DIY Beeswax Candles
Today’s tutorial: DIY beeswax candles. The soft glow of a candle while I get breakfast going is an indulgence I enjoy, but don’t often do. Candles are notorious for giving me headaches and are known to put out harmful carcinogens. However, we’ve recently learned that beeswax candles are not only safe for use, but actually emit negative ions into the air which purifies rather than pollutes!
Since this is the first year with our honey bees, our candles are a combination of wax from our hives, as well as, beeswax I bought on Amazon. (If you are working with your own hives, here’s a quick tutorial on how to render beeswax.)
The first purchase from Amazon were the blocks of beeswax. And for the second batch, I got a 5lb bag of the beeswax pellets. Out of the two, the pellets were more convenient and easier to work with. (Amazon affiliate links.)
This DIY post is written and tested by a real person. No AI was used in the making of this post. Enjoy!
Tools You Will Need to Make DIY Beeswax Candles
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- Beeswax (Pellets or Blocks)
- Coconut Oil (cold pressed, organic)
- Double boiler (or make shift one, see tips)
- 6″ Candle Wicks
- Hot glue gun or wick stickers
- Clothespins or pencils (for holding the wick straight)
Tips for Making DIY Beeswax Candles
This post contains Amazon Affiliate Links. I may earn a commission from sales made. Thank you!
- Types of Beeswax – Find a pure beeswax either in pellet or block form. (Here’s the natural beeswax that I found on Amazon.)
- Coconut oil – Coconut oil helps retain the fragrance and prevent cracking.
- Make-shift Double boiler – If you don’t have a double boiler, you can use a pot of water and another heat-safe bowl that sit inside. This set up helps the wax to melt slowly so that the compounds are not damaged.
- Pouring Spout or Funnel – If I could change one thing about this process, it would have been to use a bowl with a pour spout. I made quite a mess pouring the wax into the jars, that could have easily been prevented had I used a container with a pour spout. Another option could be a funnel of some kind.
- Jars – You can use any jar that you have around the house. I used a variety of mason jars that I had on hand. (This recipes makes approximately 24 ounces.)
- Prepping Wicks – I used 6 inch 100% cotton wicks and secured the wick to the bottom of the jar using a drop of hot glue. Then, I used a clothespin to keep the wick straight while the wax was drying. (You can also use a pencil for this purpose, if the mouth of your jar is wider.)
Ways to Prevent Tunneling or Cracking in Your Beeswax Candles
Sometimes there can be tunneling or cracking of the wax once it has hardened. I found that the coconut oil helps to minimize this issue. However, here are three additional ways to help with tunneling or cracking:
- Place your poured candles into a low preheated oven (170 degrees), close the door, then turn the oven off. This prevents the candle from hardening too quickly.
- Another thing you can try is to poke a couple relief holes in the surface (around the wick) while it is hardening. Then, once the candle is hardened, you can pour a finishing layer of melted wax over the surface to create a nice smooth finish.
- Use a heat gun to remelt the wax after it has already been poured.
Adding Scents To Your DIY Beeswax Candle
Essential Oils – You can use any combination of essential oils to scent your candles. I found that 30-35 drops was sufficient for a small candle. (You can adjust per preference.) Some combination ideas could include: lemon and lavender, cinnamon, or pine.
Milder Fragrance – Whether you use essential oils or plan to keep them plain, these beeswax candles will have a much milder (and healthier) fragrance than your typical store bought candles.
How to Manage Beeswax Cleanup
Beeswax is a beast to clean out of bowls or pans once it has hardened. I found that if I left my wax bowl in the double boiler and wiped it clean with paper towels as best as I could while the beeswax was melted, I could then remove the rest with hot soapy water.
My next suggestion for easier clean up, would be to have dedicated or disposable containers for candle making.
Materials Needed to make DIY Beeswax Candles
- 1 lb Pure beeswax (pellets or blocks)
- 1/2 cup Coconut oil
- Jars (makes 24 oz)
- 6″ Candle wicks
- Essential Oils (Optional)
How to make DIY Beeswax Candles
- Melt the beeswax and coconut oil in the double boiler.
- While the wax is melting, prep your jars and wicks. (I hot glued my wicks to the bottom of the jar, then centered the wick on the jar using a clothespin.)
- Once the beeswax and coconut oil is melted, you can add essential oils for fragrance, if desired. (I used about 1tsp per 8 ounces.)
- Promptly pour the wax mixture into the jars. (It will start to harden very quickly.)
- Let the wax harden and cure for about 24 hours.
- Trim the wicks (about 1/4inch long)
- Enjoy!
DIY Beeswax candles are a useful, natural, purifying, and beautiful. Try this simple DIY and see for yourself. If you love it, come back, comment on this post, and give it 5 stars! Thank you!
Check Out Some of My Other Favorite DIY Projects:
How to Press Flowers in a Book
DIY Beeswax Candles
Learn how to make these beautiful beeswax candles that purify rather than pollute the air. You can use essential oils to create a unique fragrance OR you can simply enjoy the soft glow of the flame along with the natural sweet smell of beeswax.
Instructions
1. Melt the beeswax and coconut oil in the double boiler.
2. While the wax is melting, prep your jars and wicks. (I hot glued my wicks to the bottom of the jar, then centered the wick on the jar using a clothespin.)
3. Once the beeswax and coconut oil is melted, remove from the heat and add essential oils for fragrance, if desired.
4. Promptly pour the wax mixture into the jars. (It will start to harden quickly.)
5. Let the wax harden.
6. Trim the wicks (about 1/4 long)
7. Enjoy!
Notes
Types of Beeswax - Find a pure beeswax either in pellet or block form.
Coconut oil - Coconut oil helps to retain the fragrance.
Makeshift Double boiler - If you don't have a double boiler, you can use a pot of water and another heat-safe bowl that sit inside. This set up helps the wax to melt slowly so that the compounds are not damaged.
Prepping Wicks - I used 6 inch 100% cotton wicks and secured the wick to the bottom of the jar using a drop of hot glue. Then, I used a clothespin to keep the wick straight while the wax was drying. (You can also use a pencil for this purpose, if the mouth of your jar is wider.)
Essential Oils - You can use any combination of essential oils to scent your candles or leave them plain. I found that 30-35 drops of oil was sufficient for a small candle. (Please note, that the fragrance will be milder than a store-bought candle.)
Tunneling or Cracking - Sometimes there can be tunneling or cracking of the wax once it has hardened. I found that the coconut oil helps to minimize this issue. Another thing you can try is to poke a couple relief holes in the surface around the wick while it is hardening. Then once the candle is hardened, you can pour a light fresh layer of melted wax over the surface to create a nice smooth finish.
DIY Beeswax Candles Q & A
1. Can you make candles with just beeswax?
Yes, you can make candles with just beeswax. They will have a light honey smell and will burn clean. However, if you want to add additional scents it is best to include the coconut oil component, because it will help hold the fragrance better.
2. How many candles will 1 pound of beeswax make?
1 pound of beeswax will make approximately 24 ounces.
3. What are the benefits of beeswax candles?
Beeswax candles are the cleanest candle to burn. They purify rather than pollute the air by emitting negative ions. They are also non-toxic, hypoallergenic, and drip-less.
4. Why do my DIY candles sink in the middle?
Sinking is caused when the wax hardens unevenly (eg. the edges hardens at a faster rate than the rest of the jar.) This is can be prevented by slowing the hardening process down or filling in the sinkholes with a finishing layer once that candle has hardened. (See other tips above.)
