How To Make Beeswax Candles

Heather Dessinger

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There’s something incredibly soothing about the soft, warm glow of homemade beeswax candles, especially at night after the littles are in bed. But the golden glow and long burn time are just the beginning of a handmade beeswax candle’s charm.

Unlike paraffin candles – which release carcinogens like toluene and benzene into the air– they burn clean and bright while releasing a faint honey scent.

Even better, making beeswax candles at home – either as a gift or for yourself – is little more than a melt and pour process. Here’s an overview:

How To Make Beeswax Candles (Video)

We’ll cover all that in more detail in the step-by-step photo tutorial below. First, though, let’s talk about some of the most common candle making questions:

Overhead view of beeswax candle supplies

Can I add essential oils?

Yes, you can. However, beeswax does not hold on to scent as well as some other waxes. For that reason, I blend a little coconut oil into my candles to give the scent more staying power.

Even with the addition of coconut oil, though, I’ve found that only very strong scents (peppermint, lemongrass, vetiver etc.) do well in DIY beeswax candles.

Fortunately, most beeswax smells faintly of honey, which is delightful all by itself or when blended with essential oils.

Also, quick note: If you are planning to burn the candles around children make sure that the essential oils you select are kid-friendly – here’s a list to get you started.

What kind of beeswax should I use?

For this tutorial you’ll need one pound of beeswax, which can be in the form of beeswax pellets or a whole block that you shred with a cheese grater. If you have a local beekeeper that sells raw beeswax, you can use these steps to filter it for candle making.

Another option is white beeswax. Most of what you’ll find on the market is bleached, but this one is lightened without any chemicals at all. (They use the sun, air and moisture.)

How many candles will this recipe make?

This recipe makes approximately 24 ounces, which will make two 12 ounce candles, three 8 ounce candles or six 4 ounce candles. Or you can mix things up – this week I made one 12 ounce candle, one 8 ounce candle, and one 4 ounce candle using this recipe.

Here are some of my favorite jars to use for this project:

12 ounce glass jar options

8 ounce glass jar options

4 ounce glass jar options

Homemade beeswax candle on table

DIY Beeswax Candles

This recipe will make two 12 ounce candles, three 8 ounce candles or six 4 ounce candles.

Supplies Needed

* Because beeswax candles are slow burning, they require thicker, sturdier wicks than what is used for paraffin candles. Keep in mind that the way a wick burns will vary based on many factors, including the size of the container and how refined the beeswax is.

I’ve shared which wicks have worked for me using refined beeswax and the jars above, but it may take a little experimentation to find the perfect size for your wax/container combo.

Step-By-Step Instructions

Step 1: Pick up your wick (with wick tab attached) and wick stickers

Candle wick and wick stickers on a table

Pull one of the wick stickers off the roll and place it on the wick tab, then peel the paper off the exposed side of the wick sticker.

candle wick sticker

Step 2: Attach the wick to the bottom center of the jar.

Empty candle jar and wick

Step 3: Melt wax and oil in a double boiler. If you don’t have a double boiler, you can create one by placing one inch of water in a pot, placing a smaller pot or stainless steel bowl inside, and bringing the water to a low simmer.

Yellow beeswax pellets in a bowl

Step 4: When the beeswax is melted, add essential oils if desired.

Melted beeswax in a metal bowl

Stir the beeswax, coconut oil, and essential oils (if using) together. I use a wooden chop stick that I keep just for this purpose so I don’t have to clean it.

Melted beeswax stirred with a chopstick

Step 5: Pour wax into jars.

Pouring melted beeswax from metal bowl into candle jar

Step 6: Set the wick so that it’s in the center. You can do this by placing a pencil across the jar and taping the wick to it, or use my favorite method, which is to thread the wick through the center of a clothespin.

Centering candle wick upright in jar full of melted beeswax by threading it through a clothespin.

Step 7: Place the candles in a warm area to harden, because if they cool too quickly the wax will sometimes crack. I usually preheat my oven to 170F while I’m pouring the candles, then turn the oven off and place them inside.

Two candle jars full of melted beeswax and wicks set aside to harden

Cleanup Tip

Beeswax is usually difficult to remove from the bowl it was melted in, but I’ve learned a little trick that I want to pass along. I preheat my oven to 200F, then turn it off and place the bowl inside.

Within a few minutes, the wax is completely melted, making it easy to wipe away with paper towels. After that, I just scrub with soap and water as usual.

Using Your Candles

Allow your candles to cure for two days, then trim the wick to about 1/4 inch.

When lighting your candle, direct the flame to the base of the wick so that some of wax melts and is drawn up into the wick – this helps it burn properly.

Allow the candle to burn long enough so the wax melts out to the side of the jar. This helps to prevent tunneling ,which is when the middle melts down with lots of wax leftover around the edges. Never leave a candle unattended.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use olive oil instead of coconut oil?

Because olive oil is liquid at room temperature while coconut oil is semi-solid, it will yield a soft candle. For that reason I don’t recommend using it.

