Want to make beautiful, natural candles to burn in your home or gift to family and friends but don’t want to spend hours on a DIY project? Here’s how to make the most beautiful homemade candles using simple ingredients in just 20 minutes (with both scented and unscented options)!

In this blog, I’m outlining the exact steps you’ll need to successfully make beautiful jar candles at home. If you’d like to make taper candles, follow this guide.

Before You Get Started: What You’ll Need

This recipe is a great starting point. Use the recipe (just wax and wicks) and customize with your favorite scents (I love to combine rosemary and lavender essential oils) or go all natural with no added scents. 

Candle Ingredients 

• 4 cups of wax: either soy wax flakes or beeswax pellets
• 2 wicks: Wicks with a metal base are the easiest to work with. I have no experience with wooden wicks.
• (OPTIONAL) 1 teaspoon dried herbs, 60 drops essential oils, or fragrance oils: For naturally-scented candles. Fragrance oils have a stronger, longer-lasting scent, but most fragrance oils are not natural. Essential oils have a very subtle scent. And dried herbs, like dried lavender or dried rosemary, may be used for decoration.

How to Make Homemade Candles: Step-by-Step Guide

Once you have your ingredients and tools, you’ll need about 20 minutes to make the candles.

You’ll find a printable version of the ingredients and instructions at the end of this article. Here’s my step-by-step guide with photos to guide you…

• Step 1:  Add water to the saucepan/pot, about 1/2 way full. Place your heat-safe bowl, tall glass measuring cup, or candle pourer either in the water or sitting on top of the water-filled pot (either way is safe). This is called the double boiler method, which keeps the wax out of direct contact with the heat source and avoids burning the wax. 
• Step 2: Add the soy flakes or beeswax pellets to the bowl. Then turn the heat to medium-high, bringing the water in the pot/saucepan to a lively simmer.
• Step 3: Allow the wax to completely melt. This takes about 15 minutes (more or less). Soy wax melts much faster, beeswax pellets take a bit longer. 
• Step 4: Once melted, place the candle jars on a towel (to protect your countertop) and dip the metal part of each candle wick in the hot wax.
• Step 5: Place the metal base of the wick at the bottom of each jar. Use a clothespin or mechanical pencil (the clip portion works well) to secure the wick, placing the pin or pencil on top of the jar to keep the wick upright. 
• Step 6: Pour the melted wax into the jars.
• Step 7: For a scented candle, add drops of natural essential oils, candle fragrance oil (according to the package), or any dried herbs (like dried lavender or dried rosemary). The wax will instantly begin to harden as it comes in contact with the jar. Let the wax cool and solidify. This takes about 20 minutes, or longer.

Give this candle recipe a try and tell me what you think and how you decide to customize your candles!

Print

Homemade Candles Recipe

Here's the easiest way to make your own homemade candles, step by step.  All you need is a jars, wax (soy or beeswax), wicks (which you can easily find in any craft store or online), a pot, (optional) pure essential oils for scent, and a stove-top (or make homemade candles in slow-cooker). 

Course DIY

Cuisine American

Keyword DIY candles, Homemade Candles, how to make candles

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes minutes

Servings 2 candles

Author Kristin Marr

Cost $4-5 each candle

Equipment

• 1 small cooking pot/saucepan
• 1 wax melting cup such as: a medium-size glass bowl or metal bowl, tall glass measuring cup, or candle pourer
• 2 8-ounce jars such as: glass mason jars, jam jars, tin cans, tea cups, etc. Or use 4 4-ounce jars for smaller candles.
• 2 clothespins or mechanical pencils
• 2 small washcloths OPTIONAL, but helpful for insulating the jars to keep the wax from cracking while it cools
• 1 skewer or chopstick OPTIONAL, if adding fragrance to stir and combine the fragrance and wax

Ingredients

• 4 cups soy wax flakes or beeswax pellets
• 2 candle wicks with a metal base
• 60 drops essential oil of choice OPTIONAL, or fragrance oil (use the amount directed on package)
• 1/2-1 teaspoon dried herbs OPTIONAL, like dried lavender, rosemary, or crushed roses

Instructions

• Add water to the saucepan/pot, about 1/2 way full. Place your heat-safe bowl, tall glass measuring cup, or candle pourer either in the water or sitting on top of the water-filled pot (either way is safe). This is called the double boiler method, which keeps the wax out of direct contact with the heat source and avoids burning the wax. 
• Add the soy flakes or beeswax pellets to the bowl. Then turn the heat to medium-high, bringing the water in the saucepan to a lively simmer.
  
