Supplies Needed
1 pound beeswax
1/2 cup coconut oil, melted
1-2 tablespoons essential oil – optional (I tend to go with inexpensive ones like peppermint and lemongrass)
Medium cotton wicks with wick tabs attached, like these*
Wick stickers
Jars – See suggestions above
* Because beeswax candles are slow burning, they require thicker, sturdier wicks than what is used for paraffin candles. Keep in mind that the way a wick burns will vary based on many factors, including the size of the container and how refined the beeswax is.
I’ve shared which wicks have worked for me using refined beeswax and the jars above, but it may take a little experimentation to find the perfect size for your wax/container combo.
Step-By-Step Instructions
Step 1: Pick up your wick (with wick tab attached) and wick stickers
Pull one of the wick stickers off the roll and place it on the wick tab, then peel the paper off the exposed side of the wick sticker.
Step 2: Attach the wick to the bottom center of the jar.
Step 3: Melt wax and oil in a double boiler. If you don’t have a double boiler, you can create one by placing one inch of water in a pot, placing a smaller pot or stainless steel bowl inside, and bringing the water to a low simmer.
Step 4: When the beeswax is melted, add essential oils if desired.
Stir the beeswax, coconut oil, and essential oils (if using) together. I use a wooden chop stick that I keep just for this purpose so I don’t have to clean it.
Step 5: Pour wax into jars.
Step 6: Set the wick so that it’s in the center. You can do this by placing a pencil across the jar and taping the wick to it, or use my favorite method, which is to thread the wick through the center of a clothespin.
Step 7: Place the candles in a warm area to harden, because if they cool too quickly the wax will sometimes crack. I usually preheat my oven to 170F while I’m pouring the candles, then turn the oven off and place them inside.
Cleanup Tip
Beeswax is usually difficult to remove from the bowl it was melted in, but I’ve learned a little trick that I want to pass along. I preheat my oven to 200F, then turn it off and place the bowl inside.
Within a few minutes, the wax is completely melted, making it easy to wipe away with paper towels. After that, I just scrub with soap and water as usual.
Using Your Candles
Allow your candles to cure for two days, then trim the wick to about 1/4 inch.
When lighting your candle, direct the flame to the base of the wick so that some of wax melts and is drawn up into the wick – this helps it burn properly.
Allow the candle to burn long enough so the wax melts out to the side of the jar. This helps to prevent tunneling ,which is when the middle melts down with lots of wax leftover around the edges. Never leave a candle unattended.
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