Temperature and Wax Melts: Weather-Proofing Your Candle Business

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.