Are you thinking about making scented beeswax candles with essential oils?
Making scented beeswax candles with essential oils? Use our step-by-step instructions and valuable tips on how to make beeswax candles with scent.
Even in our modern age, candles create a unique warmth and comfort in our homes. For many, candles promote relaxation and help us to slow down in our fast-paced lives. Unfortunately, even though we have banned toxic lead wicks in the U.S., many candles are still made with paraffin wax and artificial fragrances.
On the other hand, scented beeswax candles allow us to keep the air clean in our homes and are twice as warming with their beautiful natural golden glow!
Why are beeswax candles better?
As reported by CNN, unlike paraffin candles that release known carcinogens such as benzene and toluene into the air, beeswax candles burn clean and neutralize pollutants.
How do beeswax candles really clean the air? Wellness expert Katie Wells explains, “Beeswax candles clean the air by releasing negative ions, and these ions bind with toxins and neutralize pollutants.”
And for those of us striving for a more sustainable zero waste lifestyle, beeswax candles are not only eco-friendly but also burn more slowly than paraffin candles and last much longer. I’m sharing everything you need to know about beeswax candle making and how to repurpose Oui yogurt jars into sustainable candles!
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How can you make scented beeswax candles?
Homemade beeswax candles on their own have a faint yet delightful honey-like scent. But, if you’d like to make aromatherapy candles, you can add essential oils. However, beeswax doesn’t hold fragrance as well as other candle waxes. This is where coconut oil comes into play…
Why add coconut oil to beeswax candles?
There are a couple of reasons you should add coconut oil to beeswax candles. First, coconut oil or coconut wax can help beeswax burn more consistently while avoiding candle problems like tunneling. You’ll find it included in premium candle wax blends like this.
Secondly, essential oils, in short, don’t love high temperatures and commonly have a poor hot throw compared to other candle fragrance choices. Even though their cold throw is AMAZING. Anyhow, adding coconut oil to beeswax candles can help boost the scent of essential oils when it comes to candle making.
So, repurpose Oui yogurt jars into beeswax candles and test your favorite essential oils blends. At least you won’t be creating any waste, and if the scent isn’t as strong as you like, the golden glow of beeswax is still magical!
What kind of beeswax should you use to make beeswax candles?
Regarding how to make beeswax candles, you have three options for wax. The first is beeswax blocks. You can buy a large 1-pound block or simple 1-ounce blocks. The blocks can be shredded with a cheese grater for quick melting or cut into small chunks.
If you know a local beekeeper, you can go right to the source and buy raw beeswax. It will, however, need to be filtered before making scented beeswax candles. Heather shares steps on how to filter beeswax for candle making here.
Another option is beeswax pastilles. These are the easiest to use in my experience than the other options. No filtering or shredding is required! Beeswax pastilles melt very easily and are just as easy to measure.
Need some tips on measuring candle wax for your homemade candles? Use our candle wax calculator!
Related To: Candle Fragrance Load Calculator
What Are the Best Wicks for Beeswax Candles?
When it comes to the best wicks for beeswax candles, one pre-waxed with beeswax and all-natural takes the win in my book. I use these hemp candle wicks made from 100% organic hemp. They are biodegradable and non-toxic, and each is dipped in natural beeswax.
Wood wicks are another great option for homemade beeswax candles. They are harvested from sustainable sources and are 100% natural and non-toxic. Did you know wood wicks actually crackle just like wood stacked in the fireplace? How and why do wood wick candles crackle? The phenomenon of crackling candles occurs for these two reasons.
If you’re having trouble finding the proper wick, use our printable beeswax wick chart in the Simple Living Library.
Related To: Natural Candle Making Supply Guide
Scented Beeswax Candle Supplies and Ingredients:
- 2 4-ounce repurposed French yogurt jars
- 2 pre-waxed hemp candle wicks
- 6 ounces beeswax blocks or pastilles
- 1-ounce coconut oil
- 2 wick centering devices
- 2 wick sticker tabs
- 1 1/2 teaspoons lemon essential oil
- candle melting pitcher
- heat-resistant silicone whisk
- candle thermometer
- digital kitchen scale
How to Make Scented Beeswax Candles with Essential Oils:
Step 1. Place Wicks &Measure Beeswax Wax
Place a wick sticker in the center base of each yogurt jar. Then, adhere to the wick tab. Use a kitchen scale to measure 6 ounces of beeswax to make 2 candles.
