Chloe Adams
Beeswax candles are a natural, non-toxic, homemade candle option with a delightful honey scent. They are easy to make and can be customised with essential oils to create unique varieties. The process involves melting beeswax, adding coconut oil, pouring the mixture into candle containers, and securing a wick. You can experiment with different essential oils, such as lavender or citrus fragrances, to create your desired scent. Beeswax candles make great gifts and can be made in various sizes, from 4-ounce to 12-ounce jars. The amount of beeswax and coconut oil can be adjusted to create different quantities of candles, and you can use local beekeeper beeswax or purchase beeswax pellets for convenience. Making beeswax candles is a fun and rewarding project that allows you to add your creative touch to your home or gift-giving experience.
Characteristics and their Values:
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Wax | Beeswax |
| Weight | 1/2 pound or 1 pound |
| Form | Beeswax pellets or a whole block |
| Jar | Glass or ceramic |
| Jar size | 4-ounce or 8-ounce |
| Jar quantity | 2, 3, or 6 |
| Glue | Hot glue |
| Wick | Cotton, medium thickness |
| Wick tabs | Yes |
| Wick stickers | Yes |
| Oil | Coconut oil, essential oils |
| Oil quantity | 1/4 cup or 1/2 cup |
| Heat source | Stovetop, crockpot |
| Heat level | Medium or low and gentle boil |
| Heat time | Until wax melts |
| Cooling time | 1-2 days |
| Troubleshooting | Use a larger/thicker wick to prevent tunneling |
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What You'll Learn
Choosing the right wax
Beeswax is the most popular choice for candle making. It is a natural, non-toxic option that gives off a pleasant honey smell when burned. If you have your own bees, you can use your own filtered beeswax, or you can buy it from local beekeepers or online.
Beeswax pellets are a convenient option, as they are easy to melt and measure. You can also buy blocks of beeswax and grate it yourself. White beeswax is another option, although most of what is available commercially is bleached. If you want to avoid chemicals, look for white beeswax that has been lightened using sun, air, and moisture.
Beeswax has a relatively high melting point, so it is important to keep a close eye on it while it is melting. It is flammable, so be careful not to let any wax come into contact with a hot stovetop. You can melt beeswax using a double boiler, or by placing a heat-safe container with the wax in a pot of boiling water.
If you are looking for an alternative to beeswax, there are a few other types of wax you can use. Soy wax is a natural option that can be scented with essential oils. Coconut wax is another option, although it may not hold up to high temperatures. Paraffin wax is also available, but it is not a natural option and may not be as safe as other types of wax.
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Adding coconut oil
Boosting Fragrance
Coconut oil has a great ability to hold and throw fragrance. This means that when added to beeswax, it can give off a stronger scent, quicker than if beeswax was used alone. This is especially useful as beeswax can be more difficult to scent compared to other commonly used waxes.
Lower Melting Point
Coconut oil has a lower melting point than beeswax, which slightly softens the wax and lowers the melting point. This makes the beeswax easier to melt and pour. While this may decrease the burn time slightly, beeswax is already the longest-burning wax, so even softened candles will last longer than most competitors.
Preventing Tunneling
Beeswax candles may experience the issue of tunnelling, where only a narrow central part of the wax melts, causing the wick to "dig into" the centre of the candle. This results in the candle either going out prematurely or burning out without using all the wax. Coconut oil helps prevent tunnelling by making the beeswax melt more evenly.
Clean Burning
Beeswax is known for its clean-burning qualities, and adding coconut oil does not compromise this benefit. When burned, coconut oil releases no harmful chemicals, so the air-purifying capabilities of beeswax are maintained.
When adding coconut oil to your beeswax candles, it is important to use unrefined and additive-free, non-GMO coconut oil if you want to make a candle from natural materials. The mixing ratio may vary depending on the quality of your beeswax and coconut oil, but most hobby candle makers recommend a 50-50% ratio. However, it is generally a good idea to start with more beeswax and less coconut oil to avoid the finished candles becoming too soft.
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Preparing the wick
Firstly, purchase your wicks. For beeswax candles, you will need medium cotton wicks that are thicker and sturdier than those used for paraffin candles. This is because beeswax candles are slow-burning, and the wick size will impact the burn of the candle. You can also make your own wicks by soaking braided cotton in melted beeswax and using an old nail or coin as a weight.
