In a nutshell
- 🛒 £3 Aldi silicone mould repurposed to pour wax melt snap bars, creating a simple craft business that works while you sleep via marketplaces like Etsy and Vinted.
- 💷 Realistic margins: unit cost ~35–55p, sale price £2.75–£3.50, profit £1.40–£2.10 per bar; sell ~220 bars monthly to reach £300–£450.
- ⚙️ Quick start in one evening: buy soy wax, fragrance oil, print CLP-compliant labels, use the Aldi mould, shoot clean photos, and list with automated messages and Click & Drop.
- ⚖️ Stay legit: follow GB CLP rules (hazard statements, allergens), keep batch records, consider product liability insurance, and track income under HMRC’s £1,000 Trading Allowance.
- 🚀 Scale smart: add bundles, seasonal scents, subscriptions, and wholesale; use coupons, short-form video, and reinvest profits to grow beyond £400/month.
It sounds too good to be true: a £3 buy from Aldi that thousands of side hustlers are using to bring in an extra £400 a month. Yet in 2025, that’s exactly what’s happening – quietly, from kitchens and box rooms up and down the UK. The trick? A cheap silicone mould from the middle aisle and a simple craft that turns low-cost ingredients into fragrant, repeat-purchase treats. Orders ping through at 2am while their makers sleep. With realistic margins, light-touch automation and a minimal learning curve, this little earner is proving irresistible to cash‑conscious households who want results without quitting the day job.
What Is the £3 Aldi Side Hustle?
At the heart of the trend is a humble £2.99 Aldi silicone mould, the kind you’d usually use for chocolate or ice. Side hustlers are repurposing it to pour neat, uniform wax melt snap bars – the small scented blocks you break and drop into a burner to fragrance a room. The appeal is obvious: raw materials are inexpensive, the process is safe and quick in small batches, and each bar looks professional thanks to the mould’s crisp segments. It’s not a scheme or resale trick – it’s a simple make‑and‑sell craft with real demand.
Here’s the flow. You buy soy or rapeseed wax, a fragrance oil, and biodegradable glitter or mica. One short melting session yields a dozen bars. Then you label them to UK standards and list on Etsy, Vinted (Home category), or your own Shopify with checkout automation. Add a few clean photos and a scent description. People find you via search and social. Payments clear overnight. You wake to orders you can pack after work. That’s why creators call it a “works while you sleep” micro‑business.
How the Numbers Stack Up
Let’s be blunt: the maths is the magic. A kilogram of quality soy wax costs ~£7–£12 in bulk; fragrance oils add ~£1–£2 per dozen bars, depending on strength. Labels and cello bags are pennies. All in, typical unit cost lands around 35–55p per 50g bar. Average selling price? £2.75–£3.50 on Etsy for standard scents, more for seasonal or premium blends. Even after fees and postage contributions, creators report £1.40–£2.10 profit per bar. Sell 220 bars in a month – roughly 7–8 bars per day – and you’re at the £300–£450 profit mark.
| Item | Typical Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Aldi Silicone Mould | £2.99 | Middle aisle; buy 2–3 to batch |
| Soy/Rapeseed Wax (1kg) | £8–£12 | Yields ~18–22 bars |
| Fragrance Oil (100ml) | £6–£10 | Multiple batches; check IFRA limits |
| Labels & Bags | £0.07–£0.12 per bar | CLP-compliant label + sleeve |
| Marketplace Fees | ~10–15% | Etsy listing + transaction + VAT |
Crucially, sales land while you sleep because marketplaces never close. Etsy search and saved favourites do the heavy lifting; a small spend on offsite ads can turbo‑charge discovery. Keep postage simple with a “2–3 bars for £1.99” Royal Mail Large Letter rule and you’ll preserve margin and conversion.
Setting It Up in an Evening
Start with the Aldi mould, a kilo of soy wax, one safe-use fragrance, plain labels, and a small digital scale. Melt wax in a jug, stir in fragrance at the recommended percentage, tint if desired, and pour carefully into the £3 mould. Within 45 minutes, the bars are firm enough to remove. Print a CLP-compliant label (more on that below), bag them neatly, and you’re ready for photos. Shoot near a window; one flat‑lay, one in-hand shot, one detail. You can list your first product the same night you pour it.
On Etsy, use searchable titles: “Highly Scented Wax Melt Snap Bar – Clean Cotton – Vegan Soy.” Add attributes like “eco-friendly” and “handmade in the UK.” Activate automations: an auto “Thank you” message, Restock Requests, and Royal Mail Click & Drop for labels in one click. Batch‑make on Sunday, post on Tuesday and Friday. Let TikTok and Instagram Reels run short “pour and snap” clips with trending audio. The mould guarantees a uniform look that makes a brand feel premium from day one.
Risks, Rules, and How to Stay Legit
This is a low-cost venture, not a no‑rules one. In the UK, wax melts are classed under CLP Regulation (GB CLP). You must include hazard statements, allergen disclosures, supplier details, and pictograms where applicable. Buy fragrances from reputable suppliers who provide Safety Data Sheets, IFRA usage rates, and CLP templates at your chosen percentage. Keep a record of batches, ingredients, and labels. Consider public and product liability insurance once sales pick up – it’s inexpensive and reassuring.
From a tax perspective, sales fall under trading income. The HMRC £1,000 Trading Allowance may cover early earnings; beyond that, register for Self Assessment and keep tidy books. Be clear on returns under Consumer Contracts Regulations for distance sales. Temperature matters: avoid warping by packing in the coolest part of your home and adding a “do not leave in sun” note for summer postage. Follow the rules and you’ll protect your customers, your margin, and your peace of mind.
Scaling Beyond £400 a Month
Once your first scent gains traction, scale methodically. Introduce bundles (3 bars for £7.50), seasonal drops (Pumpkin Spice, Winter Pine), and a monthly sampler box on subscription. Add a second Aldi mould to double batch size. Improve average order value with burner kits, letterbox‑friendly gift wrap, and a “buy 4 get 1 free” deal. Use Etsy’s coupon automations to send abandoned basket nudges and “thank you” discounts for repeat buyers. Short‑form videos of the pour, snap, and sizzle in a burner drive discovery and trust.
Operational upgrades are simple: print integrated labels, save box templates in Click & Drop, and adopt a weekly production calendar. Track your bestsellers and retire slow movers. When demand surges, list pre‑orders with a clear dispatch window. Explore wholesale to salons and gift shops at 50% RRP for reliable volume. Reinvest a slice of profit into fragrances, packaging, and ads – that’s how a £3 mould becomes a £1,000+ monthly storefront.
For households feeling the squeeze, this little Aldi mould opens a surprisingly robust income stream: tiny start‑up cost, fast learning, and sales that tick over while you sleep. Keep it compliant, keep it consistent, and keep it simple; the market rewards reliability as much as scent. Whether you want pocket money or a part‑time brand, the barrier to entry is delightfully low. So, will you pour your first batch this weekend and wake up to orders on Monday, or let someone else snap up the demand?
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