Simple Fun DIY Handcrafted Beeswax Candles

by Christine Pressler, CA

momaromas

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Handcrafted Beeswax Candles

Making handcrafted beeswax candles is one of the most rewarding experiences—the aroma of melting wax, the satisfaction of the pour, watching the wax solidify around the wicks, and then, finally, the flickering candlelight.

With a few simple ingredients and tools and a bit of time, you can be lighting your DIY candle this week! And once you light that first candle you will have the satisfaction of knowing that the lovely warm light comes from your handiwork.

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In this Post:

⭐️Beeswax Candle Ingredients

• 3 cups Beeswax
• 1 cup raw Coconut oil or Jojoba wax/oil
• Essential oils (optional—more on this below)

DIY Candle Making Supplies

• Candle jars/tins/cups
• Hemp wicks (pre-waxed) with tabs
• Wick stabilizers
• 4-cup heat-safe measuring cup with handle and spout (or DIY candle wax pouring pot)
• 1 cup dry measuring cup
• Long handled spoon
• Sauce pan
• Water
• Heat-resistant gloves
• Paper towels
• Hand towel

🌺See my Recommended Suppliers below

Making Your Beeswax Candles

Fill the sauce pan with a couple inches of water and heat to barely simmering. We want to melt the wax gently and prevent water from accidentally splashing into it.

Melt the Beeswax

Combine Beeswax and Coconut oil or Jojoba wax in heat-safe measuring cup or DIY candle wax pouring pot. Place in hot water. If you are using a measuring cup, placing the handle over the edge of the pot keeps it from being submerged in the hot water and, therefore, relatively cool.

Using a long-handled spoon, carefully stir the Beeswax and Coconut oil or Jojoba wax periodically while they are heating.

Once the wax is completely melted, remove the pot from the heat, and carefully lift out the measuring cup or pouring pot. Wipe the outside with a dry hand towel.

🔶️DIY Candle Making Tip: Wear heat-resistant gloves—at least on the hand that’s holding the measuring cup or pouring pot.

Prep Candle Jars

If you are using candle jars, put these into the hot water. Be careful not to get any water in them. After a few minutes, remove from the hot water, and wipe the jars inside and out with the dry hand towel. Another option is to put the jars in a warm oven for several minutes. Heating the jars helps create a more aesthetically pleasing candle.

If desired, you can also coat the inside of each jar with a small amount of Coconut oil or Jojoba. This can help reduce cracking on the edges.

Place several paper towels on your work surface and arrange your candle containers so they touch edges.

Dip the tabbed end of a wick into the melted wax and place in the candle container, centering it in the base. You can use a chopstick or glass stir rod to press it into place.

Feed the wick through the hole in the wick stabilizer and settle the stabilizer on the edges of the candle holder. This will keep the wick centered and straight. Repeat until all containers are prepped.

Wax Check and Essential Oil Time

If the wax has begun to solidify, place it back in the hot water for a few minutes and stir, scraping any solid bits of wax down into the liquid. Remove from the hot water and dry with the hand towel.

If you are adding essential oils to your beeswax candles, this is the time to stir them in.

Pouring the Wax

Don’t pour yet! Wait a few minutes. A fine film will form on the surface. This means it’s ready to go! Give the wax a stir and carefully pour into your waiting containers.

Keep the wick stabilizers in place until the surface of the candle is completely solid.

Trim each wick to about 1/4 inch from the candle surface.

Allow the candles to solidify completely and cure for at least 24 hours before lighting.

💚Many Hands Make Light Work! This is a fabulous activity to do with family and friends. Each time the candles are lit, the memory of your special time together will be illuminated.

💚DIY Candle Tea Lights: You can make A LOT of tea lights from this recipe!

We like to use tea light in the early mornings. The warm gentle light creates a calm start to the day.

Each morning, I pop a new tea light into a Himalayan salt candle holder or other favorite tea light holder, like the handcrafted one featured here and at the end of this reel. I simply let it burn throughout the morning as we get ready for the day and while I’m working.

🔶️And, remember: Never leave a lit candle unattended!

To Scent or Not to Scent Your Beeswax Candles?

While I personally love the aroma of beeswax candles, a gentle fragrance can be nice, too, and can add to the ambiance.

If you want more than the natural beeswax aroma, you have a few options:

• Artificial fragrance
• Ground spices, like clove, cinnamon, cardamom, and ginger
• Powdered or well-chopped herbs, like lavender, rosemary, hops, and dried citrus peel
• Essential oils

If you aim to use essential oils, be prepared to use quite a bit to provide even a faint fragrance. Candles tend to burn off essential oils rapidly, leaving you with very little aroma.

💚Want aromatherapy and candle ambiance? Simply diffuse your favorite blend and light a beeswax candle! This uses much less essential oil and provides a beautiful combined aroma.

For the amount of wax in this recipe, you will need to use (at least) 100 to 120 drops of essential oil (25-30 drops per cup of candle base).

Suggested Essential Oils

These are some essential oils that do “okay” in DIY candles.

🌺See my Recommended Suppliers below

💚Final Thoughts

I know, that’s a lot to take in! You can create so many different combinations from these essential oils, so when choosing your essential oils think about:

• the final aroma—floral, spicy, herbal, fresh, woodsy, smoky
• the energy you want—calming, meditative, energizing, stimulating
• the candle location—dining room table, kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, family room
• the desired ambiance—romantic night, family game night, celebratory get-together, seasonal
• the intention—general purpose, air cleansing, deodorizing, gift
• the cost—use inexpensive oils as the base and add smaller amounts of exotic oils (read: pricey) to create a unique aroma

Don’t be intimidated!

Make a batch of simple beeswax candles to begin with. Then once you are comfortable with the process, start to experiment with different essential oils. Or don’t! Like me, just enjoy the beauty of the simple natural aroma of the beeswax candle.

The point is, the entire DIY candle making experience is likely one you will want to repeat again and again.

• Wintry Days Essential Oil Blend
• O Xmas Tree Essential Oil Blend
• Natural Holiday Potpourri
• Easy Handcrafted Beeswax Candles
• Spiced Cranberry Sauce Recipe
• Yuletide Fruit & Spice Simmer Pot
• Chai Spice Room Spray
• The 4-Part Gingerbread Series

Mom’s Candle Making Shopping List

You can find beeswax from US hives, organic Jojoba, essential oils from Plant Therapy and Edens Garden, and other candle making ingredients and tools in my DIY Natural Candle Making list on Amazon. Or visit my favorite suppliers below.

• Aromatics International for ethically wildcrafted, organically sourced, and Certified Organic essential oils (Mom’s AI favorites)
• Plant Therapy for Certified Organic and sustainably sourced, conventional essential oils (Mom’s PT favorites)
  • Also at Plant Therapy on Amazon
• Edens Garden (on Amazon) for sustainably sourced, conventional essential oils (Mom’s EG favorites)

Chris P | Author, Certified Aromatherapist, Natural Skin Care Formulator

Chris (“Mom”) enjoys formulating bespoke aromatherapy, skin care, and herbal products to support her family, pets, friends, and clients. She also loves experimenting with recipes in the kitchen. An avid reader, writer, and lifetime learner, Chris enthusiastically explores research rabbit holes and then writes about her discoveries.💚 (Learn more >>)