• Allow the wax to completely melt. This takes about 15 minutes (more or less). Soy wax melts much faster, beeswax pellets take a bit longer to melt. 
• Once the wax has melted, turn off the heat and dip the metal ends of the wicks in the hot wax. Place the wick ends in the center of each candle jar, pressing the metal ends down with a skewer or chop-stick until set at the base of the jar. The wax acts like glue, securing the metal end at the bottom of the candle jar.
• Gently straighten the wick and secure it at the mouth of the jar with a clothespin or the clip on a mechanical pencil (resting the pencil or clothespin on the top of the jar).
  
• Gently pour the wax into each jar. Place a towel (or parchment paper) underneath the jars to protect your countertop.
  
• To make scented candles, add the essential oil or candle fragrance oil to the wax. If desired, add a teaspoon of dried herbs. For fragrance oil, follow the instructions on the bottle for amount recommended. Using the skewer or chopstick, gently stir the candle to combine the fragrance and wax.
• Wrap the jars in the washcloths to prevent the wax from cooling too fast and shrinking or cracking. This step isn't mandatory, but helps if you're concerned about cracks which are purely cosmetic and can be fixed if they occur by adding more melted wax overtop to fill the crack.
• The candles will take about 30 minutes to fully set. But I recommend letting the candles rest for 24 hours. This rest time allows the candles time to cure before burning, giving you the best results!
• Once set, remove the clothespins and washcloths, and trim the top of the wicks to 1 inch. The candles are now ready to use and enjoy!
  

Notes

Wax Amount: 4 cups of soy wax flakes will make 2- 8 ounce candles. This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled. Simply add the 4 cups of soy flakes to your double-boiler. As the 4 cups begins to liquify, add more soy flakes as desired. 

Melting Pot: Purchase a medium-size glass mixing bowl, metal mixing bowl, tall glass measuring cup, or candle pourer. You’ll never be able to use this pot for anything other than candle making, as the wax will adhere to the pot and be difficult to scrape off and remove. 

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The post Simple DIY Homemade Candles for Beginners appeared first on Live Simply.

Before we start, I created the Natural Cleaning Challenge to help you easily ditch toxic cleaners and start using natural cleaning products in just 5 days. This challenge is completely free and packed full of helpful information. Over 5 days, via email, I’ll walk you through what to avoid in cleaning products (even the “natural” and “green” ones can have icky ingredients so I’ll give you the tools to see through the marketing gimmicks), how to stock a natural cleaning caddy, and a few essential DIY cleaning recipes.

11 Natural Cleaning Product Swaps Anyone Can Make Today

The 11 swaps on today’s list are designed to serve as a guide for everyone making the switch to natural cleaning products, whether you’re just starting out or have already made some swaps. Why focus on making these natural product swaps? Most of the products on this list are products that many people use the home on a regular basis. Since they’re a “regular” product, this means they’re being sprayed, poured, and burned (like candles) on a daily or weekly basis.

Swap 1: Air Fresheners

Add essential oils to homemade cleaning products, add an essential oil or blend of different essential oils to an essential oil diffuser (this is my favorite), create a simmer pot on the stove-top using rosemary, cinnamon sticks, orange peels and water then simmer the mixture on a low simmer (do not leave unattended). If you’re new to essential oils, check out this podcast episode on essential oils 101.

Swap 2: Scented Candles

Make beeswax or soy candles (use this slow-cooker method, make candles on the stove-top, or make super easy taper candles) or buy 100% beeswax or soy candles that are unscented or use essential oils for a scent.

Swap 3: Fragranced Laundry Detergents

Use fragrance-free laundry soap, choose a brand that uses essential oils for scent and fully discloses ingredients (my favorite non-toxic laundry soap brands), or make your own laundry soap (try this liquid laundry soap recipe or this powder soap recipe).

Swap 4: Bleach

Use a homemade bleach alternative for whitening garments, for surfaces use an all purpose cleaner spray (I love this vinegar all purpose cleaner or this no-vinegar all purpose cleaner), and for the toilet use this homemade toilet bowl cleaner.

