Mel Science Review | A Hands-On Science Kit for Homeschoolers

I am genuinely excited to write this Mel Science review, which is not something I ever thought I would say about a science kit.

If you are a regular reader of Homeschool of 1, you will know that science has never been my favorite subject to teach. Freddie actually goes to a homeschool group for science, and I think a lot of that comes down to me.

I never enjoyed science at school, and that has definitely stayed with me. It can be messy, it often takes more preparation than I would like, and honestly, I have always found it one of the harder subjects to enjoy teaching at home.

That is exactly why Mel Science stood out to me. I was a little hesitant at first because it is not cheap, and I am always careful about what we spend money on, especially in subjects I do not naturally gravitate toward.

But after trying it for ourselves, I could see why so many families like it. It made science easier to manage, more engaging for Freddie, and much less intimidating for me.

Before I go any further, I should also mention that I paid for this subscription in full and was not paid to write this post.

**This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate and a participant in other affiliate programs, I earn a commission on qualifying purchases.**

Mel Chemistry Starter Kit

With your first subscription, you receive a Chemistry Starter Kit with eight tools.

I was not completely convinced by the stated value, but the items were good quality and came in a sturdy box.

What’s in the Mel Chemistry Starter kit:

• Borosilicate glass beaker and flask
• Macro lens
• Safety glasses and a tray
• VR headset
• Smartphone/tablet stand
• Solid fuel burner

This is a great supplement to our homeschool science curriculum!

Mel Chemistry

We chose the Mel Chemistry subscription because it is aimed at children over 10, although they also offer options for younger and older kids.

Each month, you receive the equipment and supplies for two or three experiments. My only small complaint with the first box was that it required 4 AAA batteries, which were not included.

Luckily, I already had some at home, but I was a little disappointed that everything needed to get started was not in the box.

That said, I liked that before I even opened it properly, it clearly told me what I needed to prepare. In this case, it was only the batteries.

Tin Dendrite Experiment

Before opening the box, I could see this was a 10-minute experiment, so we decided to start with it first.

There is a booklet with the instructions, but I highly recommend downloading the Mel Science app. It talks you through each step of the experiment and even includes a built-in timer, which made it much easier to follow.

This was the finished result, and it was a great quick experiment to start with.

Mel Science Tin Hedgehog Experiment

The tin hedgehog was the longer experiment and was expected to take around 20 minutes, so we saved that one until last.

After the first experiment, we were really curious to see what would happen, and again we chose to use the app instead of the paper instructions.

Once everything was mixed together, we had to wait about 15 minutes, but the end result was really impressive.

Mel Science Kits

Mel Science now offers several different subscription boxes depending on your child’s age and interests. At the moment, the choices include STEM for ages 5+, Math for ages 8+, Physics for ages 8+, Chemistry for ages 10+, and Medicine for ages 14+.

We chose the Chemistry Box because it was the best fit for Freddie’s age and the one that appealed to us most.

It is helpful that there are options for different stages, especially if you want to continue using Mel Science as your child gets older or if you are choosing for more than one age group.

You can also pause or cancel your subscription from your account, which makes it easier to try without feeling locked in.

Mel Science For Homeschool

Mel Science has worked really well for us as a homeschool science supplement. I honestly wish I had tried it sooner, as having everything delivered monthly and ready to use has made science much easier for me to manage.

More importantly, Freddie has really enjoyed it and is already looking forward to the next box.

Don’t Forget to Use the Mel Science App

This is important! Well, it actually isn’t, but if you don’t download it you are definitely missing out.

In fact, I very nearly missed it, Freddie noticed the VR codes all over the box and the reagents and wondered what they were for! At least one of us was paying attention!

What I love is when you scan the experiment you are about to do, there are troubleshooting and FAQs for this experiment. Also, it shows you what the expected result is, helpful if like me you haven’t got a clue!

Mel Science VR Headset

With the first box, you receive a free VR headset, and it ended up being one of the most exciting parts of the subscription for us.

The experiments were already fun, but the VR headset and app made them feel much more interactive and engaging.

You can explore chemical reactions in a much more visual way while the app explains what is happening. Before I even tried it for myself, all I could hear was “ohhh” and “wow,” and he did not want to put it down.

Mel Science Reviews

Before buying Mel Science, I checked customer reviews to make sure the kits were as good in practice as they looked online. Overall, the feedback was mostly positive, which made me feel more confident about trying it for ourselves.

After using Mel Science at home, I can see why many families rate it highly. The experiments are hands-on, the instructions are easy to follow, and the app adds a lot to the experience.

Mel Science Bad Reviews

Most of the negative feedback I found centered on two issues: delivery delays and slow customer service responses. Some of the delivery problems seemed to happen during bad weather earlier in the year, and several customers said their issues were eventually resolved.

That said, these complaints did not match our own experience closely enough to change my overall view of the kit.

Overall, we’ve had a positive experience with Mel Science and would recommend it for homeschool science.

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Last Updated on 9 April 2026 by Clare Brown