Adding a wax seal to your letters

A wax seal turns a letter into something your penpal will treasure. It isn’t necessary — but it’s surprisingly satisfying to do, and your penpal will notice.

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What is a wax seal?

A wax seal stamp beside a red wax seal on an envelope

A wax seal is a little pool of melted wax pressed with a metal stamp to close an envelope and leave a design behind. People have sealed letters this way for centuries — today it’s a lovely way to add flair and a personal touch to your post.

How to wax seal a letter: 4 ways

1. Drip wax from a candleYou’ll need a sealing wax candle with a wick

Light the wick and slowly drip the wax onto the envelope, then press your stamp into it. Experiment with how long you wait before pressing to get a crisp seal.

A melting spoon on a small stand, with a wax seal stamp
2. Melt wax beads in a spoonYou’ll need wax beads, a melting spoon and a stand

Put 2–4 beads in the spoon over a small candle. When they’ve melted, pour onto the envelope and stamp. A stand with good space between flame and spoon gives you more control — if the wax bubbles, it’s too hot.

A glue gun dripping sealing wax onto an envelope
3. Use a hot glue gunYou’ll need glue-gun sealing wax sticks

The easiest method for a single colour. Load a wax stick, let it heat, then squeeze wax straight onto the envelope. It comes out runny, so wait about 20 seconds before pressing your stamp.

4. Stick on a ready-made sealNo melting on the day

Make seals ahead of time on baking paper and fix them with double-sided tape, or buy sheets of self-adhesive wax seal stickers.

Tips for seals that last

Make it post-proofSorting machines can crack thick seals. Use flexible sealing wax, keep seals flat, or tuck the sealed envelope inside an outer one.
Get creativeTry two colours, a pinch of gold flakes or a pressed petal, or seal over string tied round a parcel.
Stay safeHot wax and flames burn. Never leave a candle unattended, and children should always have an adult help.

Where to buy wax seals

We tried sealing kits from three small Australian businesses:

A Sign and Seal stamp with pale pink wax seals
Sign and SealA family-run business in Queensland offering wax, custom stamps and accessories. Our custom stamp, made in their Australian workshop, was very high quality, and their vegan, non-toxic UK-made waxes gave vibrant seals — in the glue gun and melted in a spoon. Minimal, eco-friendly packaging.
Visit Sign and Seal →
A Fiona Ariva wax sealing kit with a spoon and stamp
Fiona ArivaA calligraphy and stationery shop in Melbourne. Their mini-cauldron melting stove worked very well, and the wattle stamp gave a beautiful result. It all arrived in a lovely box with canvas bags for storage.
Visit Fiona Ariva →
A Sea and Paper wax seal kit in a gift box
Sea and PaperA creative studio in Melbourne. Their starter kit — wax beads, spoon, stamp and melting stand — had everything needed to make great-looking seals, in thoughtfully designed packaging.
Visit Sea and Paper →

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