Candles create a relaxing and comforting ambiance in your home. If you are trying to avoid toxic products, you’ve probably been avoiding candles. It is so easy to make natural (and safe) candles at home. Make this Homemade Essential Oil Candle with just three natural ingredients, and bring candles back into your life!
If you have been following me for a while, you have probably heard me talk about the dangers of candles. Don’t get me wrong, I love candles. They are so cozy and fun to have out for holidays and special occasions. Diffusing oils is a much safer way to enjoy ambiance and fragrance. There are several reasons why candles get a bad wrap.
Dangers of Candles
Candles made with artificial fragrances emit harmful chemicals into the air, ultimately contributing to poor indoor air quality. Most candles are made with paraffin wax. Paraffin is a by-product of petroleum or coal. It’s a cheap alternative to soy and beeswax. Burning candles made with paraffin wax and synthetic fragrances releases volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as formaldehyde into the air.
How to Make an Essential Oil Candle
A homemade candle can be made with a wax base, a wick, and essential oils for fragrance. Soy wax and beeswax are two natural options to use in candle making. Soy candles burn faster than beeswax. Using essential oils is a wonderful way to customize your candle. The scent will be light, but noticeable.
Beeswax Candles
Beeswax was used in the very first candle, dating back to Egyptian times. It has very low levels of toxicity since it releases no bi-products into the air. It can also help neutralize dust, pollution, and odors. Beeswax is a wonderful choice for natural candle making!
Beeswax stays solid and helps prolong the effects and aroma of the essential oils in a candle. Adding a carrier oil such as coconut oil can help the essential oils mix more evenly, last longer, and maintain their scent.
Beewax is also great to keep on hand for a variety of household uses. You can find it in many of my beauty recipes including this Chest Rub, Lip Balm, and Moisture Rich Lotion Bar.
Homemade Essential Oil Candle
Ingredients
- 4 cups beeswax pellets
- 1 cup of coconut oil
- essential oils (see combinations below)
- cotton wick
- 4-oz mason jars
Directions
- Melt the beeswax and coconut oil using a bain-marie or melt in the microwave. Remove from heat. While the mixture is still a liquid, add essential oils and stir.
- Add a drop of wax to the center of the jar. Position the wick. You can also add more than one wick for a brighter candle.
- Carefully pour the wax mixture into the mason jars. Allow candles to set and cool. Cut the wick to about ½ inch above the wax. Recipe yields 4 candles.
- Light and enjoy your homemade candle!
Try one of these 6 essential oil candle recipes:
Summer Nights
- 20 drops Citronella
- 10 drops Lavender
- 10 drops Purification
Cozy Pine
- 20 drops Northern Lights Black Spruce
- 10 drops Idaho Grand Fir
- 10 drops Pine
Island Time
- 20 drops Stress Away
- 20 drops Lime
- clear pressed vanilla
Home for the Holidays
- 20 drops Christmas Spirit
- 10 drops Orange
- 10 drops Cedarwood
Citrus Grove
- 10 drops Grapefruit
- 10 drops Lemon
- 10 drops Orange
- 10 drops Tangerine
English Garden
- 20 drops Geranium
- 10 drops Ylang Ylang
- 10 drops Lavender
Judy Stallons says
I love my diffusers, but I’ve missed the ambiance of candles. Thank you for these natural beeswax & essential oil candle recipes!