I have leftover beeswax. What can I do with it?

You can make reusable food wrap, moisturizing hand salve, homemade crayons, citronella candles, solid perfume or magnesium body butter.

two homemade beeswax candles on a counter
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4.71 from 17 votes

How to Make Beeswax Candles

Making your own beeswax candles is easier than you might think! Here’s my simple, tried-and-true method for creating honey-scented candles with a warm, soft glow.
Cook Time 30 minutes
Curing Time 2 days
Total Time 2 days 30 minutes
Servings 2 12 oz candles
Calories

Equipment

  • double boiler or two different sized pots (one fits inside the other)
  • stove
  • wooden chopstick
  • clothespin or pencil
  • scotch tape (if using a pencil)
  • oven

Ingredients

Instructions

Making Your Candles

  • Pick up your wick (with wick tab attached) and wick stickers)
    candle wick and wick stickers on a table
  • Pull one of the wick stickers off the roll and place it on the wick tab, then peel the paper off the exposed side of the wick sticker.
    candle wick sticker
  • Attach the wick to the bottom center of the jar.
    empty candle jar and wick
  • Melt wax and oil in a double boiler. If you don’t have a double boiler, you can create one by placing one inch of water in a pot, placing a smaller pot or stainless steel bowl inside, and bringing the water to a low simmer on your stove top.
    yellow beeswax pellets in a bowl
  • When the beeswax is melted, add essential oils if desired.
    metled beeswax in a metal bowl
  • Stir the melted beeswax, coconut oil, and essential oils (if using) together. I use a wooden chop stick that I keep just for this purpose so I don’t have to clean it.
    melted beeswax stirred with a chopstick
  • Pour wax into the glass jars.
    pouring melted beeswax from metal bowl into candle jar
  • Set the wick so that it’s in the center. You can do this by placing a pencil, straw or wooden skewer across the jar and taping the wick to it, or use my favorite method, which is to thread the wick through the center of a clothespin.
    Centering candle wick upright in jar full of melted beeswax by threading it through a clothespin.
  • Place the candles in a warm area to harden, because if they cool too quickly the wax will sometimes crack. I usually preheat my oven to 170F while I’m pouring the candles, then turn the oven off and place them inside.
    two candle jars full of melted beeswax and wicks set aside to harden

Using Your Candles

  • Allow the candles to cure for two days, then trim the wick to about 1/4 inch.
  • When lighting your candle, direct the flame at to base of the wick so that some of the wax melts and is drawn up into the wick – this helps it burn properly.
    Allow the candle to burn long enough so the wax melts out to the side of the jar. This helps to prevent tunneling ,which is when the middle melts down with lots of wax leftover around the edges. Never leave a candle unattended.

Notes

*Because beeswax burns more slowly than paraffin wax or soy wax, it requires a sturdier, larger wick than what is used for paraffin candles or soy candles. Keep in mind that the way a wick burns will vary based on many factors, including the size of the container and how refined the beeswax is. I’ve shared which wick size has worked for me using refined beeswax and the jars above, but it may take a little experimentation to find the perfect size for your wax/container combo.

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About HEATHER

Heather is a holistic health educator, herbalist, DIYer, Lyme and mold warrior. Since founding Mommypotamus.com in 2009, Heather has been taking complicated health research and making it easy to understand. She shares tested natural recipes and herbal remedies with millions of naturally minded mamas around the world. 

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279 thoughts on “How To Make Beeswax Candles”

  1. What a great post! A friend of mine just moved into a motor home and is going to travel the country. He burns candles in there a lot and I was concerned about toxins being created in such a small and confined space. I think I will make him a bunch of these for Christmas. Thank you so much for sharing.

    Reply
    • 2 stars
      I followed this recipe a few times and every time they cracked. I found out what works for me is pour wax when it is 160 degrees and NOT heating up containers. I believe they crack from being to hot. I also discovered I can fix cracks by using a heat gun in circular motions at the top. Doing me research has paid off! Thanks, Carol

      Reply
  2. THANK YOU for posting this!!! Just the last two weeks I’ve been researching candles and trying to figure out how to do beeswax– would you believe some of the major candle supply websites don’t sell beeswax?! And a lot of the books only teach fancy candles, not the basic pour into a container option that I was looking for. This is absolutely perfect!

    Reply
    • Hi Heather! With the exception of the coconut oil I purchased everything locally. My neighbor is a beekeeper and although she didn’t have any wax to sell when I dropped by she was actually just getting rid of some wicks I could use. Another farmer supplied the wax and I found the jars at Hobby Lobby. Hope that helps!

      Reply
      • This is great but I bought 2 8 ounce bags of the beeswax pastilles and 3 8 ounce jars, it only filled up one and a quarter jars! The wicks I bought are lead free and as soon as I poured the melted wax into the jar the wick came right off of their base! Think it’s the wrong kind of wick?