Swap 5: Store-Bought All Purpose Cleaner

Make your own all purpose cleaner with either castile soap or vinegar. It’s one of the easiest DIY swaps you can make to clean a variety of surfaces.

For an all purpose vinegar cleaner, combine 1 cup distilled water, 1 cup white vinegar or homemade orange vinegar, 15-20 drops essential oil of choice (if desired). Add all the ingredients to a glass spray bottle. For an all purpose cleaner without vinegar, add 2 cups distilled water to a glass spray bottle, followed by 2 tablespoons liquid castile soap or 1 teaspoon Sal Suds and 15-20 drops essential oil of choice (if desired). If you prefer the store-bought route, check out this post for my top non-toxic all purpose cleaner suggestions.

Swap 6: Windex

Use a spray made with rubbing alcohol, vinegar, and distilled water to clean windows, mirrors, and even stainless surfaces. Make a glass and mirror cleaner by combining 1/2 cup rubbing alcohol and 1/3 cup white vinegar in a 16-ounce spray bottle, then top off the bottle with distilled water. If you’d prefer to not use rubbing alcohol, skip it and use 1/2 cup of vinegar instead. Spray on a glass surface and wipe with a microfiber cloth.

Swap 7: Easy Off Oven Cleaner

Use a combo of castile soap and baking soda. Mix the ingredients together until they form a paste, then use a sponge to apply the mixture to the interior surface of the oven. Let the mixture rest for 30 minutes or a few hours, then use a wet cloth to rinse the surface and follow up by spraying the surface with vinegar and wiping clean until all residue has been removed.

Swap 8: Pledge or PineSol Floor Cleaner

Fill a bucket with water and castile soap or vinegar to wash hard floors. Here’s my favorite hard floor cleaner with vinegar and my favorite hard floor cleaner with castile soap.

Swap 9: Dawn Dish Soap

Make a Sal Suds dish soap or castile soap dish soap or use a non-toxic brand (such as Seventh Generation–> here’s a list of my favorite non-toxic dish soap and dishwasher options).

Swap 10: Cascade Dishwasher Detergent

Use a non-toxic brand (such as Ecover or Better Life–> here’s a list of my favorite non-toxic options) or make your own (I share a recipe in DIY Natural Cleaning).

Swap 11: Dryer Sheets

Use fragrance-free dryer sheets (Seventh Generation is a good option) or wool dryer balls (make dryer balls or buy dryer balls). If you have an issue with static, which is common with polyester clothing, add a safety pin to a wool dryer ball to reduce this static.

I know a lot of people also use fabric softener. Choose a fabric softener that’s fragrance free or go the homemade route by making laundry softener salts or use vinegar.

7 Cleaning Ingredients to Avoid

In the US, cleaning companies are not required to disclose all of their ingredients (only active ingredients or “ingredients of known concern”). And the US Government doesn’t test cleaning products and doesn’t mandate that companies test them either. This all leads to a lot of confusion about cleaning products. I’ve compiled a list of 7 main cleaning ingredients to avoid to help you make informed choices about cleaning products. Check out that post here: 7 Cleaning Product Ingredients to Avoid.

The post 11 Natural Cleaning Product Swaps Anyone Can Make appeared first on Live Simply.

You may be thinking, “Wait, making homemade candles definitely sounds crafty.” Let me assure you, making your candles is incredibly easy to do. I’m here to show you how to make homemade candles the easy, mess-free, no-crafty-gene-required way.

Why Make Your Own Candles?

That’s the big question. Why not just buy candles? You certainly can do that, but I’m here to teach you how to make homemade candles. So let’s talk about the why.

There are a few reasons why you may want to make your own…

Reason 1: Reduce the Toxic Load From Conventional Candles 

Most conventional candles are made with paraffin, which is a petroleum based product that can give off toxic fumes. Homemade candles are made with either soy or beeswax (we’ll talk about this later).

Along with the paraffin, the other concern is fragrance. I’ve shared about the dangers of fragrance in the past. Most candles are scented which means that many different chemicals may be used to create that “one” scent and make it strong and long-lasting.

As the Environmental Working Group shares, “…fragrance formulas are considered to be among the top 5 known allergens, and can trigger asthma attacks. The same kinds of chemicals are often used for fragrances in cleaning products, scented candles, and air fresheners.”

