This article is an overview of making beeswax candles at home. The steps of the process and tips for different designs are included.
Candles are a popular and welcome gift for almost any occasion. Beeswax candles are a fun and healthy alternative to paraffin wax candles. Beeswax has been used for centuries in candle making. Beeswax is produced naturally by honeybees and burns with a sweet honey scent. Candles made with beeswax have many benefits. This type of wax tends to burn slower, has minimal drip, and is much cleaner burning than paraffin wax. They have minimal toxins and are a great idea for people with allergies and asthma. Making beeswax candles can be a fun and creative activity for the whole family.
Beeswax for candle making comes in many colors. Natural beeswax will be honey in color. The honey color may range from light to dark brown. Any wax you purchase that is white or colored has been processed and dyed. If you are looking for pure beeswax, look for the honey color. Some companies will mix beeswax with paraffin wax so be sure to read all labels before you purchase. Some beeswax comes in sheets with a honeycomb texture while some comes in brick form. Pure beeswax will cost you more than paraffin or soy wax. These sheets or blocks of wax can be purchased at almost any hobby or craft store or purchased online. You will also need wicks for your project. The recommended wick for beeswax is made of 100% cotton and is wider than the wicks recommended for paraffin candles.
Rolled beeswax candles are relatively easy to make and require no melting or molds. The wax you need for this comes in sheets that are sometimes imprinted with a honeycomb design or can be completely smooth. The standard size for these sheets is eighteen by six inches. If the sheet comes rolled your first step will be to carefully unroll it. This is best accomplished when room temperature is 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. If you find that the wax begins to crack or seems too stiff to unroll safely, use a blow dryer to slightly warm the wax. Be careful of overheating the wax to the point where it sticks to itself. You can also accomplish this by laying the wax in the sun for a few minutes.
These candles can be rolled into many shapes. If you wish the top of the candle to taper near the wick, cut a long thin triangle of wax from the top of your sheet of wax. You can also cut a sheet into to equal sized triangles for a spiral candle. For votive size, cut the sheets into even strips. You can use scissors, a pizza cutter, or an Exacto knife to cut the wax. Use a ruler for a straight line.
Once you have your wax cut and laid out flat, you will want to add the wick. Make sure your wick is long enough that it hangs over both ends of the sheet of wax by at least a half an inch. Press the wick lightly into the outer edge of the wax. If it will not press easily, use your hair dryer to lightly heat the area and then try again. For taper top candles or spiral candles be sure to lay the wick along the wider end of the sheet when you create the candle
The next step is to careful roll the wax up until you have your finished candle. The tighter you roll the candle, the longer it will burn. Use both hands and roll as evenly as you can. Press just hard enough to form the candle but be careful not to leave finger imprints in the wax. Also remember to roll as evenly as possible or you may end up with a lopsided candle. This may take a little practice. Once you have your candle rolled, use your hair dryer or a slightly heated metal utensil to seal the candle. Trim the wick even with the candle at the bottom and trim the top to a quarter inch before burning.
For variety you can layer different colored waxes together before you roll the candle. If you wish to have a fatter candle, layer your wax or attach another sheet to the end of the first. For extra flare, warm the outside of your finished candle and press embellishments or sprinkle glitter over the surface. The possibilities are limitless.
Beeswax can also be melted and poured into molds just as you would make paraffin or soy candles. These candles can be made without additives. Beeswax has a tendency to stick to molds however, so you may want to consider some sort of mold release additive if you find it necessary. The wax should be melted until smooth and poured into the mold as you would with any other candle wax. These candles may develop a white texture on the outside of the candle once they are burned. This is often a desired effect. If you find this displeasing, it can easily be removed with a soft cloth. Be sure to use extra caution when dealing with hot wax.