        Reply
        • You only bought 16 ounces and not 24, so of course it wasn’t going to fill up all 3 the entire way. And it also was affected by how much you filled up the first jar. Personal experience has taught me to buy more beeswax than I think necessary because more often than not it’s the perfect amount. And even if it is too much, then you have extra for another project and you don’t have to buy as much next time.

          Reply
          • She (Ruby) bought exactly what the recipe said, 1 lb of beeswax, which is 16 ozs. Adding the half cup coconut oil, which would be 4 ozs (liquid), that would bring it up to 20 ozs. Shouldn’t have to proof a recipe yourself, otherwise what’s the point of this blog.

        • 5 stars
          You can use regular old food coloring. Just make sure it isn’t liquid because of the fact that it is water based and wont mix with the oils. Gel, paste, or powdered food coloring work just fine!

          Reply
    • Thank you for posting these instructions. Have you ever added organic essential oils to the beeswax and how did it turn out?

      Reply
      • I am wondering about adding essential oils and/or scent oils to these beeswax candles. Heather, can it safely be done? Thanks!!

        Reply
  3. Hi Lauren! Your post was what inspired me to try to make my own, so THANK YOU! P.S. I have tried to pin your article oh so many times and it never goes through. I can pin everything except that one article – argh!

    Reply
    • Yes, they did! I recommend testing one or two before giving them away to make sure you have the wick size correct, but the coconut oil has not caused any problems for me.

      Reply
      • I know this is an old post, but I am trying to find out about the “controversy” over adding essential oils to the candles. Wellness Mama refers to this tutorial to answer those questions, but I don’t see where you did. Could you please enlighten me on the pros and cons of adding essential oils to beeswax candles?:)

        Reply
        • I have learned a lot about essential oils since writing this post (I’m actually currently working toward my aromatherapy certification) and based on what I know now I think it’s totally fine to add them. 🙂

          Reply
          • OK, that’s what I thought too, but just wanted a second opinion! Thank you and good luck on your certification!

          • I agree…from what little I know. The oil fragrances however are a different thing entirely and I believe that’s something I want to stay away from.
            Michael

        • Hi Lisa, I use essential oils in my beeswax candles too. In fact, I just finished a few today, and one is burning as I write this. I also purchase my wax from a local bee farmer which happens to be my boss 🙂 Give the oils a try, at least for variety.

          Reply
  4. I love how beeswax smells. Would tallow work instead of palm oil? I just rendered some for the first time ever and i get why it was used in the past for candles. It’s very wax like.

    Reply
    • It might affect the ideal wick size slightly, but tallow can definitely be used. The only thing is some people do not enjoy the fragrance it gives off when lit. 🙂

      Reply
  5. Also for a more heat stable container and I had a box gathering dust in a closet. I’ve used the cute jelly canning jars for beeswax candles for gifts. They never cracked. Has that been true for anyone else?

    Reply
  6. Thank you, Heather! I’ve only recently learned that my love for a candle’s cozy flame was probably adding to my allergies! I was under the impression that beeswax candles might be too difficult to make, so I was thrilled with today’s tutorial! I can’t wait to try this!

    Reply
  7. Thanks for this great How-To. We made these last year and I was happy though not ecstatic with the results. The oil seems to be the missing piece for us. It was difficult to find this info on line anywhere, so I’m excited to give this another try. I LOVE the smell of these candles.

    Reply
  8. I found it funny that you posted this today as I made my first beeswax jar candles this past weekend! I found it really difficult to find anything online about making beeswax jar candles…if there’s even any info on making beeswax candles at all, they all assume you’re dipping to make tapers or rolling them. So, I’m very glad to have this as a resource now and I might use some of your suggestions for next time.

    The wick size chart is VERY helpful…I scoured so many candle-making sites to try to find that info, but couldn’t and in the end took a shot in the dark and bought some #5 to use as wicks in the pint Mason jars (about 2 1/2″ in diameter) I used as containers. But I noticed you didn’t even have #5 on your chart…is there a specific reason for that? I’m finally burning my candles tonight and it seems that the wick is burning too fast and then “drowning” somewhat in the wax…does that mean I need a bigger size? Do you know if “diluting” the beeswax with coconut oil would help with that issue some? Thanks so much for any info or ideas…I’m so excited that someone finally wrote a post/tutorial on this!

    Reply
    • Hello! I realize this convo thread is old, but I’m having the same problem as Jessica T above!!
      My local beeswax keeps pooling/ coning even in a perfectly straight jar!!
      Does using the little metal wick cup at the base help/ If the wick is even a little off center, can that create the pool?
      So far I’ve been just adhering the wick to the bottom w/wax, and miraculously it’s staying as I set it. And burning fairly straight. For a beginner it’s all pretty good but…!
      I don’t see the pooling /coning much w bought beeswax candles, tho I usually only use the beeswax votives.
      Maybe w bigger beeswax candles (like mine in a jelly jar) the pooling/coning is normal because of the hot n slow burn?!

