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Homemade natural candles are a beautiful and eco-friendly way to enjoy warm, fragrant lighting in your home. Using beeswax as the base, these candles offer a cleaner, longer burn compared to paraffin wax, while being gentler on the environment.
Beeswax is a standout choice for natural candle making, as it produces minimal soot and fills the air with a light, natural honey aroma.
We’ll show you how to craft your own homemade natural candles. From blending beeswax with other ingredients to selecting the right wick and container, you’ll learn everything you need to create candles that are as sustainable as they are beautiful.
Why Choose Beeswax for Candlemaking?
Beeswax is a natural wax that is produced by bees. It is composed of long-chain fatty acids, giving it unique properties.
Beeswax is a hard wax that melts at a higher temperature than other waxes. This makes it ideal for making candles because it will not melt as easily in hot weather and can be used in various molds.
Beeswax produces less soot than other waxes when burned and lasts quite a long time. In fact, a beeswax candle can burn up to six times longer than a paraffin wax candle!
Beeswax candles also produce light and a pleasant smell when burned without adding any scents.
Choosing Your Beeswax
When making beeswax candles, it is important to use pure beeswax. You can purchase this at a craft store or online. You can use yellow or white beeswax, but read the label to avoid any additives or bleach.
For the highest quality option, you can look for beeswax that has been filtered and is labeled “cosmetic grade.”
Beeswax comes in <a href="http://Beeswax Bars” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow”>bars or pellets. Bars are fine for almost any use but are harder to portion out if you don’t want to use the whole thing. For more flexibility, choose pellets that come in a bag and can be measured by weight.
Supplies for Candle Making
- Beeswax
- 2 teaspoon lavender essential oil (around 150ish drops) – you can choose whichever essential oil scent you prefer
- 4 oz mason Jar Container
- Candle Making Kit – Candle making kit usually includes the Pouring Pot, Candle Wicks, Wicks Sticker, Wicks Holder and Soy Candle Wax. However, you can purchase these all separately.
- Candle Wicks: Be sure to get wicks that are appropriate for the size of your candle (as measured by candle diameter).
- A glass measuring cup / Pouring pot with a spout can be useful for pouring the wax instead of pouring directly from your double boiler.
- A stirring spoon: You will need this to stir the wax and ensure it is evenly melted. You can also use a wooden stick (like a kabob or chopstick).
- Scissors
How to Make Homemade Beeswax Candles
- Melt the beeswax on medium low heat on the stove.
- While it is melting, add the wick to the bottom of the candle jar.
- Once it is all melted, let it cool slightly, before adding in your essential oils.
- Pour the melted beeswax into the glass jar and allow to harden.
- If it caves in once melted, melt a bit more wax and pour on top.
- Trim the wick with a scissor and it is ready to go!
And that’s it! You’ve made your own natural candles.
What Other Containers Can You Use for Candlemaking?
There are many options for containers for beeswax candles, and you don’t have to buy something new. Get creative! Here are few options to consider:
- Use recycled old jars or tins that you find at garage sales or thrift stores. Thrift stores often have vintage teacups that can also be used to pour your beeswax candles. They also make an awesome and unique gift.
- If you want to make a bunch of uniform candles, you can use mason jars or <a href="http://Candle Tin” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow”>metal candle tins purchased online or from container suppliers. When choosing tins, be sure to check that they are appropriate for use in candlemaking.
- Skip the container altogether and make candles in molds. Molds are available in sizes ranging from votive candle molds to large pillar candles and all sorts of unique shapes.
How to Store Beeswax Candles
Beeswax candles should be stored in a cool, dry place. If mixed with other ingredients, they will melt more easily, much like any candle in a hot climate. Store out of the sunlight and preferably in a colder part of your house when not in use.
You can also wrap beeswax candles in newspaper or tissue paper to protect them from dust and dirt.
Be sure to allow your candle to fully cool down and become solid again before storing or covering.
Tips When Mixing Beeswax with Other Ingredients
Beeswax is a very hard substance with a high melting point. Pure beeswax candles are beautiful, yellow, and hard. They last a long time because the wax burns slowly.
You can actually play with the ratio of beeswax to coconut oil if you have time to experiment – 25% coconut oil and 75% beeswax or 50-50 ratio. The 25% coconut oil and 75% mix retains the yellow color of the beeswax and produces a harder candle that will burn longer. However, it does still crack fairly easily.
A 50-50 ratio of beeswax to coconut oil is whiter in color and a bit softer. It is easier to pour out successfully and doesn’t crack as easily. It still burns nicely and retains the beeswax scent, but is not as “pure” as a candle with higher beeswax content and will not last quite as long.
What else can you make with beeswax?
There are so many wonderful things you can make with beeswax. Personal care products take advantage of the health benefits of beeswax for your skin. Home products use the protective benefits of beeswax for leather and wood.
Try some of these products yourself!
