Melts, Mishaps & Moving Forward: The Truth About Our Packaging Change

You might’ve noticed something strange on our website lately. Our Summer Wax Melts are currently out of stock.

Before you start a search party for your favourite fruity blends, don’t worry. They’ll be back before the end of the month. But there’s a good reason they’re temporarily unavailable, and it all comes down to packaging.

When we first launched the Summer Collection, our wax melts came in biodegradable glassine bags which were eco-friendly, minimal, and neat. Or so we thought…

That was until a chance rediscovery of some old wax melt samples sent up a major red flag. It was enough to make us stop everything, rethink our packaging entirely, and make a switch that’s safer, stronger, and better for you and your home.

So what happened exactly? And what’s changing going forward? Let’s talk it through, spills, stains and all.

 

1. The Original Plan – Why We Chose Glassine Bags

When we first planned the packaging for our Summer Wax Melts, we had a clear vision: simple, sustainable, and low-waste.

Glassine bags seemed like the ideal choice. They’re biodegradable, recyclable, and plastic-free, which is exactly the kind of packaging we wanted to use for a lighter environmental footprint. We’d actually looked into them over a year ago while developing our wax melt samples and even poured, labelled, and prepped a batch ready for photos. At the time, life and business got busy, and the samples were quietly set aside while we focused on other things.

Fast forward to summer, and those same bags returned, but this time as the packaging for our freshly-poured 30g and 50g wax melt bars. They looked clean and minimal, and we felt confident in the choice thanks to the research we’d already done.

But a few weeks after launch, while prepping to revive the wax melt sample project, we rediscovered those old testers. What we found gave us serious pause. The wax had seeped into the bags, the labels had discoloured, and the backs felt greasy. While some businesses may have great results with glassine, in our case it simply didn’t hold up, and that discovery made us rethink our packaging immediately.

 

2. What Went Wrong – The Forgotten Wax Melts

We’ll be honest. The warning signs were hiding in plain sight.

While preparing to finally launch our long-delayed wax melt samples, we uncovered a small dish tucked away behind some supplies. Inside? A handful of wax melts we’d poured and packaged well over a year ago. They’d been sitting quietly in their glassine bags, completely forgotten.

At first glance, they looked a bit dull. But the closer we looked, the clearer the problem became.

The fragrance oil had started to seep through the wax melts, soaking into the bags and causing visible staining. The safety labels on the back, which were originally crisp and white, were now discoloured to match the wax inside and greasy to the touch. The glassine bags, which had once felt sturdy and clean, now felt flimsy and damp. It wasn’t a good look.

That was our lightbulb moment.

Even though these were old samples, the fact that this much oil had leaked through was a red flag. We imagined one of our customers storing their melts in a drawer or leaving them on a shelf. The potential for mess, damage, or disappointment just didn’t sit right with us.

We knew we had to act.

 

3. Why It Matters – The Risk We Couldn’t Ignore

It might sound like a small thing: a bit of oil here, a smudged label there, but for us, this wasn’t something we could ignore.

If a wax melt starts leaking fragrance oil, it can leave behind more than just a greasy patch. That oil could stain fabrics, mark surfaces, or transfer onto whatever else is nearby. Imagine popping your new melts into a drawer, only to find out later that the packaging has discoloured your lining or left an oily patch on a wooden shelf. That’s exactly the kind of experience we work hard to prevent at Hellomelts.

The melts themselves were perfectly fine, still fragrant and packed with scent, but the packaging had let them down. If it could happen after being stored in a clean, dry space for a year, who’s to say it couldn’t happen sooner in warmer weather or in a less ideal spot?

We don’t take chances when it comes to quality. And if there’s even a small risk of our melts causing damage in someone’s home, we’d rather rethink the entire system than risk it.

 

4. The New Plan – Hello, Clamshells

After a lot of back-and-forth, some strong cups of coffee, and more than a few label peel tests, we made the decision. Glassine bags were out, and clamshells were back in.

If you’ve bought from us before, you’ll already be familiar with this format. We’ve used clamshells for both our Signature and Winter Collections, and they’ve always performed brilliantly. For the Summer Collection, we’d hoped to try something new with eco-friendly glassine bags but after what we discovered, we’ve decided to stick with clamshells for the foreseeable future.

All Summer Wax Melts will now come in clamshell packaging with either four or six cubes, depending on the size you choose. This format is not only more secure, but it actually holds more wax than the original 30g and 50g bars did. You’ll get more fragrance, more value, and no risk of oily surprises.

Even better, our new clamshells are made right here in the UK using 86% recycled PET (rPET). It’s a material that’s durable, recyclable, and far better at containing fragrance without leaking or staining.

They’re neat, clean, practical, and most importantly, they give us the peace of mind we were missing with the bags.

 

5. What This Means for You: Customer Reassurance

If you ordered from our Summer Collection in its very early days, you may have received your wax melts in the original glassine bag format. While we haven’t had any reports of issues, we still want to be proactive.

If, for any reason, you notice discolouration, staining, or oil marks on your melts or packaging (even if it’s minor), please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us. We’re more than happy to refund or replace your order. If there’s ever a problem, we’d much rather make it right than leave you disappointed.

Customer safety and satisfaction has always been at the heart of Hellomelts, and we take pride in delivering products that feel just as good as they smell. That’s why we made the switch. Not because we had to, but because it was the right thing to do.

This change won’t affect the scents, quality, labels, or character of the melts. They’re still the same juicy, beachy, summer blends you know and love. Just with better packaging that we can stand behind with confidence.

Thank you for sticking with us through the learning curves and upgrades. We’re always working to improve, and we appreciate every single person who’s been part of the journey so far.

 

6. Moving Forward – What’s Next

This packaging change might not have been in the original plan, but it’s a change we feel good about and one we know will make a difference in the long run.

We’ve learned a lot through this process. About storage. About materials. And most importantly, about how vital it is to test everything, even when it seems like a sure thing. That’s something we’ll carry forward as we grow Hellomelts and develop future collections.

Our focus remains the same: creating beautifully-scented, carefully crafted wax melts you can trust in your home. And while our packaging might evolve from time to time, our commitment to quality and transparency will always stay the same.

So here’s to better melts, better packaging, and more lessons learned (hopefully without the grease next time).

 

7. Closing – Thank You

Thanks for taking the time to read this update. We know it’s not the most glamorous part of running a candle business, but it’s an important one and you deserve to know what’s going on behind the scenes.

We’re constantly learning, improving, and deeply grateful for your support, feedback, and patience along the way.

Whether you’re brand new here or have been with us since day one, thank you for being part of the Hellomelts journey. We can’t wait to show you what’s coming next.

Stay fragrant,
The Hellomelts Team

 

Explore the Summer Collection

Browse all 8 wax melt bars in the Summer Collection here →

Explore the Spring Collection

Discover more seasonal favourites, including Lime, Basil and Mandarin here →

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