I’m not here to preach perfection. I get lash extensions and paint my fingernails with nail polish that isn’t “clean.” I’m also very aware and intentional about reducing our overall toxic chemical load.

In our home, we use vinegar and castile soap to clean (because what we spray in our homes is inhaled), my skincare routine and makeup routine are made up of non-toxic products (because what goes on our skin is absorbed into the body), and we eat seasonal and local food (as much as possible, because how our food is grown and raised has an impact on our health).

Making candles (or buying them from sources that don’t use paraffin wax and use essential oils for the scent) is one way for us to lower the overall toxic load in our home.

Reason 2: They’re Super Easy to Make 

Making your own candles is incredibly easy. Easier than you may think. You can make quite a few candles at one time and since they don’t spoil or expire, you can store them away and pull out a new candle as needed throughout the year. So yes, there’s a time investment up front, but in the end you can make multiple candles in just over an hour.

Reason 3: Save Money by Making Your Own Candles 

If you’ve looked at non-toxic candle options on the market, whether we’re talking about soy or beeswax candles, you probably know that they are expensive.

Homemade candles are affordable. Yes, there’s an investment in the wax, the wicks, and the jars (you can use any heat-safe glass jars so you may have some already in your pantry). But once you have these ingredients, you can make multiple candles for the same price you might otherwise pay for just one from the store.

Supplies Needed to Make Your Own Candles

In order to make your own candles, you’ll need a few supplies. Now, as I mentioned above, there is an initial investment in purchasing these supplies, but once you have them, you can make multiple candles. All of the supplies can easily be found on Amazon (I’ve included links below) or at a craft store.

Beeswax or Soy

Paraffin is the most popular wax used to make candles, but since it’s derived from petroleum and can release toxic fumes we’re going to avoid this option.

I recommend using either soy wax or beeswax. Soy wax (a white wax) is made from soybean oil. Beeswax (a yellow or white wax) is a product made by honeybees. The color of beeswax depends on the type of honey produced by the bees and the pollen. The color has nothing to do with the purity of the beeswax. Making candles is the same process, no matter which wax you prefer to use. So the tutorial below is applicable to both beeswax and soy. One thing to note, beeswax can be more expensive, so if you’re wanting to keep the cost to a minimum, soy is the more affordable option.

Jars or Containers 

You can use a variety of jars or containers as long as the jars can withstand heat. I recommend mason jars, particularly the 4-ounce size. The best place to buy Mason jars is at Target, Walmart, or a grocery store. They are quite expensive on Amazon.

Wicks

For wicks, I recommend two options: hemp or cotton. Since we’re making a non-toxic candle, it’s important to avoid wicks made with lead. Whatever option you choose, make sure the wick includes a metal base as this makes it easier to position the wicks in the melted wax.

Fragrance

If you want to add a scent to your candles, there are two options: fragrance oils or essential oils.

For the cleanest, non-toxic option, I recommend going with an essential oil or a blend of essential oils. Essential oils aren’t as powerful as fragrance oils since they don’t have any chemicals added to make the scent stronger and longer lasting. Fragrance oils are the strongest option. I can’t tell what goes into making fragrance oils, so if you go with this option you may want to call the company first and ask for a disclosure of ingredients.

Slow-Cooker

I’ve experimented with various methods for making candles and the best way to make homemade candles is the slow-cooker method.

How to Make Your Own Candles

There are multiple ways to go about making homemade candles.

Method 1: Stove-Top Candles

First, melt the wax in a pitcher or bowl. To do this, set the bowl over a double boiler pot (a pot filled with a couple of inches of water) and set the pitcher or bowl over top. The pitcher or bowl will not cleanup well, as wax is impossible to remove once you’re done, so this pitcher or bowl will forever be your wax-melting container. Once the wax is melted, position a wick in each jar. Pour the melted wax into the jars until full. Add the essential oil and allow the wax to fully cool until it hardens. If you want to use this method, click here for the tutorial.

Method 2: Beeswax Sheets for Taper Candles

This is the easiest method for making homemade candles. Purchase beeswax sheets (which usually includes wicks). Cut the wicks to fit the sheets and roll-up the sheets. So easy! This is a great project for kids. If you want to use this method, click here for the tutorial.

