Maddie James
Beeswax candles are an easy DIY project that can be made at home. They are a great option for those who want to avoid the toxins and carcinogens found in traditional candles. With a natural honey scent and a brilliant golden light, beeswax candles offer a delightful aroma and warm glow. Making your own beeswax candles allows you to experiment with different scents, colours, and creative additions. You can add essential oils, dried flowers, or even cocoa butter to create unique varieties. The process involves melting beeswax, which can be done using a double boiler or microwave, adding any desired scents or colours, pouring the liquid into a jar or mould, and allowing it to harden. The type of wick used is important, as beeswax burns slowly and requires a larger wick than paraffin or soy candles. Overall, creating beeswax candles is a fun and rewarding experience that allows for endless customisation and a natural, non-toxic candle-burning experience.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ingredients | Beeswax, essential oils, coconut oil |
| Container | Jars, tea cups, cans |
| Wick | Cotton, wood |
| Burning time | Burns slowly |
| Scent | Honey, chocolate, citrus |
| Benefits | Non-toxic, improves air quality, natural wax |
| Drawbacks | Can be expensive |
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What You'll Learn
How to make beeswax candles
Making beeswax candles is a fun and easy DIY project that can be done with just a few supplies. Beeswax candles have a delightful aroma on their own, but you can also experiment with different essential oils to create unique scents. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to make your own beeswax candles at home:
Step 1: Gather Your Materials
You will need beeswax, which can be in the form of pellets or blocks that you can grate. You can purchase beeswax or, if you have access to a local beekeeper, buy raw beeswax from them. Other materials include a double boiler or a glass bowl, a pot, water, coconut oil or other types of container wax, wicks with wick tabs and stickers, jars or containers, and essential oils (optional).
Step 2: Melt the Beeswax
Create a double boiler by placing about two inches of water in a medium-sized pot. Place a canning jar ring in the centre of the pot and set a mason jar on top. Add the beeswax to the mason jar and bring the water to a boil. Then, reduce the heat to medium-low and allow the beeswax to melt completely. You can also use a glass bowl over a pot of boiling water, as some people do.
Step 3: Prepare the Wick
While the beeswax is melting, prepare your wick by securing it to the bottom of your jar or container using hot glue. Centre the wick as much as possible and wrap the top end around a skewer laid across the top of the jar to keep it in place. If using wick stickers, peel one off and place it on the wick tab, then remove the paper from the exposed side of the sticker.
Step 4: Add Coconut Oil or Container Wax
Once the beeswax is melted, remove it from the heat and stir in the coconut oil or other container wax, such as soy, apricot, or paraffin. This step is optional, but it helps to conserve beeswax and slow down the burning of your candle.
Step 5: Add Essential Oils (Optional)
If you want to add a unique scent to your candle, this is the step to do so. Beeswax has a pleasant honey-like aroma on its own, but you can experiment with essential oils like lavender, peppermint, lemongrass, or citrus oils. Keep in mind that it will take a lot of essential oils to achieve a stronger smell.
Step 6: Pour and Set
Fill your jar or container with the melted wax, leaving about an inch of space at the top. Centre the wick again if needed. Allow the wax to harden for about 1-2 hours. Then, trim the wick to about 1/2 inch in length. Your candle is now ready to be lit or stored in a cool cabinet for later use.
Making beeswax candles is a simple and enjoyable process that allows you to get creative and experiment with different scents and containers. It's a great way to make personalised gifts for your loved ones or to enjoy the warm glow and aroma of your very own handmade candles.
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Choosing the right wick
The size of the wick depends on the diameter of the candle container. A larger container will require a bigger wick. For containers larger than 3" in diameter, a very large wick may be needed, which can create a smoky candle. To avoid this, some prefer to use smaller containers to make candles that don't burn too hot but still consume all the beeswax.
To find the right wick size, start by following the manufacturer's recommendations, then test the candles by burning them for an hour per inch of the container's diameter. If the wax pool reaches close to the edge, the wick is the right size. If there is soot on the sides, or the outside of the container is too hot, the wick is too big. If the wick is tunnelling down the centre of the wax and not burning the sides, it is too small.
To keep the wick centred in the container, wrap it around a skewer laid on top of the jar, or use a pencil or clothespin across the jar.
For beeswax candles, a sturdier and larger wick is generally needed compared to paraffin or soy candles due to beeswax's slower burn. A 60-ply wick has been recommended for half-pint canning jars.
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Adding scents and essential oils
Beeswax has a naturally sweet scent, and its golden light and honey aroma are delightful. However, you can experiment with different essential oil combinations to create unique varieties.
Beeswax does not hold on to scents as well as other waxes, so blending it with a softer oil like coconut oil can help to give the scent more staying power. You can also add cocoa butter to your candles for a heavenly honey and chocolate scent.
When adding essential oils, it's important to note that beeswax has a strong, stable base scent, so you'll need to add a significant amount of essential oil to create a stronger-smelling candle. You can play around with different combinations of essential oils to find your favourite scent. For example, you could try blending beeswax with coconut oil and adding five drops each of lemon, lime, wild orange, and grapefruit for a citrusy candle. Alternatively, you could add lavender and chocolate, orange and chocolate, pine and cinnamon, honey and lemon, or peppermint, lemongrass, and vetiver.
