How to Make Beeswax Candles
This step-by-step tutorial will show you how to make beeswax candles with just a few simple ingredients. They smell amazing and make your home feel cozy and inviting!
Servings: 3 candles
Equipment
- 60-ply #4 candle wick (cut into 3, 6 inch pieces)
- 3 Regular mouth half-pint canning jars
- Metal pitcher
- Bamboo skewers
- Large pot
Ingredients
- 1 pound beeswax bar (or pellets)
- ½ cup coconut oil
- 1 tsp essential oils (optional)
Instructions
- Place the beeswax and oil into a metal pitcher or coffee can.
- Put the pitcher in the pot and fill it with a few inches of water. The water will eventually boil so you don't want to fill it so high that the water bubbles into the pitcher.
- Turn the stove onto medium heat and bring the water to a boil. Keep it at a gentle boil until all of the beeswax and oil have melted. After it's melted, add the essential oil if using.
- Once the beeswax is completely melted, pour a small amount into the bottom of each jar, about 1/2 inch. Return the pitcher to the hot water to keep the wax melted.
- Place a wick down into the wax in the center of each jar. You can use a skewer to make sure it's placed correctly by pushing the wick down and holding it there for a few minutes.
- Let the wax cool until it's solid enough to hold the wick in place, about 5-10 minutes.
- Wrap the top end of the wick around a bamboo skewer until it's taut with the skewer resting across the top of the jar. Use a small piece of tape to keep the wick from slipping off of the skewer.
- Hold onto the skewer and pour the remaining melted wax into each jar. Leave about an inch of space at the top of the glass jars.
- Reposition the skewer holding the wick as needed so it's in the center of the jar.
- Let cool completely! This can take several hours but it's best to leave them overnight. To help prevent cracking, put them in a warm place to slowly cool.
- Once the candles are hard, trim the wick to about 1/2 inch. Don't trim it any shorter than this or the candle will have a smaller flame and it's more likely to tunnel. After you light the candle, if it's flickering wildly or smoking, simply blow it out, trim the wick a bit more, and re-light.
- During the first burn keep the candle lit for at least 2.5 hours, or until the entire surface has melted.
Notes
Caution: Beeswax is flammable so keep an eye on it while it's heating. You don't want to forget about it so that it gets too hot or spills on the stove.