The flickering light of a candle will make us feel warmer and cozier in the cold winter. Especially, I like the golden color and subtle honey scent of a beeswax candle, which makes my home delightful. This preference grew when I learned that many candles we purchase from stores release carcinogens like toluene. So, through trial and error, I learned how to make beeswax candles by myself. It’s so easy, so I would like to share it with you.
Can I Add Scent Like Essential Oils to My Handmade Beeswax Candles?
Yes, you can add essential oils. However, the beeswax itself has a very subtle honey scent. So, unlike handmade soy candles, you’d better pick up strong candle scents, like lemongrass, peppermint, etc., to make it smell the other way.
Besides that, you can also add some coconut oil to the pure beeswax to make it hold fragrance better.
If you don’t like strong scents, then I think the natural sweet scent of beeswax is also delightful.
Raw Beeswax or Pellets?
Both are OK. In this recipe, I will use beeswax pellets, which are time- and effort-saving.
If you have bees at home or you can buy raw beeswax from a local beekeeper, you need to filter the raw beeswax at first for DIY candle-making.
If you have a whole block of beeswax, you can shred it into small flakes with a cheese grater.
Besides, some candle-making suppliers are also selling white beeswax, which allows you to make colorful beeswax candles more easily.
Where to Buy Beeswax for Candle-making?
You can buy raw beeswax from beekeepers near you. You can buy any type of beeswax (raw, pellets, or blocks) from a candle-making supplies store online or locally. We recommend a beeswax candle-making kit that contains ready-to-use beeswax for candle-making.
How Much Beeswax Do I Need?
It depends on the sizes and quantities of candle containers you plan to use. You can follow our tutorial to calculate how much wax per candle you need. In my video tutorial below, I only made one beeswax candle just for an example.
What Candle Making Supplies do I Need to Make Beeswax Candles?
If you have a beeswax candle making kit, you’ll have everything. Generally, you’ll need:
- Beeswax
- Coconut oil (optional)
- Candle containers
- Wicks
- Wick holders
- Glue dots
- Wax melting pot
- Essential oils or fragrance oils (optional)
- Color dyes (optional)
- Stirring stick
How to Make Scented Beeswax Candles?
Video Tutorial: How to Make Your Own Beeswax Candles, Step by Step
Before making beeswax candles, you need to prepare a flat surface as your workstation. Cover it with a tablecloth or old newspapers.
Now, let’s start making beeswax candles with this beeswax candle-making kit.
Step 1: Measure beeswax.
Usually, I’d like to fill all the containers with beeswax, then double the quantity. It’s time-saving. To be more accurate, please follow our tutorial to calculate the weight of beeswax you’ll need.
Step 2: Melt beeswax pellets.
Fill a bigger pan with water and put it on the stove. Pour the beeswax pellets into the melting pot and then place them in the pan. While heating the water, keep stirring the melting beeswax with a spoon or other suitable utensils.
It would also be beneficial to have a double boiler.
PS: Don’t heat beeswax above the temperature of 200°F.
Read more: 4 Methods to Melt Wax to Make Candles at Home
Step 3 (optional): Add coconut oil to the melted beeswax.
If you want to make scented beeswax candles that hold fragrance better, do add some coconut oil. Generally, you can add ½ cup of coconut oil to 1 pound of beeswax.
After adding coconut oil, keep stirring until the two mix completely.
Step 4 (optional): Add essential/fragrance oils to the melted beeswax.
If you prefer the natural scent of beeswax, you can skip this step.
To make scented beeswax candles, please first calculate how much fragrance oil to use.
Remove the melted beeswax from the heat and allow it to cool slightly. When the temperature cools down to 160~165°F, you can add fragrances to the melted beeswax. Keep stirring.
You can also replace fragrance oils with essential oils. Add more (usually 30-50 drops) to make the beeswax candles scented stronger.
Step 5: Prepare the containers.
Pro tip: If you’re a beginner at candle-making, it’s better to prepare containers before melting the beeswax. Also, if you have many containers to pour, you can also prepare at first.
You can repurpose the mason jars, or glass or metal containers to hold beeswax candles. If you have more or less beeswax, use more or fewer containers. So, do the calculation before melting the beeswax.
Place a wick at the bottom center of a container with a glue dot or super glue, glue gun, or whatever. Then secure the wick with the wick holder. You can also do this with a chopstick, a pencil, or a cloth pin. Such simple candle-making equipment will keep the wick in the center of the container while pouring the melted beeswax and hardening.
Step 6: Pour the melted beeswax into the containers.
Pour the beeswax and fragrances mixture between 140 to 160°F. Pour it slowly and steadily and leave about one inch of room from the top.
Step 7: Harden the beeswax candles.
Put the beeswax candles aside and allow them to cool for at least 24 hours. When they are completely hardened, trim the wick to about ¼ inch.
Here is a trick when hardening the handmade beeswax candles. It’s better to place the candle container in a warm area to slow down the cooling speed. It will reduce the wax crack while hardening.
Step 8: Light your beeswax candles.
Now you can light your handmade beeswax candles and enjoy the soothing and cozy ambiance they bring.
How to Clean Up after Making Beeswax Candles?
It’s not as easy as cleaning up other candle wax after making candles. To clean up beeswax, you can put the containers into hot water and heat them for a moment. When the beeswax completely melts, wipe it away with rubbing alcohol and paper towels. Please keep an eye on the fire if you’re heating a glass jar.
Conclusion
Making beeswax candles at home is very easy. Don’t hesitate, just go and make your beeswax candles.
FAQ about How to Make Beeswax Candles
Q: Why Add the Coconut Oil to Beeswax Candles?
A: As mentioned above, coconut oil will help beeswax hold the fragrance better. Besides, coconut oil can help beeswax candles burn more consistently. However, you can make pure beeswax candles by adding nothing.
Q: What can I do with My Leftover Beeswax?
A: Beeswax is great for moisturizing. So, if you have beeswax left after making candles, you can also make lip balms, hand cream, homemade crayons, etc.
Q: Will My Beeswax Candles Go Rancid Like Soy Candles or Palm Candles?
A: No.
Q: Can You Make Candles with 100% Beeswax?
A: Absolutely. Beeswax candles can date back thousands of years to Ancient Egypt. 100% beeswax is natural and healthy. It burns much longer than soy wax candles and paraffin candles. Beeswax can be used for any candle. Read more about how to choose candle wax >>
Q: Is It Cheaper to Make Beeswax Candles than to Buy?
A: It’s cheaper to make your beeswax candles at home.
Feel free to share your ideas about making beeswax candles below.