Method 3: Slow-Cooker Candles

With the slow-cooker method, you don’t get the mess that you get when you melt wax in a bowl or pitcher. To make slow-cooker candles, pour wax into jars. Place the filled jars in the slow-cooker base. Turn the slow-cooker on high and add boiling water to the slow-cooker until it comes half-way up the exterior of the jars. Allow the jars to “cook” for 30-45 minutes, covered. After 30-45 minutes, the wax should begin melting. Add more wax. Place the lid on the slow-cooker and “cook” the jars for another hour or until fully melted (soy melts quickly, beeswax takes longer). Remove the jars from the slow-cooker and place a wick in the melted wax. Allow the jars to fully cool until the wax hardens. This is the method I’ll show you in the tutorial, below.

Whatever method you choose, I think you’ll find making candles to be therapeutic and also an incredibly beautiful way to make gifts, or to enjoy in your own home.

Print

Homemade Candles

How to make homemade candles in a slow-cooker. The easy, mess-free way to make homemade candles. Make as many candles as will fit in your slow-cooker.

Course DIY

Cuisine Cleaning

Keyword Homemade Candles

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time 1 hour hour 30 minutes minutes

Cooling Time 40 minutes minutes

Total Time 1 hour hour 50 minutes minutes

Servings 1 candle (make as many as desired–see notes)

Author Kristin Marr

Ingredients

Special Equipment:

• slow-cooker
• 4 ounce mason jars heat-safe jars

Per 4-Ounce Mason Jar:

• 1 1/2 cups wax soy (180g) or beeswax (120g), divided
• boiling water
• cotton or hemp wicks
• 1 tsp coconut oil melted, optional
• 50 drops essential oil optional

Instructions

• Spoon the wax of choice into the jars. Using the back of a small measuring cup or large spoon, press the wax down into the jar as it gets closer to the top. Add more wax until the jars are full. At this point, you'll probably only need about 1 cup of wax per jar.
• Place the filled jars in the slow-cooker base. Turn the slow-cooker on high. Add boiling water to the slow cooker, until it comes halfway up the exterior of the jars. 
• Allow the jars to “cook” for 30-45 minutes, covered. 
• After 30-45 minutes, the wax should begin melting. Add more wax, pressing the wax down with a small measuring cup or spoon until full. Place the lid on the slow-cooker and "cook" the jars for another hour or until fully melted (soy melts quickly, beeswax takes longer to melt).
• Carefully remove the jars from the slow-cooker using a hot pad holder or a towel. Let the candles rest for 10 minutes.
• For Fragrance: If you'd like to add an essential oil, in a small bowl, stir together 1 tsp of liquid coconut oil and 50 drops of essential oil. Pour the mixture into the candles and stir. If you're using fragrance oil, no coconut oil is needed–follow the instructions from the supplier.
• Place one wick in each jar, holding up the tops of the wicks with clothespins or mechanical pencils or pens using the clip portion. This will keep the wicks from moving in the liquid wax.
• Let the candles rest until cool and solid (about 30 minutes). 
• Once cool and solid, cut the top of the wicks to 1-inch. The candles are ready to use. If any holes appear at the top of the wax (this can happen when the candles cool too quickly), melt more wax in a separate jar and pour into the holes to fill. The holes are just a cosmetic issue.

Notes

The number of candles you can make at one time will depend on the size of your slow-cooker. My slow-cooker fits 5 4-ounce jars. 

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One of the easiest ways to create a healthier home is to swap out commercial air fresheners with non-toxic options. Below, you’ll find 6 totally-natural, non-toxic air fresheners.

Are Air Fresheners Healthy?

According to the National Research Defense Council, “The federal government does not currently test air fresheners for safety or require manufacturers to meet any specific safety standards.”

The Defense Council tested 14 brands of air fresheners and found that 12 of the products contained phthalates, a man-made chemical that can be used in plastics and fragranced cleaning and cosmetic products. Some forms are believed to disrupt hormones (listen to this podcast episode about hormones and detoxing), cause reproductive health issues, be carcinogenic, and may be linked to asthma.

And this is JUST ONE concerning ingredient.

The US Government’s National Toxicology Program warns that plug-in air fresheners release formaldehyde, which is a known human carcinogen.

