Beeswax Candles

November 27, 2008

This post was originally published many years ago, and as you will read below I really enjoyed making them with my then little kids. However, they didn't burn well and I never attempted to make taper candles again.

A few years after this first foray into candle dipping I bought a mold for votives and tried the melt and pour method of beeswax candle making. Again, it wasn't the most successful candle making endeavor.

It wasn't until fall 2015 that I attempted candle making again, and was successful in producing a good burning candle. Yay!

The key to this success? Two things:

  • the right wick to candle width ratio
  • using a beeswax/palm oil mix vs. just beeswax.

The recipe I follow is not available online. It's part of a private e-course and is copyrighted, so I'm not able to share it here. However, this recipe is very similar to the one I follow.


my most recipe candles, photographed with my homemade lip balm

When I set out to do this project my simple goal was to make our advent celebration candles and do a meaningful activity with the kids. It was so thoroughly enjoyable and yielded such lovely results it may become a new holiday tradition.

Basic Instructions

I found the instructions on this sweet crafty blog. Because I didn't have a large can we used a large mason jar and switched to a narrower jar near the end of the process to keep the wax level high enough. I also started with looped candles, as you can see in the photos, but ended up cutting the ends and switching to single dips.

We cooled our candles laying down (not hanging) with no adverse effects. I started with 2 lbs of beeswax (I got it for a steal at the fair for $8.00) and had 6 oz or so left when we were done. We made 18 candles, 4.5 - 5 inches tall.

We also made a huge mess. I suggest using lots of newspaper (we didn't) and budgeting ample time for scrubbing pots.

Beeswax is the Best

I really enjoyed making these and beeswax has so many great properties.

  • Anyone can do this, you do not have to be "crafty". Can you heat water on the stove? You can do this.
  • Burning beeswax candles cleans the air.
  • Homemade beeswax candles are gorgeous. The freshly dipped and still warm candles "are divine to the touch" (Celine's phrase) and are intoxicating to smell. Seriously, you will feel happier, healthier and calmer just sniffing these babies.
  • This is a child-friendly craft that yields a beautiful result. It requires no hot glue, plastic do-dads, sparkles or any other fossil fuel derived craft supply. (I can't verify that no bees were harmed in the procurement of the wax so these aren't certifiably animal friendly).
  • Should the power ever go out or you choose to turn off the electricity for a day, you've made something that is useful, not just pretty and decorative. Candle making is a practical art, like soapmaking, and produces something that will not clutter your home.
  • Little fingers can hold and dip quite well and the wax, though warm and melted, does not burn (the boiling water though - watch out), making this an all-family activity.
  • Beeswax, at least where I live, is locally produced. These candles are truly Made in Maine.
  • The candles take several hours to make. I see this as a bonus, lots to time to talk with my children and learn together.
  • It's amazing how much science, math, poetry, history comes up while you are dipping.
  • These would be a wonderful gift to give or receive.
  • A few hours of "work", a small financial investment and some major clean up (it's wax after all) produces a lot of candles. How well they burn remains to be seen. See update below.

I could go on and on about how much I loved doing this but you'd get bored. The short of it is these were lovely to make and they will be lovely to use in our advent wreath, for lighting up the winter evenings or maybe to give a few as gifts.


I took the pan off the stove for this shot since the light was better by the window

Update

I'm disappointed to report that these beautiful-to-look-at candles don't burn very well. Let me correct that, they burn too well.

The wax closest to the wick burns faster than the outer wax which creates a crater that snuffs out the burning wick unless you tip the candle and drain it down the side (making a huge big drippy mess). I think I needed to use a thicker and slower burning wick. Any other ideas?? They still look beautiful when they burn, in a messy, drippy sort of way. I'm don't even want to show you what these candles have done to our advent wreath holder.

This post featured at The Crafty Crow

Filed Under

Resource Library

« Heartaching gratitude
Un-Thanksgiving »
  • Cindy and Rodney

    Cindy and Rodney on Nov. 30, 2008, 3:28 p.m.

