I have to tell you that I figured out how to make beeswax candles entirely by accident. Several months back, I was trying unsuccessfully to make a salve. But, instead of using the proper carrier oil (like a coconut or olive oil), I used vegetable glycerin. I was so excited to make a soothing sage and nettle salve, but the beeswax never fully mixed with the oil. Once I realized my mistake, I got to work figuring out how to salvage my ingredients and *aha!* I knew it - beeswax candles! I think those are my favorite moments of dabbling. I go into a project determined to figure it out, totally mess up, and create another completely unexpected masterpiece instead. The best.
The concept for making beeswax is fairly simple. Take your beeswax, melt it down, and pour into your container of choice with a wick. In my case, I had beeswax pastilles, an empty honey jar,a cotton string serving as a wick, and a chopstick to secure it. Let's go!
UPDATE: I've learned 2 things since originally posting this. The first is that beeswax will usually crack on you if you don't add in a bit of coconut or olive oil to the mix. I usually add in about 1 tbsp. The second is that adding in just any essential oil to hot wax can be a recipe for fire down the road. So if you are adding fragrance, be sure they are high quality blended oils.
Homemade Beeswax Candles
- Beeswax Pastilles (I used 1/2c.)
- Glass jar(s)
- Cotton wick
- Chopstick
Wash out your jar and dry thoroughly. Cut your wick to the size of the jar, leaving a bit extra to tie around the chopstick. Tie the wick on the chopstick and place it over the jar to make sure the wick stays in the center. In a double boiler, melt down the beeswax pastilles until fully liquid. Gently pour your liquid beeswax around the wick until it gets to the top of the jar. Let sit until the wax is fully cooled and hardened. Remove the chopstick and trim the wick to your liking.
Nice! Happy mistake!
Can you add essential oils for fragrance?
You certainly can, but I encourage you to research them to find out if high heat makes them more unstable.
Why do my candles always crack?
I’ve read this before, but have never encountered it. It might be the heat and type of beeswax you’re using. It’s best to add in a small amount of coconut oil oil to help smooth the mixture out and prevent cracking.
If “Necessity is the Mother of Invention”, then Accident is the Father. Bravo for being innovative! I assume you burn the candle in the jar? I have a number of tall olive jars I’ve been trying to think of a novel way to use them. This sounds like just the trick.
I read on another site: if you heat something up like melting wax for candles if the heat is to hot….the essential oil will loose a lot of it’s scent from the high heat…you have to put it in when it’s cooled some… from what i read..this is the exact thing they said:
Essential oils have certain evaporation points- add the volatile oils ( the great smelling stuff) will be released in a sort if scent wave and there will be very little scent left in the soap !!! SO what’s the deal?
Absolutely going to try this. I burn candles all the time. Just think how much money I could save making my own (and how much healthier)
So you really can use cotton string for a wick? Should you wax it first?
Can you add different scents to these such a lavender oil for example?
You sure can! Just make sure the mixture isn’t too hot.
thank you for this. I was looking for a way to make my own candles. and I found it.
Never mix pure essential oils into a candle mixture. It’s a good way to start a fire. Only use premium blended oils specially made for candle making. Pure bee wax will always crack, you can add a little coconut or olive oil to stop this happening. Generally if you melt your beewax in a slow cooker, it will be at the right temperature to add fragrances. Slow cooker is the only way with me to avoid flash point.
Thanks for the wisdom, Veronica!