      Thanks !
      Amanda

      Reply
      • The pooling (Coning down the middle) is sometimes caused by not letting your candle burn long enough each time. Too many short burns will make it cone and pool. You want it to burn to the edge, so make sure the wick isn’t trimmed too short, and if you aren’t going to let a candle burn more than an hour, use a smaller candle to burn for the shorter time. If your candle has coned, cut the wax out down to where the wick is with a butter knife or such, and reuse it in your next candle making process, or use it in a warmer, Your candle will burn correctly if it burns enough to liquefy the whole top layer of the candle, not just the center.

        Reply
      • Help. I followedthe recipe, except I didn’t see the part of when to turn the oven off. So my candles sat in the 170F oven for a couple of hours. Anyways, I turned the oven off, left them in there, and went to bed. This morning all but one is cracked (they’re in 4oz mason jelly jars). Do the cracks matter when burning? One website says to fix it, out then in the oven at 170 to remelt… and another days that even if it doesn’t crack at the onset, it will crack during use. What’s a girl to do? I guess I won’t be selling these this week.

        Reply
  9. I love this tutorial! When I was in Target the other day, all the candles were tempting me, but I didn’t end up getting one. There’s just something about candlelight, isn’t there? Now, I wonder if I can find local beeswax…

    Reply
    • As with almost any “natural” substance you burn in your home, beeswax candles (and soy-based ones) will generate a certain amount of soot. Soot is, by its chemical structure, cancerous. Technically. But you’d have to inhale a lot of it to end up getting cancer!

      Regardless, inhaling a little soot is going to be thousands of times less damaging for you than inhaling burning petroleum products like plastic. If you are burning soy, I wouldn’t worry about this. So long as your home is not filling with smoke or an obvious unpleasant smell, the soot isn’t going to do you much harm because the volume will be so very small. Worry less!

      Reply
  10. My friend gave one of these to me for Christmas and it is fantastic, I can’t wait to try this out on my own!

    Thanks for sharing,
    Katie

    Reply
  11. How much did your beeswax cost? Just trying to get an idea. I’d love to try a batch until I have a successful one and seel a few! Would love to make decorative ones too, but healthy

    Reply
    • I found “organic cosmetic grade” (blah, blah) beeswax pellets on Amazon for $13/lb. It smelled pretty neutral with a tiny hint of the smoky smell that cheaper wax has. Once I melted it with the coconut oil it smelled amazing. Then I went to a craft fair near my house and bought a really nice smelling brick from a local beekeeper for only $11/lb. He also was happy to give me some tips about candle making. So I suggest going to farmers market or craft fair to try to find some and if not try https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01FCF5RIC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

      Reply
  12. Thank you so much for all the info!! My brother has bees & I asked him for wax when he came to visit this weekend, brought me 20 lbs because I told him I want to try making candles. He said he never could get them to burn properly but would love to see me make it work. However,he also didn’t have your candle wick chart. Sooooo….I’m going to try your recipe & I will let you know how it turns out!! Very exciting!

    Reply
  13. question about the coconut oil… have you found any info on how clean coconut oil burns? I was curious about this and didn’t want to compromise the ‘clean’ burning beeswax candle. I haven’t tried it yet, just trying to do some research before I start this whole process. Also, I have been looking for a reliable source with the information about cleaning the air, do you know of one? thanks!

    Reply
  14. Do you know of any safe fragrance? I am assuming the closest thing to 100% safe would be essential oils…is there nothing else we can use to create a nicely scented candle?

    Reply
    • I make my own lotion by infusing coconut oil with herbs. I just simmer a half cup of coconut oil with a few tablespoons of dried lavender (or a vanilla bean, sliced in quarters lengthwise, then chopped into small pieces) over a double boiler for 3-4 hours. Strain mixture through a coffee filter. I would think this would make a lovely non-toxic candle fragrance!

      Reply
      • Thanks for the info on beeswax and coconut oil! I want to make some soon. I love scented candles, but don’t like artificial fragrance. Thanks, Laura, for your suggestion to infuse the coconut oil with herbs. Perfect! Can’t wait to try it!

        Reply
  15. Can you add any scent to these candles? Also I have the clear beeswax what is the difference ? Sorry I’m new at all of this

    Reply
  16. Thanks for the tutorial! I’m happy to see I can substitute palm oil with a different kind of oil
    (palm oil is not sustainably produced and is often the cause of driving out natural habitats in the rain forests as many are cleared out/levelled for the production of palm oil)! Thanks again!

    Reply
  17. Using essential oils to scent candles shouldn’t be a problem according to a friend of mine who is a clinical aromatherapist. The important thing to remember is to use therapeutic grade oils and not anything labelled ‘fragrance’. Aura Cacia is a popular brand and is generally safe to use, though there are better brands with stricter quality control.

    Reply
  18. I’ve got wax piling up! I’m a natural beekeeper among other things. Thank you for the wick sizes. This is going to be very helpful for me. I like the idea of the coconut oil too. I live in Hawaii so it’s always warm so I’m going to experiment with different amounts of coconut oil. I may try less coconut oil and canning jars. Aloha!