    My dad used to raise bees, so this was one of the things that we did. We also made candles our of the pressed beeswax sheets. Love it!

    reply
  • Ariella

    Ariella on Dec. 7, 2008, 2:02 p.m.

    thanks so much for posting these great pictures on beeswax candle making. I'm doing this project with a bunch of children this week, and this was helpful. I haven't made these in over 20 years, so you forget a lot in that time!! ;)

    reply
  • Pamela

    Pamela on Feb. 22, 2009, 3:31 a.m.

    Did you ever find a solution to the uneven burning problem? This project looks so fun, and since it's an all-family activity, something I can do even with my little girls. And I love the fact that yes, it's actually something you can use and want to have around, rather than some tacky spangly thing that you don't want to keep but hate to throw away because your kid made it.

    Thanks for visiting my blog! I'm trying to go hardcore, but I have SO FAR to go, and I'm taking it in baby steps (even though it feels like I'm barreling into green). There will always be someone, many someones, crunchier than I am. And for that I'm grateful, that they're able to do things I might not be able to do. It isn't a contest. We're all doing our part.

    I think your blog is wonderful. I'm giving serious thought to evaluating my temperament for homeschooling my little kids, none of whom has reached school age yet. I admire anyone who is able to teach, and that's what I have to evaluate for myself - whether I can do that effectively. I love how much I'm learning from your blog and other crunchy blogs about things to do with my family, new ideas for greening ourselves better, things I thought I'd never do or be able to do that suddenly are things I'm either doing or considering doing... and I'm adoring your photographs, which are so warm and lovely.

    reply
  • dthneece

    dthneece on May 17, 2009, 12:27 a.m.

    Hi there, I just watched a show on dipping bees wax candles. They were using something called 24 ply wicking. I purchased separately for a dipping project (haven't done it yet, of course) wick called SB1C-B Bulk Wicking #1/0 square braid from Pourette.com when I asked them what to use for dipping at the time. I was just getting re-interested in trying dipping again. I could try the wick and let you know how it burns if you are interested. I love your site! :) Denise

    reply
  • Vicki

    Vicki on May 24, 2010, 7:22 p.m.

    I have about 20 pounds of beeswax. I'd like to use it to make a rolled candle instead of a dipped candle. Does anyone know of a way to maybe pour some of the melted beeswax onto a cookie sheet to a certain thickness, then use it as the sheet beeswax?

    Thank you.

    reply
  • Marlis

    Marlis on Nov. 22, 2011, 10:33 p.m.

    I live in Shelton, WA and would like to know if there is a place near here where I can buy beeswax. I would appreciate any help.

    reply
  • Anonymous

    Anonymous on Dec. 4, 2011, 4:11 a.m.

    You have to allow beeswax candles have to age about a year before they are lit. This is your problem. The wax has to cure.

    reply
  • Winter

    Winter on Feb. 27, 2012, 3:05 p.m.

    Freezing candles can help them burn slower and more evenly. Adding a bit of soy-based wax will also help. However, I still wouldn't use them on an Advent wreath.

    reply
    • Steph

      Steph on Aug. 21, 2013, 6:06 a.m.

      You might not want to follow this last suggestion: It would work if you were using any other type of wax except beeswax, which doesn't react well to freezing.

      reply
  • Anonymous

    Anonymous on Dec. 9, 2012, 9:12 p.m.

    Regarding how a candle burns, I found these pieces of information when researching just what is the best size for wicks when making tapers: Wicks that are too small for the candle will leave a lot of unburned wax around the outside of the candle or just drown in the pool of wax that gathers at its base. Wicks that are too large for the candle will cause excessive smoke, burn too fast, or even cause the wax to overflow down the sides of the candle or container. Beeswax candles require a thicker, sturdier wick than paraffin candles of the same diameter. Beeswax candles burn and melt more slowly than paraffin candles, which is why a sturdier and larger wick (with a larger flame) is the best choice. Hope that helps. Trial and error may be your best guide.

    reply
  • Darylann Spaulding

    Darylann Spaulding on Jan. 31, 2013, 10:12 p.m.

