For every article that states household candles are slowly poisoning you, you’ll find just as many refuting those claims. I’ve spent my fair share of time researching both sides and while I’m not convinced that burning a store bought candle in a well ventilated room is the same as second hand smoke, I do prefer to err on the side of caution and choose a cleaner burning wax that is scented without artificial fragrances.
This essential oil diffuser is usually my go-to, but there’s just something about a lit candle that sets the mood, whether it’s the holidays, a get together with friends or soaking in the bathtub at night. So today, I’m sharing how to make a candle using organic beeswax, organic coconut oil and KidSafe certified essential oils.
Here’s what you’ll need to make your own non-toxic, naturally scented candle:
-A safe, candle vessel. Glass, ceramic and stoneware are good options. I’m using this pet food bowl I found at Target for $5. It’s the perfect size & shape, it’s made of stoneware which is heat-safe up to 450°F. (It will usually say on the bottom that it’s safe for microwave or dishwasher use.)
– 3 Parts Organic Beeswax
– 1 Part Unrefined Coconut Oil
-Double Boiler or Candle Making Pouring Pot
Essential Oils of choice or leave unscented. I’m using a blend of Lemon and InvigorAid, both KidSafe certified, as well as the blend “With Love” from Plant Therapy (not KidSafe certified, but bright, citrusy, with hint of spice and floral nuances.)
-Rubbing Alcohol or Vodka
-Stir stick
Here’s How To Make Your Candle:
-Clean your vessel thoroughly using rubbing alcohol or vodka.
-Consider how many wicks you will need depending on the size of your vessel. A good rule of thumb is 1 wick per 3-4″ of candle width, however beeswax has a tendency to tunnel so I ended up melting mine back down and adding more wicks, about 1 wick per 2″ and this resulted in a melt pool the full width of my vessel. Watch this video up to the 2:00 minute mark for a visual.
-Align and attach your wicks to your vessel using a glue gun. If you’re a serious crafter, I highly recommend getting the Dremel Glue Pen – it’s cordless and uses a rechargeable battery, it heats up in 15 seconds and is much easier to control ergonomically.
-Since your size candle will differ from mine, I’ve simplified the measurements to 3 parts beeswax to 1 part coconut oil for the wax. (For example, my candle is wide, but shallow so I’m I’m doing 3/4 c beeswax (1/4 x 3) and 1/4 c coconut oil.) Add your coconut oil to your metal pot first, melt on low heat, then add in your beeswax pearls and stir. The beeswax melts at a slightly higher temperature, around low-medium. Keep an eye on it while you keep stirring until both are fully melted.
-Once the beeswax pearls and coconut oil are melted together, remove pouring pot from stovetop and add in your essential oils, keeping in mind that the heat will cause some evaporation so you will need a lot more drops of essential oil than you would a synthetic fragrance. Even with 30 drops or so, my candle was very mildly scented. The beeswax has its own slight honey aroma which makes it great unscented, as well.
-Pour your melted wax into the candle vessel slowly and evenly. Allow to harden. Make sure you trim your wick to about 1/8″ tall prior to burning.
-Lastly, beeswax has great memory. This refers to how a candle burns and how the wax melts after the first time it is lit. You will need make sure that you can allow the candle to burn for a few hours because it creates a wax memory for all subsequent burns. You want the entire width of the vessel to be melted before blowing it out that first time, otherwise it will create a tunnel. If, for some reason, your candle tunnels, you can pop it in the oven on low broil and it will melt the top back evenly again, but please use caution when handling and make sure your vessel is indeed oven-safe.
That’s it for today! Let me know if you have any questions or feel free to share your DIY candles by tagging me on Facebook or Instagram @ellisonmade. I’d love to see what you come up with.
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