    Reply
  19. What a wonderful idea! Beeswax is such a healthier alternative and it’s refreshing to see that you skipped the fragrance oil. Why cover up a good thing with dyes and overpowering scents? I just wanted to ask what size container and wick you used for the project. Did the wax burn to the edges of the container? Thanks so much 🙂

    Reply
  20. Thank you for this post! Love it. I am really interested in using fragrances that grow wild here. Is boiling them in coconut oil the best way? Or any other suggestions? Can you put them in raw to give the candle some decoration or will they catch fire?

    Reply
  21. I am a beekeeper in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. I got into beekeeping because I am asthmatic, and I’m not a good medicine taker (you know you forget when you start feeling better). Any how, I have a bunch of beeswax, at tree filtered, and wanted to do odometer natural things with it. Let me tell you for little critters they sure are amazing!

    Anyhow, my daughter made lip balm/Chapstick and weds till have loads of wax. I love the smell of the hive. In fact I’d love to be able to make air fresheners for the cars, it’s such a wonderful smell. However I am going to try your recipe for natural candles. Candles are beautiful, and I’d love to have them forte heir natural ascetics and their wonderful smell. Thank you for posting!

    Reply
  22. I am having the hardest time finding wick to make these. Where did you get yours? Looking forward to making some warm sunlight for this dark winter!

    Reply
    • Hi Sarah! I actually bought mine at a garage sale, which is what inspired me to make use of them. Sorry I can’t be more helpful!

      Reply
  23. I tried making a beeswax candle in a small mason jar. I let it cool as slowly as possible. Ended up with a large crack through the center. Where did I go wrong?

    Reply
  24. Hi – Do you have any experience using hemp wicks for candles? I would personally prefer to use hemp products over cotton, but I wanted to know if it would work as well. Any info would be greatly appreciated! Thank you! <3

    Reply
  25. I was going to ask if you had actually bought the hansi beeswax that you linked to on Amazon but see in the comments that you got it locally. I, unfortunately bought mine from Amazon and it smells absolutely awful. I’ve already melted most of it so I don’t know if I’ll be able to get a refund or not but I will definitely be headed to a local place where I’ve seen it available to try that. The smell is hard to describe. Musty, stale, sort of a lighter version of my sons’ ice hockey bags…horrible. A reviewer had the same experience with the brand. Just a heads up for your readers.

    Reply
  26. This may be a silly question but are there any tips for clean up? I used some of my regular pans to make these (which is hopefully ok with the wax?) and have gotten them pretty clean and will scrub again, but I was just curious if I was missing anything.

    Reply
  27. Hi, Can you please tell me what size wick you used for these 12 oz candles? I don’t see it mentioned anywhere. I bought a votive mold…. and I also cleaned out all of my old candle jars (larger Yankee candle jars)… but I think those are too too big… and I want the flame to be more open.. I would think that is more beneficial???…. and I found four 12 oz jars like yours… so I just need my wick now 😉 Thanks.

    Reply
  28. I’ve been googling and reading directions to try to figure out how to clean up the bowl that the wax is melted in. Does it clean up easily with soap and water if done when still melted? I just keep thinking of the jar candles when the candle is all burned away, and how impossible they are to clean.

    Reply
    • I think if you put the bowl in the oven at the lowest temperature your oven will do, then turn it off and leave the bowl in there until it’s just cool enough to handle safely, you can then wipe out the majority of the wax with paper towels. I make my own laundry detergent with castille soap, washing soda, baking soda and borax and I find a bit of this is very helpful in cleaning up DIY messes, including the beeswax dishes. Good luck!

      Reply
  29. Another recipe I loved! I made these for Christmas gifts. I bought local beeswax and followed your directions – worked like a charm! I used small mason jars and made about 12 small candles.

    Any recommendations for easy cleanup? I used hot water to scrub wax off the materials I used, but I am concerned for the pipes and drains in my house. In the future, I want to be careful to not have wax remnats go down my drain. Please let me know if you have any ideas. Thanks.

    Reply
    • I usually heat all my equipment (pots, bowls, etc) on the stovetop or in the over, than wipe everything down with paper towels, then wash the residue off with soapy water. 🙂

      Reply
  30. I’ve recently delved into the world of making my own skin care products and candles. I just made some regular soy candles and some massage soy candles which I really enjoyed. I do like the thought of using beeswax though because that is something I can get locally. Gotta loves supporting our local farmers! Thanks for the recipe.

    Reply
  31. Please do not use palm oil. It is largely unsustainable & the palm oil industry is threatening the survival of the remaining two species of orangutans (Sumatran and Borenoan). Visit redapes.org for more information as well as alternative oil sources. Thanks!