We’re not going to spend our time talking about the harmful side of conventional air fresheners, because today we’re going to focus on the change we can make: safe-for-you, DIY air fresheners. If you want to learn more about the harmful ingredients used in air fresheners, check out this article.

6 DIY Natural Air Fresheners

Below, you’ll find a list of natural air fresheners for a fresh, healthier home. Don’t let the word “DIY” scare you away. Some options don’t require any mixing or craftiness, while others do require some easy DIYing.

You may want to use one air freshener or multiple in your home. Keep in mind, a natural air freshener will not contain the strong, long-lasting fragrance that you’ll find with most air freshener products sold in stores. This is because these products do not contain toxic chemicals that cause scents to linger. Natural scents will dissipate over time and will add a subtle scent to a room.

1. Beeswax Candles

A cozy way to purify the air in your home. Buy beeswax candles from local markets or make them yourself. They’re super easy to make: try the slow-cooker method, stove-top method, or taper candles. If you want to scent your candles, add an essential oil (naturally derived from plants).

2. Live Plants

Plants not only add beauty to a space, but also purify the air. Even if you don’t have a “green thumb” you can still add a couple of plants. I’ve had great success with the ZZ Plant and Monstera Delicioso (both work in spaces without a ton of direct sunlight).

3. Diffuser

This is my favorite way to scent my home. Add a few drops of an essential oil or blend of essential oils to an essential oil diffuser. My favorite oil blends to diffuse for fall: Harvest Moon and Pumpkin Pie.

4. Simmer Pots 

Add cinnamon sticks, orange or lemon rinds, whole cloves, and/or fresh rosemary or eucalyptus to a pot of water and simmer on your stove-top. The simmer will freshen the air in your home and add a wonderful scent.

5. Vodka Air Freshener

Make your own air freshener spray with vodka and essential oils or spices. Try this recipe for an essential oil vodka spray (4 ways!) and this recipe for a spray using oranges and herbs.

6. Baking Soda

Baking soda is a great odor-absorber. Sprinkle baking soda on carpets, rugs, or a mattress. Let rest for 20-30 minutes, then vacuum. Add an essential oil to the baking soda if desired for scent.

Essential Oils Note: If you have animals in your home, do your research about which essentials are best to use and not use around your pets.

The post 6 DIY Natural Air Fresheners For a Fresh Home appeared first on Live Simply.

If you’ve ever made candles before (or you’ve read my tutorials on how to make candles), you know that making candles isn’t exactly kid-friendly. Making candles means working with HOT wax, whether you go the slow-cooker route or stove-top route. Most mothers (myself included) don’t want their children around glass jars filled with HOT wax.

When I learned about beeswax sheets, and how the sheets can be used to make (no heat required) candles , I had to find some.

A few months ago, I purchased beeswax sheets and wick “string” on Amazon. I tried making two beeswax candles by myself, using the sheets and wick string, before inviting the kids to help me. I was amazed at how easy the process was–no heating, no hot wax, no dirty tools, no slow-cooker, no dipping, no fuss. It took me 5 minutes to make 2 candles, and that’s only because I went super slow with my first one. With two candles in my hand, I decided to order more sheets and wick string. This time, I went with a “kit” (just sheets and wick packaged together).

Yesterday, I asked the kids if they would like to help me make candles for our family. My daughter eagerly cheered, “Yes, I want to help!” Piper wasn’t so sure about the opportunity. Londyn is definitely my crafty kid.

I taught and guided Londyn through the process: how to measure the wick string on the beeswax sheet, cut the wick, press the wick down in the beeswax, and then roll the candle. Piper was intrigued, and decided to join us after Londyn made her first candle.

After about 30 minutes, 6 hand-rolled, made-with-love candles were scattered across our kitchen table. The kids were so proud of their work, and they’re excited to gift our family members with their special presents come Thanksgiving Day.

I shared the process over on Instagram yesterday (Instagram Story) and so many reader friends expressed a shared excitement about this project. So, here we are today, talking about how to make (the easiest) beeswax taper candles.

These candles are perfect to make for the holidays and pass out to teachers, family members, or any special (adult) friends. The taper candles are also beautiful to display in your own home, and enjoy throughout the holiday season. I think these candles would be beautiful (non-toxic) candles to display and burn at a holiday table, too. The candles are also a great way for little people to practice fine motor skills: pressing the wick into the wax and tightly rolling the candle.

