How to Make Beeswax Candles

Candles just make a home feel cozy. It’s something about the soft flickering light, I think. It sets a relaxing mood. With their golden yellow color and light honey scent, beeswax candles are the cozy of the cozy.

I’m slightly obsessed with them. Partly because I know that most candles you buy are made with paraffin wax, a by-product of oil refining. They also usually contain synthetic fragrances, which are also made from petroleum. Between the paraffin wax and the synthetic fragrances, many conventional candles seriously pollute your indoor air. The soot created by these candles (I know you’ve seen this black residue on your candles) is extremely toxic. It contains toluene and benzene, volatile organic compounds linked to cancer and neurological damage.

Beeswax is the only naturally occurring wax on earth. And unlike candles made from paraffin wax, beeswax can actually cleanse indoor air. If that’s not enough reasons to make your own beeswax candles, just look at how cute they are! Here’s how to make your own.

You’ll need beeswax, candle wicks and jars. I bought five pounds of beeswax from this seller on eBay. It came in these awesome stamped chunks. I already had the wicks from a soy candle making extravaganza I did last Christmas. You can also find candle wicks on eBay if you need them.

I scrounged up the jars from whatever I could find around my home. Mason jars. Pickle jars. Votive holders. After making the beeswax candles, I think a bunch of smaller jars would have been better. I made several big mason jar candles and they took up a lot of the wax. The five pounds of wax I ordered made about seven candles of various sizes, but I could have made more candles if I’d used smaller jars.

Next, you melt the wax on low heat. I used a CrockPot, but many other tutorials suggest a double boiler. Let me tell you the story of this CrockPot. It was $4 at a garage sale. I found it the morning of the day I decided to make beeswax candles. It was an excellent $4 spent. Now, it’s my candle making CrockPot and I don’t have to worry about cleaning out all of the wax.

While the wax is melting, secure your wicks to the bottom of your jars. I used a hot glue gun and put a dab of glue on the bottom of the wick and stuck it in the center of the jar.

After the wax melts, simply poor it into the jars. Careful! It’s hot. After you fill your jars, place tape across your jar and cut a hole for the wick to make sure your wicks stay centered, like this…

My beeswax candles cracked a little around the wicks as they hardened. I’m thinking this is because my wax was too hot. My $4 CrockPot was missing the knob to change settings, so it took me a while to figure out if the setting was on low or hot. They may not look as smooth, but it didn’t matter after I lit them because the wax just filled in the cracks as it melted.

Allow your candle to harden for 24-48 hours. Then, trim the wick to about 1/4 inch. Light and enjoy!

Pretty! What do you think? Would you ever try making beeswax candles?

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