    Reply
  32. Hi – I tried out this recipe pretty much exactly as described – I used coconut oil – but I got a lot of tunneling with my candles – also, after lighting both candles that I made- they both split down the middle right where the wicks are.
    I used a thin hemp wick – so I am figuring a need a thicker wick… I am wondering if anyone has any suggestions for good resources for wick. (Hemp is preferrable – but I’ll consider organic cotton)
    Also any thoughts/experience about the splitting would be really helpful! Thanks!

    Reply
    • I had the exact same problem as LIA. Mine will burn for about 15 min, tunneling straight down and after that go out and will barely light again and just fizzle out. I used cotton wicks. I now have 2 dozen jars of pretty looking beeswax decorations.

      Reply
    • I made mine in batches of just one because I read that wick size is so important to get right. Tunneling is usually caused by a wick that is too small, I believe. And I found the problem with online tutorials to be that none listed the wick size that worked best for their project. I made some in jelly jars with a 6/0 wick and they tunneled. The burned a circumference about the size of a votive. But I will reuse the wax. Don’t throw them all away!! I am going to try a larger wick, probably a #2. This site gives a size approximation.

      Reply
  33. Can someone tell me where I can buy a candle melting pot? I’d rather use that instead of a double boiler. Also, where do you buy the lead free wicks?

    Reply
  34. I love your site, and I love this tutorial! I wasn’t sure if there were any other healthy alternatives to cotton wicks? Cotton is a major GMO crop, and I would think there would be pesticides in the fibers. When burning, I wonder if they are released into the air? My son has asthma, so I want to burn the cleanest candles possible. Sadly I could find no organic cotton wicks online.
    I also wanted to share some great info from my local beeswax source, “Wax should only be melted in stainless steel, plastic, or tin plated containers. Iron rust and containers of galvanized iron, brass or copper all impart a color to beeswax and aluminum is said to make the wax dull and mud colored. The next time you see a very orange wax in may have been melted in a copper pan.”

    Reply
  35. I am a beekeeper that has never attempted to make candles until now. Years of beeswax building up! Find a local beekeeper to buy beeswax! The retail stores are high in price. I used 3 pounds of beeswax and 2 cups of coconut oil and made 3 candles in large mouth jars I kept from previously purchased candles. Not much? I bought the coconut oil at Earth Fare. Next time I will buy in bulk from Amazon. Use the larger size wicks for a larger candles. The packages will talk about diameters.

    Reply
  36. thanks for all the information supplied here was very helpful i just started making candles a wee while ago and find it a very relaxing hobby (and frustrating) over here in the UK i couldn’t find out much information about the proper wicks to use especially for taper candles but found a company in the States called candlechem and asked them if they could help my god they were realy great ans gave me the answer in about an hour said SB#5/0 wick was what i was looking for and they were right can’t thank both of you so much

    Reply
  37. Hello,
    l’m looking to buy some cotton wick. l would like to make candles since l have lotts of bees wax to use up. l’m very confused on the wick size to choose from. l’m using 12 oz mason jars wide mouth and 12 oz jars they look like your jars . Do l measure from the inside or outside for the wick size? What size wick would l buy… #6 cotton square ? Please help!
    Thanks,
    Michellle

    Reply
  38. Soo I planned on doing beeswax tarts.. but I haven’T seen it mentioned here anywhere is it ok to make tarts and will they burn well in the warmers ??

    Reply
  39. Hi there! Thanks for the great post. Any idea what would happen if I used unfiltered beeswax? I have my own beehive and recently harvested, so I have plenty of beeswax, but it hasn’t been strained and filtered. I actually like the “look” of a few imperfections, so don’t mind that, but would the residual honey and other imperfections make it burn with an odd smell?

    Reply
  40. Since the beeswax pulls out toxins from the air I was wondering if I burned candles with scents next to your candles would it draw the toxins out of the air? Just a thought, and if I made my own what essential oils would you recommend?

    Reply
  41. Hello!

    I was wondering, did you use wick pins in your jars? I didn’t see that you did but I was wondering how you secured the wicks in the jars?

    Looking forward to making these! Thank you!

    Reply
    • Hi Kimberly, I didn’t use wick pins but I wish I had because it would have extended the burn time of my candles a bit. 🙂

      Reply
  42. does raw cotton wick need to be treated before using in a candle?

    also, my hubby thinks the raw/hard/unused beeswax smells atrocious, so before i start my melting i wanna find a way to ensure the burning smells better or find a way to ease the smell or add scents into the wax, etc…any ideas?

    thank you!!

    Reply
    • i read that simmering the coconut oil(that i would be using in the candles) with cinnamon sticks for a couple hours would help the intensity of the beeswax…what is your opinion? 🙂

      Reply
      • aren’t there any other containers that you can use that won’t crack from the higher heat?
        If you have heat resistant containers, can you use the beeswax by itself?
        What else can you use in place of coconut oil? coconut oil is pretty pricey.

