How to Make Homemade Beeswax candles

There are few things that scream “cozy” quite like burning a candle. Learn how to make these simple homemade beeswax candles! These already have a wonderful natural scent, but you can add essential oils for your favorites!

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I have always loved burning candles; I love the warm lighting, the scents, and the cozy feeling it gives a home. I have heard for years about how harmful the wax and wicks can be, letting off toxins into the air that we are breathing in. Not just us, but our children and pets as well!

So with that, I just stopped burning candles unless it was a Christmas candle around that time of year; And It was always with the guilt in the back of my mind that I was burning toxins in my home.

We are not a toxic-free household by any means, but I try to slowly switch out products towards a more natural lifestyle. So I switched to diffusing essential oils to achieve the scents I wanted in my home but was left longing for that extra cozy feeling I could only from candles.

Do not let the fear of candlemaking stop you! I promise it is so much easier than you think. I remember being around 10 years old and seeing my mom and grandma making candles in the kitchen and thinking that the process was not as difficult as I had imagined.

It is basically melt; glue wick; pour. Nonetheless, I will give detailed instructions so it feels as though I am teaching something. And whether you make them for gifts or just your home, they will definitely be impressed with your newfound skill.

Homemade Beeswax Candles Recipe

Supplies

• 1 pound beeswax
• 1/2 cup coconut oil
• 6 4oz mason jars or 3 1/2 pint mason jars
• Candle wicks
• Large glass jar/bowl or metal pitcher
• Large pot
• Wooden Skewers or pencils
• Essential oils (optional)

Instructions

1. Add beeswax to large glass bowl or jar. I suggest choosing one that you can designate for beeswax projects. It is almost impossible to get beeswax out of dishes. Another option is a metal pitcher or old coffee tin so you can throw it away afterwards if you please.

2. Place the container into a large pot of water and bring to a boil. This is how you will double boil your wax! On medium heat, stir occasionally until all the beeswax is melted. Be careful not to splash any water into the beeswax.

3. After the beeswax has completely melted, remove from the heat and stir in the coconut oil.

4. Add in 30-50 drops of essential oils of choice (optional)

5. Glue a wick to the bottom of your candle jars and fill with melted wax and coconut oil. Leave about an inch of room at the top of the jar

6. Using a pencil, or wooden skewer, wrap the other end of the wick around it and lay it horizontally across the top of the jar to keep the wick centered during the hardening process.

7. Once the wax is completely hardened, trim the wick (should be about half an inch long) and your candle is ready to light!

Beeswax candles burntime

Beeswax burns longer than any other wax! So each 4 oz candle should burn for about 20-22 hours. I made mine months ago and they still sit on my dining table and are only burned about half way!

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How to Make Homemade Beeswax Candles

There are few things that scream “cozy” quite like burning a candle. Learn how to make these simple homemade beeswax candles!

Equipment

• 6 4oz mason jars or 3 1/2 pint mason jars
• 6 Candle wicks
• 1 Large glass jar/bowl or metal pitcher
• 1 Large pot
• 6 Wooden Skewers or pencils
• 30-50 drops Essential oils optional

Materials

• 1 pound beeswax
• 1/2 cup coconut oil

Instructions

• Add beeswax to large glass bowl or jar. I suggest choosing one that you can designate for beeswax projects. It is almost impossible to get beeswax out of dishes. Another option is a metal pitcher or old coffee tin so you can throw it away afterwards if you please.
• Place the container into a large pot of water and bring to a boil. This is how you will double boil your wax! On medium heat, stir occasionally until all the beeswax is melted. Be careful not to splash any water into the beeswax.
• After the beeswax has completely melted, remove from the heat and stir in the coconut oil.
• Add in 30-50 drops of essential oils of choice (optional)
• Glue a wick to the bottom of your candle jars and fill with melted wax and coconut oil. Leave about an inch of room at the top of the jar
• Using a pencil, or wooden skewer, wrap the other end of the wick around it and lay it horizontally across the top of the jar to keep the wick centered during the hardening process.
• Once the wax is completely hardened, trim the wick (should be about half an inch long) and your candle is ready to light!

Notes

• It may take 24-48 hours for your candles to fully harden. Make sure it is fully hardened before lighting to get the longest burn time
• If the candlewick sparks or smokes when you go to light your candle for the first time, just blow it out and re-cut your wick.
• If you cut your wick too much shorter than 1/2 inch, the candle will burn in a tunnel shape.
• It is more cost effective to diffuse your oils than use so much in the candle. But if you choose to add oils, be sure to add it once the wax has cooled to around 125 degrees.
• Beeswax should not be burned for short periods of time to prevent tunneling altogether. It may take 2-4 hours of burning for the wax to melt to the edge of the jar. This will encourage a more even burn.

Best Scents for Beeswax Candles

Here is a short list of the best essential oil scents for beeswax candles! (These are in no particular order)

• Orange
• Rosemary
• Cinnamon
• Cedarwood
• Peppermint
• Frankincense
• Clove
• Pine
• Grapefruit
• Sandalwood
• Lavender
• Lemon
• Eucalyptus

Notes

• The coconut oil can be omitted for a pure beeswax candle, but there are benefits to adding coconut oil to beeswax candles.
• It may take 24-48 hours for your candles to fully harden. Make sure it is fully hardened before lighting to get the longest burn time
• If you’ve never made anything with beeswax before, then just be sure to use things you can throw away or save for all of your beeswax DIYs.
• If the candlewick sparks or smokes when you go to light your candle for the first time, just blow it out and re-cut your wick.
• If you cut your wick too much shorter than 1/2 inch, the candle will burn in a tunnel shape.
• You can use anything as a candle base! Just make sure it is heat resistant and this is where you can get creative
• It is more cost effective to diffuse your oils than use so much in the candle. But if you choose to add oils, be sure to add it once the wax has cooled to around 125 degrees.
• Beeswax should not be burned for short periods of time to prevent tunneling altogether. It may take 2-4 hours of burning for the wax to melt to the edge of the jar. This will encourage a more even burn.

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