    I added some coconut oil to my homemade beeswax candles and it helps cool them down and "cooler oil" helps I also used hemp cord instead of cotton because it burns at a slower pace with the beeswax. I haven't tried dipped yet just jarred up candles, I'm going to dip today! great tutorial thanks!

    reply
  • nadaa nadaa

    nadaa nadaa on April 10, 2016, 8:17 p.m.

    شركة تنظيف مكافحة النمل الابيض بمكة شركة تنظيف مجالس بمكة شركة تنظيف خزانات بمكة شركة عوازل بمكة شركة كشف تسربات المياه بمكة شركة تسليك مجارى بمكة شركة تنظيف بيارات بمكة شركة رش مبيدات بمكة شركة نقل اثاث بمكة شركة تخزين اثاث بمكة شركة تنظيف فلل بمكة شركة مكافحة حشرات بمكة شركة تنظيف بمكة شركة تنظيف شقق بمكة شركة تنظيف منازل بمكة شركة تنظيف موكيت بمكة شركة تنظيف مسابح بالدمام شركة تنظيف بالدمام شركة تنظيف فلل بالدمام شركة تنظيف شقق بالدمام شركة تنظيف سجاد بالدمام شركة تنظيف مجالس بالدمام شركة تنظيف عزل بالدمام شركة عزل اسطح بالدمام شركة كشف تسربات المياه بالدمام شركة تسليك مجارى بالدمام شركة تنظيف بيارات بالدمام شركة رش مبيدات بالدمام شركة نقل اثاث بالدمام شركة تخزين اثاث بالدمام شركة تنظيف منازل بالدمام شركة مكافحة حشرات بالدمام شركة تنظيف بالبخار بجدة شركة تنظيف بجدة شركة تنظيف فلل بجدة شركة تنظيف شقق بجدة شركة تنظيف مجالس بجدة شركة تنظيف سجاد بجدة شركة عزل خزانات بجدة شركة عزل مائى بجدة شركة كشف تسربات المياه بدون تكسير بجدة شركة تسليك مجارى بجدة شركة شفط بيارات بجدة شركة رش مبيدات بجدة شركة نقل اثاث بجدة شركة تخزين اثاث بجدة شركة تنظيف منازل بجدة شركة مكافحة حشرات بجدة شركة تنظيف بالبخار بالمدينة المنورة شركة تنظيف بالمدينة المنورة شركة تنظيف فلل بالمدينة المنورة شركة تنظيف شقق بالمدينة المنورة شركة تنظيف موكيت بالمدينة المنورة شركة تنظيف مجالس بالمدينة المنورة شركة تنظيف خزانات بالمدينة المنورة شركة عزل مائى بالمدينة المنورة شركة كشف تسربات المياه بالمدينة المنورة شركة تسليك مجارى بالمدينة المنورة شركة شفط بيارات بالمدينة المنورة شركة رش مبيدات بالمدينة المنورة شركة نقل اثاث بالمدينة المنورة شركة تخزين عفش بالمدينة المنورة شركة تنظيف منازل بالمدينة المنورة مكافحة حشرات بالمدينة المنورة شركة تنظيف بالرياض شركة تنظيف فلل بالرياض شركة تنظيف خزانات بالرياض شركة تنظيف سجاد بالرياض شركة غسيل سجاد بالدمام شركة كشف تسربات المياه بالدمام شركة عزل اسطح بالرياض شركة تنظيف مجالس بالرياض شركة تسليك مجارى بالرياض شركة رش مبيدات بالرياض شركة نقل اثاث بالرياض شركة تخزين عفش بالرياض شركة تنظيف منازل بالرياض شركة مكافحة حشرات بالرياض شركة تنظيف منازل بالدمام شركة تسليك مجارى بالجبيل شركة رش مبيدات بالدمام