        Reply
  43. Hi Heather,

    I am looking for the wax wicks but am struggling to find what you stated. My jars are from old candle glass containers, 18 oz, 3.5″ wide at the mouth. I am trying to locate the cotton square wicks. Can you tell me if they already have the wax on them? I tried with regular wicks and they burnt immediately thru the center. (all that work for nothing), so do I need wicks with no wax on them? So confusing and no one seems to know at the craft stores. Please help direct me where I can buy them. Thank you

    Reply
  44. Hi do you know if you can use wood wicks? And you mention the temperture, if you don’t put coconut oil in it, is the cup or jar really hot to touch, would it leave a mark on a table?

    Reply
  45. My wife is starting a candle business. We are using 100% Beeswax and pouring in a glass. We have experienced a lot of what everybody described above regarding wicks. However, nobody has commented on cracking. We are having a terrible time with our candles cracking or pulling away from the outer edges and so far haven’t found a solution. We have an industrial wax melter and thought that a constant temperature would do the trick (was using a crock pot). Does anybody have any specific instructions?

    We have tried different temps, cold and hot environments, heating the glass, putting them in water, heat lamps, double pouring etc. Can it really be this difficult?

    Thanks in advance!

    Reply
    • Just a quick comment. I read that cracking can occur because of your temperature outside of pouring. That you are supposed to keep your outside at 72 degrees for pouring and cooling. Just a thought. Good luck.

      Reply
    • I am experiencing the same issue with shrinkage of the wax once cooled in the container. I can even pull the pot dried wax out by the wick. I haven’t lit the candles yet so I’m not sure if it’ll crack. Any ideas? Please advise. Thx.

      Reply
  46. Your candles look so lovely. I think in my mind I had always confused beeswax and honeycomb candles thinking that they were one and the same. Thank you so much for also explaining how to filter the wax. I would have skipped that step.

    Reply
  47. Hello. I am trying to make these candles. I found the same jars you used, Heather, at Hobby Lobby. My diameter measurement shows me that I should use a #8 wick (3.5″ diameter at the widest part of that jar), but your wick looks considerably smaller for the same diameter. My wick looks very big for that size of jar. Can you tell me what size you used?

    Reply
    • Hi Sarah, I’m sorry but I don’t recall the size of the jars and that first set was used long ago. However, I will say that I photographed my first batch and then moved up to a larger wick after more research, so the wick should look considerably larger than the one in the photo 🙂

      Reply
  48. Heather,
    Great article! After reading your article and looking through the pics, i was wondering if instead of having to hold the wick down to get it to anchor and remain straight, if you have tried to soak the wick in beeswax first, let it harden (speed this up by putting it into the frig for a few minutes), now the wicks are stiff and straight and now just hold it in place as you pour the melted honey in the jar. What are your thoughts?

    Jeremy

    Reply
  49. Hi!

    I am wondering why you use coconut oil? First time I have come across using that product for beeswax candles…

    great post btw!

    Reply
  50. Hello Healther, nice article you have here!

    I was hoping for some advice on cracking at the top of the Candle I cannot use any type of additive other then the Beeswax itself because its for my family business, but i was hoping that you would know how to get a nice even pour at the top so that it does not pull away from the other wax and crack. (Kind of like a grand canyon per say.) The crack itself is not directly next to the Jar but about 1 cm in and it goes about 180 Degrees around the Jar. Could this be because of air bubbles or do you have any idea? You seem to be the only expert i can find! 🙂

    Reply
    • Did you try tapping the holder or whatever your filling with wax gently on a hard surface a few times throught filling? I found that the candles i made in highschool were very airy because i disnt do that to some and gdntle tapping fixed the bubble issue. Those candles were parafin candles however so im not sure if vees wax works the same way.

      Reply
  51. This was the most helpful wick info I’ve found anywhere online — thank you!!! Can I ask, where did you buy your wicks??? Thanks in advance.

    Reply
  52. Hello! I LOVE this method! Seems the easiest and definitely the healthiest! However, do you think I could add some flowers to it? Like lavender, or daisies…? I thought I could crunch them and add them to the mixture, so that the candle would have a light scent of the flower I added, as well as the chunks, making it less monotonous.

    Do you think there could be any negative sides? If you don’t know, I’ll try anyway and let you know if it went well or not!! Thank you for taking your time to read the comments.

    Reply
    • Did you try it?? I was wondering the same thing. I want to put leaves from my rosemary plant in there to give it a Christmas-y scent and better look….. BAM homemade presents!

      Reply
      • Thanks for posting this! And great idea with the flowers/rosemary. Sage would be good too. I usually burn it as an incense anyway. My only comment is my wax took forever to melt! I was seriously pouring candles at 2 am because I did not want it to go to waste, lol.

        Reply
        • Try cutting the beeswax into smaller pieces, even grating it, beforehand. Be careful when you do it as it is a bit slippery to handle.
          I use a lot of beeswax when making lotions etc and it does take ages to melt if in a large chunk,

          Reply
  53. I inherited lots of #2 wicking but need #4 for the candles I want to make. Is it possible to braid/twist the #2 together to effectively create #4 (square) wicks?
    Thanks very much.