Next, prepare the wick for the jar. Place a wick sticker at the bottom of the wick tab, then peel off the paper from the exposed side of the sticker. Position the wick in the centre of the jar by sticking the exposed side of the wick sticker to the bottom centre of the jar. You can use hot glue to secure the wick in place.
To keep the wick centred as you pour in the wax, wrap the top end of the wick around a pencil or bamboo skewer, and lay it horizontally across the top centre of the jar. Ensure the skewer is longer than the width of the jar so that it can rest on the edges.
Finally, once the wax has been poured and has set for 1-2 days, trim the wick to 1/2" long. If you are reusing a jar, ensure the wick is not too short, or it will cause the candle to burn down in a tunnel shape. If the wick is sparking or smoking when you light it, blow it out and recut the wick.
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Melting the wax
To melt the wax, you will need a dedicated container, such as a metal pitcher or a glass jar, and a heat source. Some candle makers use a crockpot or a double boiler setup, while others opt for a simple pot of boiling water. If using a pot of water, fill it with enough water to cover the height of the wax, ensuring that it won't spill over when it starts to boil. Then, place your container of wax into the pot and heat the water to a gentle boil. You can also use a crockpot by placing the wax directly into the jars and letting the crockpot warm up and melt the wax.
Beeswax pellets are often used for candle-making, as they melt more easily than blocks of beeswax. However, if you only have a block of beeswax, you can grate it into smaller pieces before melting. Place the beeswax in your chosen container and heat it gently, stirring occasionally, until the wax is completely melted. It is important to never leave melting wax unattended, as beeswax is potentially flammable. Keep an eye on the wax and ensure that no wax pellets have scattered onto your hot stovetop, as this could pose a fire hazard. One sign that the wax is getting too hot is if it starts to smoke, so be sure to watch for this.
Once the wax is completely melted, remove it from the heat source. At this point, you can add coconut oil to help the candle burn more slowly and consistently. Stir the mixture until the coconut oil is fully incorporated. If desired, you can also add essential oils to scent your candle. However, keep in mind that essential oils are delicate and may not hold up to high temperatures.
In summary, melting wax for beeswax candles requires careful preparation and attention to safety. By using the appropriate tools and techniques, you can successfully melt beeswax and begin the process of creating your own homemade candles.
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Pouring and setting
Once your wax is melted, turn off the heat and add in your coconut oil, stirring to combine. Adding coconut oil to your beeswax helps the candle burn more consistently and prevents tunnelling. However, you can also make a 100% beeswax candle by omitting it.
Next, pour the wax into your candle containers. Leave about an inch of room at the top of the jar. You can make these candles in a crockpot by putting the wax straight into the jars and letting them warm up in the crockpot to melt the wax. This is a good option if you don't have a disposable metal container.
After pouring the wax, secure the wick at the bottom of the jar with a little glue. You can also use wick stickers. To keep the wick centred, wrap the other end of the wick around a pencil or bamboo skewer and lay it horizontally across the top centre of the jar. This will keep the wick centred while the wax hardens.
Finally, leave the candles to set for 1-2 days before trimming the wicks to 1/2" and lighting. If you are lighting the candle for the first time and the wick is sparking or smoking, blow it out and recut the wick.
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Frequently asked questions
You will need beeswax, which can be in the form of pellets or a block that you shred with a cheese grater, a wick, and a container for the candle. You can also add coconut oil to make the candle burn more consistently and avoid tunnelling.
This depends on the size of the candles you want to make. One pound of beeswax will make approximately 24 ounces, which can make two 12-ounce candles, three 8-ounce candles, or six 4-ounce candles.
Yes, you can add essential oils to your candles to create a more noticeable scent. However, keep in mind that essential oils don't handle high temperatures well, so the scent may not be as strong as with artificial fragrances. Some essential oils that can handle higher temperatures include citronella and lemongrass.
You can use various containers for your beeswax candles, such as mason jars, old tin cans, tea cups, or even old coffee mugs or vintage containers. Just make sure that the container is heat-safe and can withstand the melting process.
