The Problem Nobody Warns You About
You've made beautiful wax melts. Cured them perfectly. Packed them carefully. Sent them to a customer.
They arrive as a melted blob. Or cracked into pieces. Or covered in white frost.
Welcome to the temperature problem.
What Heat Does to Wax Melts
Soy-based wax melts have a low melt point. That's good for warmers - they melt easily. It's bad for hot delivery vans.
Above 30°C: Wax starts to soften. Shapes lose definition.
Above 40°C: Wax melts. Products fuse together in packaging.
Above 50°C: Complete liquefaction. Total loss.
A delivery van in summer sun can hit 60°C inside. Your wax melts don't stand a chance.
What Cold Does to Wax Melts
Cold is less destructive but still problematic.
Below 10°C: Wax contracts. Can cause surface cracks.
Rapid temperature changes: Thermal shock creates that white "frosting" effect. The wax is fine functionally, but looks damaged.
Extended cold: Some fragrance oils can separate or crystallise.
Storage: The Easy Part
Store your wax melts at room temperature (15-22°C) away from:
- Direct sunlight
- Radiators and heat sources
- Unheated outbuildings in winter
- Anywhere with big temperature swings
A cupboard in your house is usually fine. A garden shed is not.
Shipping: The Hard Part
You can't control the delivery van. But you can:
Choose the right courier. Next-day services spend less time in transit. Tracked services let you (and the customer) know when to expect delivery.
Ship Monday-Wednesday. Friday shipments can sit in depots over the weekend. That's 48+ hours of uncontrolled temperature.
Warn customers in extreme weather. "Due to the heatwave, we recommend selecting a delivery date when you'll be home." This manages expectations.
Use insulation for premium orders. Foil-lined mailers add cost but protect high-value shipments in summer.
Include care instructions. "Store in a cool, dry place" sounds obvious, but customers leave packages in hot cars and sunny porches.
When Things Go Wrong
Despite your best efforts, heat-damaged products happen. Have a policy:
- Reshipping costs you money but keeps customers
- Photos help you assess damage remotely
- Seasonal pauses might make sense in extreme weather
- Insurance covers some losses (check your policy)
A customer who gets a replacement quickly tells their friends you have good service. A customer who has to fight for a refund tells everyone to avoid you.
The Business Reality
Temperature damage is a cost of selling wax products. Budget for it.
- 1-2% loss rate is normal
- Summer months are worse
- Local sales have fewer issues than mail order
- Market stalls in direct sun are a mistake
You can minimise losses with good practices. You can't eliminate them entirely.
Quick Checklist
- Store at 15-22°C
- Ship Monday-Wednesday
- Use next-day delivery in summer
- Warn customers about extreme weather
- Have a clear returns policy
- Budget for some losses
Temperature is part of the wax melt business. Plan for it.