Print

How to Make Beeswax Taper Candles

The easiest way to make beeswax taper candles. 

Course DIY

Keyword Beeswax Taper Candles

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 5 minutes minutes

Servings 2 candles per beeswax sheet

Author Kristin Marr

Ingredients

• 1 beeswax candle kit *
• scissors

Instructions

• Cut a sheet of beeswax in half to make a standard-size taper candle. 
• Measure the wick “string” against a cut (halved) sheet of beeswax, making sure there’s an additional 1″ of wick at the very top of the candle. Use scissors to cut the wick. 
• Press the wick into the beeswax sheet. Remember, there should be about 1″ of wick “overflowing” at the top. 
• Tightly fold the beeswax sheet over the wick to secure the wick in place, then continue rolling the sheet to make a candle. 
• Repeat the steps above to make multiple candles. One sheet of halved beeswax will make two candles. 
• Once rolled, the candle is ready to use. I use a mini glass jug from Crate and Barrel to display and burn my candles. My mom used a taper candle holder to display the candle we made her, and the candle fit perfectly. 
• Light and burn the candle as you would with any taper candle. The tighter the candle is rolled, the slower it will burn. 

Notes

*I’ve found that a kit (just beeswax sheets and wick) is the most affordable route. If you’d preferred to skip a kit, you’ll need to purchase beeswax sheets (Amazon, or a local beekeeper or market) and cotton wicks. 

The beeswax sheets I’ve worked with have all been very pliable. If you happen to have sheets that are stiff, try using a blow dryer to warm up the sheets so they’re easy to handle. I like to cover my table (or any surface being used) with craft paper, a brown paper bag, or some kind of cover to keep the beeswax from sticking to the surface. 

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Contributor Post written by Kimberly from Turning it Home. Photos updated in December 2015. 

Making products at home can be very gratifying, and beeswax candles are no exception to that. I recently discovered that burning beeswax candles can aid in cleaning the air. As a nesting pregnant woman on a mission to eliminate all things dirty, I knew I needed some in my life.

Candle making seems intimidating but isn’t actually all that difficult. You’ll need a container to hold your candle in, a candle wick, some beeswax, and a double broiler (or a glass bowl set on top of a saucepan) to melt the wax in. One thing I love about beeswax candles is the subtle pleasant scent they have. If you want to make a stronger scented candle, you’ll want to have some essential oil on hand.

Since I frequent thrift stores, I like to keep my eye out for things I can use for crafty purposes. I found these vintage Jell-O molds and knew they would make perfect candle containers. Virtually anything metal or glass can be turned into a candle container, so have fun with it!

Also, let’s talk about candle wicks. I attempted to make my own candle wick by using cotton twine dipped in wax and it failed miserably. Learn from my mistake and buy those nice pre-made candle wicks with the metal bottom. Apparently, beeswax candles do best with larger wicks.

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Beeswax Candle

One thing I love about beeswax candles is the subtle pleasant scent they have. 

Course DIY

Cuisine Crafts

Keyword Beeswax Candle

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 10 minutes minutes

Servings 1 Candle

Author Kristin Marr

Ingredients

• 1 pound beeswax 1 pound of wax will equal about 20 melted ounces
• wicks with a metal base
• candle container
• 15-20 drops essential oil the amount of essential oil(s) used will depend on the size of the candle and the scent desired., optional
• double broiler or a glass bowl set over a pot of water
• skewer pencil, or clothespin

Instructions

• Begin by melting your beeswax in a double boiler over medium heat. If you don't have a double boiler, you can use a large glass or metal bowl set over a pot of boiling water.
• Once the beeswax is melted, dip the metal base of the candle wick into the wax and set it into the candle container. Roll the excess wick around a wooden skewer or pencil and set it on top of the container. Alternatively, you can use a clothespin. This will help the wick to stay in place while you pour the wax.
• If you would like to add essential oils, add the desire amount to the melted beeswax before pouring it into the container.
• Slowly and carefully pour the wax into the container.
• Allow the candle to cool completely. Once set, trim the wick to 1-inch above the wax.

Notes

The “where to buy” links provide links to the actual products I use. As always, I recommend shopping around online and at local stores for the best prices and products you love. Find my favorite DIY ingredients and tools, here.

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