How to Make Natural Beeswax, Soy, and Palm Wax Candles

I made these beeswax candles today. Beeswax candles are very expensive to buy and supplies from a craft store cost just as much, but if you want to make your own cheaply, you can and it is fast and easy.

Always use 100% natural materials when making your candles. You can use beeswax (my favorite), soy wax, palm wax, or other natural waxes. Never use regular candlemaking wax which is made from paraffin. It is a petroleum byproduct and is extremely toxic. Also, be sure that your wicks are lead-free. Most candle wicks contain a lead core which holds them straight. The lead is released into the air as the candle burns and settles on your furniture, clothing, carpets and children's toys and is breathed into your lungs.

I do not know if it is true, but it is said that beeswax candles actually clean the air by creating negative ions which stick to pollutants in the air which then become too heavy and drop to the ground. Whether or not this is true, beeswax and other natural waxes are far more clean-burning than paraffin wax. Unlike the other types of natural wax, however, beeswax has a pleasant warm scent. Beeswax is also very slow-burning, so the cost is made up in how long the candle will last.

Beeswax can be very expensive. The lowest mid-range price I have seen is about $5 per pound which is not too difficult to find. I purchased ten pounds several years ago from a company in Canada (sorry, I no longer know the name) for about $35 and I still have most of it left. It's great to use for candles, soap, lotion, lip balm, and other recipes. Windmill Hill Farm sells beeswax for $4.25 per pound, but they are sometimes sold out. I usually find some of the best prices on Ebay.

I have also found palm wax to be very hard and long-burning. Palm wax is very beautiful and has a shimmering feathered look to it. It is also very inexpensive to buy. Taylor Bean Scents sells palm wax flakes for only $2.50 per pound.

You will need something to pour your wax into to contain the candle. Most glass containers will work as long as they are very sturdy. Very thin glass may break. Canning jars are wonderful, but if you are only using one wick, use a jar that is narrow. Jam jars and baby food jars work very well. Jars have the added benefit of having a lid so you can cover your candles when you store them to protect them from moisture, rodents, and dust. You can also use an empty glass container from an old used up candle. The glasses I used above are a little smaller than a juice tumbler and a bit thicker. They hold about one cup of candle wax. I purchased them in a craft store for about $1 each.

The best option is to make your own wicks. Only use 100% cotton string to make your wicks. If you do not know what it is made of, do not use it. I use crochet thread which is a little like very thin twine or string. To make your wick, cut six pieces of string about twice as long as you would like your finished wick to be. Bunch them together and tie a knot in one end.

Take an open safety pin and pin it through the knot and press it into the arm of a chair or sofa. With the safety pin holding one end, separate the strings into three bunches of two. Braid the strings all the way down to the end, making sure the braid is not too loose. Tie a knot in the end and remove the safety pin.

You will need something to weigh your wicks down and hold them straight upright in your candle until the wax hardens. I like to use thin wire. You can use the wire from inside a twist tie or some cheap jewelry wire. Bend the wire into a spiral and check to make sure that it will fit perfectly into the bottom of your candle container. place the end of your wick into the center of the spiral and pinch the end of the wire around it securely.

When melting wax, you MUST use some type of double boiler. Never place wax into a bare-bottomed pan over a flame. It can catch fire or explode. The way I melt my wax is by placing the container I plan to use into a pot of water on the stove. As the water is heating up, I place pieces of wax into the candle holder. As the water simmers, the wax melts. Continue to add wax until your container is filled with clear wax that is entirely melted. Be very careful never to get any water into your candle at any time.

Once all of the wax is completely melted and your container is filled, turn off the stove and drop your wire wick holder down into the bottom of the container. It should sink to the bottom. Pull your wick up as straight as you can and make sure that it is centered as perfectly as you can get it. Place something across the top of your candleholder such as a pencil or a butter knife and lay the end of the wick over it so that it holds the wick out of the melted wax and out of the water in the pan. Be sure that the wick is still sticking in the center of the candle. If the container is narrow enough, I like to use a clothespin. I pinch the wick in the middle of the clothespin and lay the clothespin over the top of the container.

Let your candle cool thirty minutes to one hour and when the wax is somewhat hardened and cool enough to touch, remove it from the pan of water and dry the candleholder with a towel. Let the candle cool completely before lighting.