شركة نقل عفش بالدمام شركة تخزين اثاث بالدمام شركة مكافحة حشرات بالدمام شركة تنظيف فلل بجدة شركة رش مبيدات بجدة شركة نقل اثاث بجدة شركة تنظيف بيارات بالخبر شركة عزل اسطح بالخبر شركة مكافحة البق بجدة نقل عفش مكة شركة تنظيف فلل بجدة شركة كشف تسربات المياه بمكة شركة مكافحة حشرات بمكة شركة تنظيف خزانات بمكة شركة تخزين اثاث بمكة شركة تنظيف شقق بمكة شركة تنظيف مسابح بجدة شركة رش مبيدات بمكة شركة نقل اثاث بالرياض شركة مكافحة البق بجدة شركة عزل خزانات بجدة شركة تنظيف خزانات بجدة شركات تنظيف المنازل فى جدة كشف تسربات المياة بجدة شركة تنظيف بجدة شركة تنظيف موكيت بجدة نقل عفش جدة شركة مكافحة حشرات بجدة شركة رش مبيدات بجدة شركة تسليك مجارى بجدة شركة مكافحة البق بجدة شركة غسيل كنب بجدة شركة رش مبيدات بجدة شركة مكافحة حشرات بجدة شركة تنظيف فلل بجدة شركة تنظيف منازل بجدة نقل عفش جدة شركة عزل خزانات بجدة شركة تسليك مجارى بجدة شركة تنظيف موكيت بجدة شركة مكافحة البق بمكة شركة تنظيف مسابح بمكة شركة تنظيف مجالس بمكة شركة تنظيف موكيت بمكة نقل عفش مكة شركة تنظيف شقق بمكة شركة تنظيف المنازل بمكة شركة عزل اسطح بمكة شركة مكافحة حشرات بمكة شركات رش مبيدات بمكة شركة تسليك مجارى بمكة شركة كشف تسرب المياه بمكة شركة مكافحة البق بجدة شركة تنظيف شقق بجدة شركة تنظيف مسابح بجدة شركة غسيل موكيت بجدة شركة تسليك مجارى بجدة كشف تسربات المياه بجدة شركة مكافحة الحشرات بجدة شركات رش مبيدات بحدة شركة تنظيف خزانات بجدة شركة نقل اثاث بجدة شركة شفط بيارات بجدة شركة عزل خزانات بجدة شركة تنظيف كنب بالدمام شركة تنظيف منازل بالدمام شركة تنظيف بالدمام شركة تنظيف فلل بالدمام شركة مكافحة حشرات بالدمام شركة تسليك مجارى بالخبر شركة غسيل موكيت بالدمام شركة مكافحة الصراصير بالدمام شركة مكافحة النمل الابيض بالدمام شركة رش مبيدات بالدمام شركة نقل اثاث بالدمام شركة نقل عفش بالدمام شركة تنظيف خزانات بالدمام شركة كشف تسربات المياه بالدمام شركة تخزين عفش بالدمام شركة عزل اسطح بالدمام شركة تنظيف مساجد بالدمام شركة جلي ارضيات بالدمام شركة تنظيف مسابح بالدمام شركة تنظيف كنب بالدمام شركة تنظيف سيراميك بالدمام شركة تنظيف بالبخار بالدمام شركة تلميع باركيه بالدمام شركة تنظيف مطابخ بالدمام شركة تنظيف حمامات بالدمام شركة تنظيف مطاعم بالدمام شركة تنظيف ستائر بالدمام شركة تنظيف اثاث بالدمام شركة تنظيف مدارس بالدمام

    reply

You can subscribe to comments on this article using this form.

If you have already commented on this article, you do not need to do this, as you were automatically subscribed.

Featured Content

All Content

Monthly Archives

Get posts by email

Connect

email me at: renee@tougas.net Ⓒ 2004-2023 Renee Tougas