Step 2. Melt Beeswax
Pour the measured beeswax into a candle-melting pitcher to safely melt the wax. Place the pitcher filled with wax inside a large saucepan filled with about 2 inches of water. Using the double boiler method, heat on medium to low heat with a gentle simmer at most. Monitor the wax temperature with a no-touch thermometer.
Keep in mind the melting point of beeswax is 144 degrees F. Stir often with a heat-resistant silicone spatula.
Remove the pitcher from the heat immediately after melting to avoid the wax from becoming too hot or burning. Scoop 1 ounce of coconut oil into the melted wax and stir until blended.
Step 3. Cool & Scent Beeswax with Essential Oils
Allow the temperature of the wax to cool as needed to 155°F degrees before adding 1 ½teaspoons of lemon essential oil. Thoroughly incorporate the scent by constantly stirring for 2 minutes.
Step 4. Pour Scented Beeswax
Carefully pour the scented wax between 150-160°F when the wax is still liquid but cool enough to coat the sides of your pouring pitcher into each glass yogurt jar. Place an optional centering device over each wick to help keep them in place during the curing process.
Before trimming each wick, allow the candles to cool and the wax to harden for 30 minutes to 1 hour. Trim each wick to about ¼ an inch with a wick trimmer. No matter how tempting, do not light your scented beeswax candles until they have cured for at least 3 days.
P.S. Beeswax can be tough to clean up, and that’s putting it lightly! Get a second candle melting pitcher to keep for making beeswax candles, lip balms, beeswax sachets, solid perfume, or anything else your heart desires.
GRAB THE PRINTABLE RECIPE HERE
Scented Beeswax Candles
Yield: 2 candles
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Active Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Difficulty: Intermediate
Making scented beeswax candles with essential oils? Use our step by step instructions and valuable tips on how to make scented beeswax candles with essential oils naturally.
Materials
- 2 4-ounce repurposed french yogurt jars
- 6 ounces beeswax blocks or pastilles
- 1 ounce coconut oil
- 2 pre-waxed hemp candle wicks
- 2 wick sticker tabs
- 1 1/2 teaspoons lemon essential oil
Tools
- 2 wick centering devices
- candle melting pitcher
- heat resistant silicone whisk
- candle thermometer
- digital kitchen scale
Instructions
- Place Wicks & Measure Beeswax Wax: Place a wick sticker in the center base of each yogurt jar. Then adhere to the wick tab. Use a kitchen scale to measure half a pound of beeswax to make 2 candles and.
- Melt Beeswax: To safely melt the wax, pour the measured beeswax into a candle melting pitcher. Place the pitcher filled with wax inside a large saucepan filled with about 2 inches of water. Using the double boiler method, heat on medium to low heat with a gentle simmer at most. Keep in mind the melting point of beeswax is 144 degrees F. Stir often with a heat-resistant silicone spatula.
- Remove the pitcher from the heat immediately after melting to avoid the wax from becoming too hot or burning. Scoop 1 ounce of coconut oil into the melted wax and stir until blended.
- Cool & Scent Beeswax with Essential Oils: Then clip a candle thermometer inside of the pitcher to monitor.Allow the temperature of the wax to cool to between 125°F to 120°F before adding 1 ½ teaspoons of lemon essential oil. Thoroughly incorporate the scent by stirring constantly for 2 minutes.
- Pour Scented Beeswax: Carefully pour your lemon-scented beeswax into each glass yogurt jar. Place an optional centering device over each wick to help keep them in place during the curing process.
Notes
Before trimming each wick allow the candles to cool and the wax to harden 30 minutes to 1 hour. Trim each wick to about ¼ an inch. No matter how tempting, do not light your scented beeswax candles until they have cured for at least 3 days.
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I love projects like making scented beeswax candles with essential oils. I crave the hands-on experience and appreciate the glow of candlelight even more when I’m unwinding for the evening.
Have you made beeswax candles before? I’d love to hear about your experience – leave a comment here or tag #lifenreflection on Instagram to share. Pin these steps for how to make beeswax candles now!
