Tyler Brooks
Tallow candles are a clean, cost-effective, and long-lasting alternative to store-bought candles. They are made from rendered animal fat, such as beef, sheep, deer, or goat tallow, and have been used as a source of light for thousands of years. Tallow candles are fairly easy to make and can be customised with essential oils to add fragrance. They are a great way to utilise all parts of an animal and create a warm, steady, and natural glow in your home.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Main Ingredients | Tallow and Beeswax |
| Tallow Sources | Beef, Sheep, Goat, Deer, Venison |
| Containers | Glass jars, metal tins, silicone molds, canning jars, mason jars, dixie cups |
| Wick Material | String |
| Wick Placement | Centered |
| Wick Length | 1/4" |
| Wick Support | Pencils, clothespins, wick holders, washers |
| Temperature | 180°F for beeswax to melt, 160°F to add fragrance oil, 150°F before pouring |
| Burning Time | At least 1 hour |
| Storage | Cool, dry place |
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What You'll Learn
Sourcing tallow
Tallow is rendered animal fat, traditionally made from beef fat or suet. Sheep, goat, deer, and other animal fats can also be used to make tallow.
If you are looking to source tallow, you can either render the fat yourself or buy it pre-rendered. Rendering your own tallow can be done at home, but it can be a smelly process. To render tallow, you need to slowly heat animal fat over a double boiler, filtering it well. You can then store the rendered tallow for future use in candle-making.
If you do not want to render your own tallow, you can buy it from a local butcher or whole-animal butcher shop. Some farms also sell raw beef fat or suet, which can be rendered into tallow. You can also purchase pre-rendered tallow from companies such as Coast Packing Co. and Snake River Farms.
When sourcing tallow, it is important to ensure that it is organic and grass-finished, especially if you plan to use it for cooking or skincare products.
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Melting and pouring
To melt the tallow, place it in a double boiler or a heat-safe bowl over a pot of simmering water. Heat the mixture over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until the tallow is completely melted. If you are using beeswax, as some do to enhance the candle's durability, increase burn time, and add a pleasant aroma, beeswax melts at 180 degrees Fahrenheit, so monitor the temperature to avoid overheating.
Once the tallow (and beeswax, if using) is melted, remove it from the heat and allow it to cool slightly. This is when you would add essential oils or fragrances. If you are using essential oils, be sure to use those with a high flash point, such as cedarwood, cinnamon, fir, sandalwood, geranium, patchouli, or myrrh.
Before pouring the melted tallow into your chosen containers, warm the jars first. This can be done by placing them in the oven on the lowest setting, filling them with warm water, or running them through the dishwasher. Just be sure that they are completely dry before pouring the tallow. Place the wicks in the warmed jars, using two pencils or clothespins to hold the wick in place, and ensure they are centred.
Carefully pour the melted tallow into the prepared containers, keeping the wicks centred as you pour. Allow the candles to cool and harden undisturbed for at least 4-6 hours or overnight.
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Adding scents
Tallow candles can be made with or without added scents. If you want to add some essential oils to your tallow candle, it is best to do so while the tallow is cooling off. Make sure that you are using an essential oil with a high flash point such as cedarwood, cinnamon, fir, sandalwood, geranium, patchouli, or myrrh. The amount of essential oil you use will depend on the intensity of the oil and the size of your jar. For example, 40-50 drops are about right for each 8 oz jar.
If you are making a beeswax tallow candle, the ideal temperature to add fragrance oil is at around 160 °F (71 °C). This will ensure that the candles don't crack. It is important to let the mixture cool slightly before adding the fragrance oil, as adding it to a mixture that is too hot will result in candles that are smaller in size.
You can also make edible tallow candles and garnish them with herbs or spices. For example, Coast Packing Company makes garlic-infused edible tallow candles.
When making tallow candles, it is important to use a jar that can tolerate heat, such as a canning jar, or the jar may shatter.
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Dipping
To begin the dipping process, cut a piece of wick and fold it in half to find the centre. Place both ends of the wick into the melted tallow and let it soak for around 15 minutes. This allows the oils to absorb into the wick, ensuring a slower burn. After soaking, lay the wick straight on a piece of parchment paper and let it cool until solid.
For the dipping process itself, you will need hot tallow and cold water. Dip the wick into the hot tallow and then immediately into the cold water. Repeat this process, alternating between tallow and water, to build up layers of tallow on the wick. You can adjust the number of dips to control the thickness of the candle.
It is important to use the right type of tallow for dipping. Beef, sheep, and game tallow are the most challenging options and require more effort to work with. Softer animal fats, such as lard, are not suitable for dipped candles as they lack the necessary hardness. However, these softer fats can be used for jar candles or in a bowl with a floating wick.
To enhance the scent and properties of your tallow candles, you can add essential oils with a high flash point, such as cedarwood, cinnamon, fir, or sandalwood. Adding essential oils can also help mask the strong smell that can sometimes occur during the rendering process. Additionally, you can combine tallow with beeswax to improve the candle's durability, increase burn time, and impart a pleasant aroma.
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Storage
Tallow candles should be stored in a cool, dry place to prevent melting or softening. They will eventually go rancid, so it's best to use them within a reasonable time frame.
If you're making your own tallow candles, there are a few things to keep in mind during the process that will affect how they burn and how long they last. Firstly, it's important to trim the wick to 1/4" each time you burn the candle. This will ensure it burns properly. If the wick is too long, it may smoke or produce a large flame.
Another factor that affects the burn of your tallow candle is the type of container you use. Glass jars are classic, but metal tins or silicone molds can create unique shapes and styles. However, it's crucial to use a container that can tolerate heat, such as canning jars, as other types of glass may shatter due to the heat of the melted tallow.
To avoid shattering your jars, gently warm them up before pouring in the melted tallow. You can do this by placing them in a low-temperature oven, using a hairdryer, or filling them with warm water. Ensure that the jars are completely dry before pouring in the tallow.
Additionally, you can add essential oils to your tallow candle while it's cooling. Make sure to use oils with a high flash point, such as cedarwood, cinnamon, fir, sandalwood, geranium, patchouli, or myrrh. The amount of essential oil you use will depend on the intensity of the oil and your preferred scent strength.
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Frequently asked questions
Tallow is rendered animal fat, traditionally from beef. Tallow candles are often made with the addition of beeswax, which enhances their durability, burn time, and scent.
You can buy tallow from your local butcher or whole-animal butcher shop, or you can render it yourself from animal fat.
Glass jars are a classic choice, but you can also use metal tins or silicone molds to create unique shapes and styles.
Warm your containers in the oven or with a hairdryer before pouring in the melted tallow. This is especially important if you're using glass jars.
Yes, you can add essential oils to your tallow candles while the tallow is cooling. Make sure to use oils with a high flash point, such as cedarwood, cinnamon, fir, or sandalwood.
