level project for anyone who wants to have a go before taking the next step into candle making. So let’s go back to basics and have fun with this one.

Soapmaking is such a popular hobby, that often then turns into a hobby business. But it can be daunting, especially when you first start. Let’s ease you in gently with an easy Melt and Pour Soap. It’s the simplest way to make soap, gives you amazing results the first time and you can use it right away. No waiting around waiting for your soap to cure. 

So let’s stay in the easy lane this week and hopefully, it will encourage those of you who have been ‘thinking about it’ into ‘trying it for yourself’ and having great fun doing it! 

Wax Melts

A Few Introductory Pointers

What Wax Is Best?

Many people use Soy Wax for Wax Melts as it has a lovely white consistency and feels nice to the touch. It looks appealing and takes on colorants and fragrances readily. 

I love beeswax with its honeyed aroma to add to the overall fragrance. Yet it’s not always a complementary harmony for some fragrance oils. It’s perfect if you're erring on the feminine side, but not so great for sharp freshness, as it has that lovely smooth scent of its own that would dampen that down. 

Paraffin wax and Coconut Wax are viable alternatives but if you had to push me to my best recommendation - stick with Soy Wax because it will take on the fragrance of NO. 1015 beautifully. It will readily accept any wax colorant, I suggest gray/green/blue or turquoise for that marine feel. It has an appealing look and feel and always looks good molded or in the wax melt outers. 

Separate Equipment

You might have a wonderful array of molds that you use for cake or chocolate molding that seem suitable to use for making wax melts. But just consider these points:

• If you use them for wax, you can never use them for food again.
• If you have used them previously for food, are they scrupulously clean? The wax will pull out any hidden particles and spoil the finish of your wax melts.
• It can be well worth investing in a couple of decent molds dedicated to making wax melts.

The same goes for a double boiler, spoon/stirrer, measuring jugs and crossover equipment. 

If you don’t have a double boiler, use a scrupulously clean tin can, and set in a saucepan of hot water. Just watch your heat, so you don’t scorch your wax, as it is much closer to the heat source than it is in a double boiler.  

Ready Made Wax Melt Outers

You can buy ready-made Wax Melt Outers, that you simply fill with molten wax, allow to set and then close and pop a label on. They make the whole process exceptionally simple and keep your wax melts clean and protected. 

Adding Essential Oils

You can choose to add essential oils for their wonderful active benefits and properties.

Create Wax Melts with complimentary essential oils:

• Uplifting with Bergamot Essential Oil (Citrus Bergamia)
• Sensuous with Jasmine Absolute Oil (Jasminum Grandiflorum) and Rose Essential Oil (Rosa Damascena)
• Relaxing with Lavender Essential Oil (Lavandula Angustifolia) 
• Sedative with Vetiver Essential Oil (Vetiveria Zizanoides)

IFRA Safety

NO. 1015  in IFRA Category 12 has no safety restrictions. This means, that within reason you can use as much as you like. 

However, don’t go nuts as you don’t want to upset the balance of your wax. For this reason, I would never use any more than 10% fragrance oil to the overall ratio.  

The amount of wax you need will entirely depend on the size and number of your molds.  I will give you the recipe for 100g of wax, just multiply it from there as you need. 

You Will Need: 

1. Weigh scales
2. Measuring jug
3. Double boiler, preferably one with a pouring lip
4. Stainless steel spoon or stirrer 
5. Pan stand/holder
6. Molds or Wax Melts outers
7. Oil and waterproof labels

Ingredients:

• 100g of Wax Pellets of your choice, but I recommend Soy Wax (Hydrogenated Soy Bean Oil)
• 5 - 10 ml of NO. 1015 - Inspired By: Ocean Eyes & Grace Vanderbilt Hotel Soaps & Candles Fragrance Oil

Optional: Wax colorant of your choice - follow the individual manufacturer's instructions on how much to add and when, as they vary. 

Safety:

• Wear protective gloves and protect your work surfaces.

Method:

Working Safely and Sensibly

1. First, cover your work surface with newspaper or an absorbent disposable covering. Dropping molten wax is no joke and you want to protect your work surfaces. 
2. I strongly suggest you work in an area that is not carpeted and has easy clean flooring. Don’t have that? Work in your sink with several layers of newspaper and do not allow ANY wax to go down the plughole! 
3. Have all your equipment and ingredients ready to go and close to hand so you can work quickly and efficiently.

Melting The Wax

1. Set your double boiler over low to medium heat and allow it to warm through for several minutes.
2. Add your wax and allow it to melt over the heat, you can stir it to help it along and break up any clumping.
3. Watch how high your heat gets, especially if you are using a can in a saucepan! Don't scorch your wax.
4. If you are adding colorant - you may need to add it now, check the manufacturer's instructions, please.
5. Once melted, remove from the heat and set the top part of the double boiler/tin can on a pot holder to protect your surface.

Adding Fragrance Oil and Essential Oil 

1. You want this to cool down a little before adding your fragrance oil or essential oils. The ideal temperature is between 180-185F for soy wax, this is where an infrared thermometer comes into its own! But pop that on a ‘later investments list’ for now.   
2. Stir the oil(s) in well and make sure that they are evenly distributed through the wax, it takes longer than you think so give it at least a couple of minutes.