It's important to choose kid-friendly essential oils if children will be around the candles. Also, be aware that most essential oils are delicate and don't hold up well to high heat, so you may want to opt for exceptions like citronella and lemongrass.
Finally, when making beeswax candles, it's recommended to use a double boiler to melt the wax gently and preserve its natural scent and colour.
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Using beeswax candle leftovers
Beeswax candle leftovers can be reused in various ways. Here are some ideas to make the most of your leftover beeswax:
Candle Making
You can use leftover beeswax to create new candles. This is a fun DIY project, but there are some challenges to be aware of. Leftover beeswax may have accumulated dust or burnt wick, which can affect the performance of your new candle. It may burn unevenly or not at all. To prevent scorching the wax, melt it slowly over low heat using a double boiler. Keep the beeswax uncovered to prevent condensation or water from dripping into the wax. You can also add coconut oil to help the beeswax burn slower and conserve the wax.
Wax Melts
Leftover beeswax can be melted and poured into small moulds of your choice. Add a few drops of essential oil and place pressed flowers in the wax for a decorative touch. Once the wax hardens, remove it from the mould, and you have a homemade wax melt that can be used in a candle warmer to release a delicate fragrance.
Floral Wax Sachets
Create beautiful and gift-worthy floral wax sachets using leftover beeswax. Combine the leftover wax with wax flakes, cedar shavings, and dried flowers or herbs. You can experiment with different scents and combinations of aromas to create unique sachets.
Herbal Salve and Lotion Bars
Beeswax can be used to make skincare products such as herbal salves and lotion bars. For an herbal salve, combine jojoba oil, sweet almond oil, canola oil, and essential oil with melted beeswax. Pour the mixture into a container or mould and allow it to solidify. Lotion bars are made similarly by mixing olive oil, shea butter, and essential oil (optional) with melted beeswax. Pour the mixture into a mould and let it harden before removing the solid bar.
Donate to Beeswax Recycling Programs
If you're not interested in repurposing your leftover beeswax, consider donating it to a beeswax recycling program. These programs collect leftover beeswax, melt and clean the scraps, and create new candles to donate to charitable organizations.
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Cleaning candle containers
Beeswax candles are a great way to add a natural, sweet aroma to your home. But what do you do with the candle containers once the wick has burned out? Here are some detailed, step-by-step instructions for cleaning candle containers so that you can reuse or recycle them effectively:
Freezing Method:
- Place the candle jar in the freezer overnight.
- In the morning, take the jar out of the freezer and flip it upside down. The frozen wax should pop right out.
- If the wax doesn't come out easily, use a spoon or butter knife to gently lift and remove it.
Oven Method:
- Preheat your oven to 200 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Line a baking sheet with aluminium foil or parchment paper.
- Place the candle jars upside-down on the foil.
- Put the baking sheet in the oven and monitor the candles.
- After about 15 minutes, the wax should be melted and pooled on the foil.
- Remove the baking sheet from the oven and set it on a heat-resistant surface.
- Take the jars out using an oven mitt and let them cool down.
- Clean the jars with soap and warm water, then wipe them dry with a paper towel.
Hairdryer Method:
- Hold the candle jar with an oven mitt to protect your hands.
- Turn on your hairdryer to a warm setting and direct it towards the sides and bottom of the jar.
- Once the wax is soft, use a butter knife to lift or scrape it out of the jar.
- Clean any remaining wax residue or soot with warm water, soap, and a sponge.
- Dry the jar with a paper towel or dish towel.
Boiling Water Method:
- Fill the candle jar halfway with boiling water. The wax will rise to the surface as the water cools.
- Let the jar sit until the water is cold and the wax has solidified on the surface.
- Remove the wax from the jar and dispose of it appropriately.
- Wash the jar with soap and warm water, then dry it thoroughly.
Microwave Method:
- Combine leftover wax pieces in a microwave-safe dish.
- Heat the wax in one-minute increments at 60% power until it is completely melted.
- Place a fresh wick in a clean jar and pour the melted wax into the jar while holding the wick in place.
- Allow the wax to cool to room temperature, then place the jar in the refrigerator for 10 minutes to set.
Remember to always handle hot jars with oven mitts or heat-resistant gloves to avoid burns. With these methods, you can effectively clean and repurpose your candle containers, reducing waste and giving them a new lease of life!
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Frequently asked questions
You will need a wick, a jar, and beeswax. You can add coconut oil to help the candle burn slower and to conserve beeswax. Melt the beeswax in a double boiler, secure the wick to the bottom of the jar with hot glue, and pour the melted wax into the jar. Allow the wax to harden for 1-2 hours, then trim the wick.
Beeswax has a naturally sweet scent, but you can add essential oils to make them smell even better. Some popular choices include lavender, lemon, lime, wild orange, grapefruit, peppermint, and lemongrass.
Place the jars on a baking tray lined with parchment paper and put them in the oven at 200°F. Once the beeswax has melted, remove the tray and wipe the containers clean with a paper towel.
