Fragrance Oils vs Essential Oils: What's Best for Wax Melts?
Which is better - fragrance oils or essential oils? It's a question we're frequently asked. At Tillybell, we use high-quality, UK-manufactured fragrance oils in our wax melts, and there's a very good reason for it.
Why the Oil You Use Matters
The oil in a wax melt is what gives you that beautiful scent throw. Choose the wrong oil, and you get a weak fragrance, scent that fades quickly, or a melt that doesn't perform well when warmed. So it's not just about "natural vs not" - it's about performance, safety, and consistency.
If you've ever wondered why some melts underperform, you may find why some wax melts smell weak helpful.
Essential Oils - Lovely, but Not Always Practical
Essential oils are plant-derived and smell wonderful, but in wax melts they can:
• have a softer scent throw when heated
• fade faster over time (see why wax melts lose their scent)
• be more expensive to use at the level needed for a strong fragrance
• vary in strength from batch to batch
That makes them harder to use when you want a reliable melt every single time.
Some essential oils also react differently when heated, which is why understanding how wax melts work can help explain why not all oils perform equally in wax.
Why We Use Fragrance Oils at Tillybell
We want your home to smell incredible - not just for 10 minutes. That's why we use wax-melt–suitable, UK-manufactured fragrance oils. They're specifically designed for home fragrance, tested for use in melts, and deliver a stronger, longer-lasting scent.
Using UK suppliers also means:
• better quality control
• consistent fragrance from batch to batch
• compliance with UK/EU standards (see what CLP labelling means)
• and full transparency about what's going into your melt
Fragrance oils are carefully balanced for wax performance, which links closely to fragrance load and melt performance - something essential oils are not always formulated for.
Isn't "Natural" Always Better?
Not always. "Natural" doesn't automatically mean "better in wax." Some essential oils don't behave well when heated, and some can underperform in a melt warmer. We prefer to be transparent about that. We'd rather give you a clean, strong, and reliable fragrance than a weaker one that simply claims to be "natural."
When paired with premium coconut wax - as explained in why coconut wax matters - high-quality fragrance oils deliver a smooth, even scent without harsh spikes.
So What Do You Get with Tillybell?
• coconut-blend wax melts, hand-poured in the UK
• high-quality, UK-made fragrance oils
• strong scent throw that fills a room
• clean melting performance
• and a product created specifically for home fragrance
You can explore our full range of luxury wax melts to experience the difference yourself.
The Short Answer
Both fragrance oils and essential oils can technically be used in wax melts - but for strength, consistency, safety compliance, and that true luxury-home-fragrance feel, high-quality UK fragrance oils are the better choice. That's why we use them.