Molding Your Wax Melts

1. Molding comes down to your molds, especially the size of them. They only need to hold a small amount of wax, just enough to fit in the average Wax Melt Burner well. You can of course just fill molds part way, this works well in flower shapes especially. 
2. Then you simply pop them aside to set, covered with a clean soft cloth to protect them from dust particles. 
3. Once set, demold and leave to cool fully before presenting how you choose.
4. If you are using Wax Melt outers, simply pour your wax in and cover it with a clean cloth, making sure the cloth does not touch the wax. Once set and fully cooled, shut the lid. Always fully cool before sealing otherwise you risk the formation of mold in the warm and damp environment. 
5. NEVER discard excess wax down the sink, you WILL block it up! Pour it into a muffin case and discard it in the household refuse. Though I save mine to wax curtain rails, loosen stiff zips and condition my sewing thread! Or I tip it into a small jar already fixed with a wick to make a ‘Waste Candle’... don’t waste anything!

Curing Your Wax Melts

1. Do my wax melts need curing? Not really! You can use them right away. However they will cure a little over time and the fragrance can improve through the process, giving you a better throw of scent. 

The Importance Of Labeling

1. ALWAYS label your wax melts. You may say “Well I know what they are”! The trouble is, how confident will you be about remembering that in 6 months? Especially, after your four year old thought it was chocolate and the ER docs are asking what was in it! 
2. Label it! Or even just pop the ingredients in the jar, which you can grab and go if ever need to! 

Storing Your Wax Melts

1. Ideally, store your wax melts in a labeled airtight container to preserve the fragrance. 

How to Use:

1. Always set your Wax Melt Burner on a stable surface and a fire/heatproof candle plate. 
2. Place it out of reach of pets and children. Trust me, waggy dog tails, carpet and molten wax are not a great combination! 
3. Make sure it is placed out of draughts and cannot be knocked over easily.
4. Ignite a tea light, or turn it on if it is electric, and pop a suitably sized wax melt into the dedicated well. If it seems too large, snap some off and save it for next time. 
5. Always keep an eye on a burning candle and never leave them unattended.
6. A wax melt can last several melts, depending on the quality of your wax, fragrance oils and the humidity of your environment. Simply replace it once the scent fades.
7. Don’t waste the discarded wax melts, you can always refresh them with the same fragrance oil or you can collect them and make a candle.

Melt and Pour Soap

It’s important when you are just starting to get some quick wins that are easy to achieve for yourself at home. However, you also want them to feel extra special and luxurious to use as well 

Glycerin or Melt and Pour soap is so easy to make. It comes in a variety of types, with different ingredients. For example, you can get ones with goat's Milk, ones that are crystal clear and even organic ones. 

Generally, they come as a solid block of soap that you cut down and simply melt in your microwave. Their versatility comes from the ability to add extra ingredients. You can obviously add essential oils and fragrance oils, but you can also get inventive by adding exfoliators, colors and inclusions. I’ll give you a few variations in the recipe to try.  

One reason I love Melt and Pour Soap is that you can end up with very professional-looking soap even on your very first try. It's a real confidence booster and can fill you with pride and joy. It’s also quite addictive! 

Wrap It Up!

Glycerin, which is a large component of this soap, has humectant properties. This means it can draw moisture from the air, which is why it is used so much in skincare, to draw that moisture from the air and plop it right into your skin cells. This soap will do just that too, delivering wonderful hydration right where you need it most. 

However, attracting moisture for the soap itself can be problematic. It can make your soap appear glossy, and make it look like it has been used, which is not great if you are trying to sell them or give them as gifts! If they go glossy, or even chalky looking, that means it is absorbing water from the air. 

A tiny bit of moisture is not too much of an issue, but over time it can make your soaps soggy and mushy and no one wants that! 

So How Do I Stop It?

Always tightly wrap your glycerin-based soap in a couple of layers of saran wrap or vacuum seal it. You want it to be as airtight as possible.

Please do NOT fall into the trap of just loading them all into an airtight box unwrapped, it will not solve the issue at all and will still pull moisture from the air in the box! A silica gel sachet can help, but is not a solution. Learn from my mistakes!

Therefore, you do need to take the time to exercise some diligence and patience and wrap the soaps up individually. You’ll soon get into the knack of making sure you can see the face of the soap and pulling all the excess wrap to the back for a lovely presentation. 

IFRA Safety

NO. 1015  in IFRA Category 9 has maximum safety restrictions of 8.15%.

This means that in 100g of product, you can use up to 8g of NO. 1015 - Inspired By: Ocean Eyes & Grace Vanderbilt Hotel Soaps and Candles fragrance oil. 

We recommend for a strongly scented product, that you only need to use approximately 3 - 5%.

You can use the ‘Melt and Pour Soap’ option on the VINEVIDA Calculator when working out the correct safety data for your formulations and recipes.

Quick Safety Note on PYREX vs pyrex: