How to Make Beeswax Candles for Fun and Gifting

This is by far the simplest way to make a candle from beeswax. There is no melting of wax, so even young children can safely join in the fun.

And you’ll only need three items to make your candle: 1. A sheet of beeswax, 2. A primed wick a little longer than the candle you are making, and 3. A sharp knife.

Your first step is to lay out the sheet of wax onto a surface that you can cut on. (A cutting board works great!)

Once you have your sheet all flattened out, measure your wick and cut it to the size you will need. You will want to leave an inch or so on either end.

Lay out your trimmed wick on the edge of the sheet and turn up about 1/8 of an inch of wax to cover the wick. (If you have trouble turning it up, try folding it over the edge of the cutting board.) Press both layers of wax together to create a sealed channel for your wick.

Now for the fun part! You simply roll up your candle.  Go slow and gentle, and don’t press too hard or you’ll lose some of that great honeycomb accent look. As you roll, make sure that your edges stay even. If you are finding the sheet too stiff to roll easily, simply warm it with a blow dryer. Just remember, a little warmth goes a long way in making the wax more pliable.

Once your candle is all rolled up, gently press the last edge into the candle proper.

Now take a look at the candle you’ve just made. Which end looks the nicest? Make that end the top and trim the wick to about ½ inch. Trim the wick on the other end completely flat with the bottom of the candle.

That’s it. Your candle is ready to light and enjoy!

Want to make the process even more fun? Check out the great Beeswax Candle Making kits on Amazon!

Now the instructions.  Gather together your block of wax, wick and container.  You will also need a double boiler (or a large pot and a smaller pot within), a cooking thermometer, and a couple of pencils.

1)      Get your containers ready. Measure and cut your wick about 2 inches longer than your container. Tie the end of the wick around the center of a pencil and place the pencil across the top of the jar with the wick hanging into the center of the container.

2)      Melt the wax in a double boiler over low heat. Once the wax is totally melted, add the oil and gently mix it together. Heat the combined wax and oil to around 160F.

3)      Pour a small amount of wax in the bottom of the container, enough to coat the bottom. Make sure to get your wick coated with wax as well. Now with the end of the other pencil, push the dangling end of the wick into the wax in the bottom of the jar. Hold the wick tight and straight for a moment while the wax dries. It shouldn’t take long at all.

4)      Now simply pour the rest of your wax into the container. Allow your candle to set for at least 24 hours, then trim your wick to around a quarter inch. Wait another 24 hours or longer before burning.

Of course, just like with rolled candle options, you can purchase a complete kit with everything you need to start making great poured beeswax candles!