    Reply
  54. This was my first attempt at candle making. I made some mistakes and a mess. But I agree with other people commenting, where do you find nice thick, square wicks?

    Reply
  55. Lovely, informative page! Thank you for publishing this as there seems to be soooo much misinformation out there for people to sort through. I do have a question you might be able to answer. Let me start by saying I wanted to start making candles because we have several bee hives and have been harvesting honey for a few years. As a result we have gathered several large buckets full of wax and cappings that I wanted to use. I bought a votive kit from a beekeepers supply catalog and was very disappointed that the wicks obviously weren’t the right size and wouldn’t stay lit.

    So, I started from scratch looking into better methods to clean the wax. This last batch: I melted the wax in water and let the impurities settle out twice (scrapping of the stuff on the bottom of the brick when it cooled), then I melted the wax and ran it through a piece of T-shirt fabric. I have worked my way up to a #2 wick.

    I’m burning one of the candles now. It started out with a lot of spitting for about 15 minutes; there are specks of wax all over the votive container. It’s been burning for about an hour I have a nice bright flame but it is still occasionally spitting.

    I’ve read dozens of webpages, watched hours of videos online but I’m obviously still doing something wrong. Any insight into what I’m doing wrong? This was supposed to be an easy project but it is becoming super frustrating.

    Reply
    • I think it would be ok to use essential oils. In this post she wrote about not using essential oils because burning them changes the molecular structure, but the thing is, while the essential oils may be heating up a bit, they are definitely not burning. The only thing burning is the wick, which is above the oils. Lots of articles about making your own candles suggest using essential oils, so I think it would be fine. Anyone have thoughts on this?

      Reply
      • Hi
        I urge you to think again as to what is burning , i think you find it is the wax drawn up into the wick where it is able to get air to fuel the flame and the wax IS the fuel the wick is the fireplace so to speak.

        Reply
  56. Could i make beeswax tea candles in cleaned out aluminum cups from the regular petroleum tea candles? Or would bees wax get too hot for the aluminum? I don’t really use candles, only tea candles for my essential oil diffusers and little fairy houses to light up.

    Reply
  57. Apparently burning bees wax produces negative ions that are released into the air, and apparently, most particles suspended in the air has a positive charge, so simply put, when they meet, they attract, combine, get heavy, and fall down.. That’s basically what I’ve found out by googling at least.. 🙂 Sounds reasonable..

    Reply
    • Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to pinpoint a source to this claim.. It seems everyone is accepting it as fact, but the only mention I’ve seen of any reports on the matter is a japanese report that is not available in digital format.. So if anyone finds a source for this claim, please post here and preferably on wikipedia..

      Reply
  58. thank you for the great tutorial. i just made my first candle 🙂 i didn’t filter the beeswax, do i need to do that? also i did add essential oils but i don’t smell it at all when i lit the candle, any thoughts?

    Reply
  59. I see this article is a few years old but I can’t wait to make these! I do want to make mine scented though. I’m considering using essential oils. But I’m wondering if it would work to simmer cinnamon, vanilla, clove, orange peel, etc in the wax/oil to scent it instead. Does anyone know is that would work? Or if it would affect how it burns?

    Reply
  60. When I have made candles in the past, I have never filtered the beeswax before. However, I don’t think that it would be too much of an issue to get an old pillow case and do it, though. Yet, why exactly should you filter out the wax when making candles?

    Reply
  61. I love this tutorial. It doesn’t look very hard and I love how you can customize it. I’ve only recently learned of the downside to the typical candles you buy from the store, so I’ll be giving your beeswax candles a try very soon. We don’t need any more toxins in our house!

    Reply
  62. Hi Heather, Im from Australia and receive your wonderful weekly updates, thank you, I so enjoy your blog 🙂 I recently realised that a few subscription emails has somehow been directed to the junk file, and noticed the Ultimate bundle sale has just ended by a day or just hours 🙁
    Is there any chance of still purchasing this wonderful e-course? I could sure use alot of that information to help me with my health issues. Im hoping its not too too late, If its not possible to purchase this, I shall await for your next bundle offer, its such a shame I missed out, I also was so eager to apply for your ebook too 🙁
    Thank you kindly for all the wonderful work you put out for your community, May God bless you 🙂

    Reply
    • Hey there, unfortunately the Ultimate Bundles team creates an agreement with each contributing author that only allows them to sell their resources for very specific dates. In order to extend the sale they’d have to go back and get new releases from all the authors. I SO wish I had a different answer for you!

      Reply
  63. Hi!
    could you tell me please what is the maximum diameter of the jars you use for your candles? I have 2.7-inch dessert jars and it is tunneling 🙁
    Thank you!

    Reply
  64. Are the wick stickers pretty necessary or just more helpful in holding the wick in place? Also, I have a few large chunks of beeswax from A local source. Do you have any suggestions on a faster, easier way to melt that down rather than having to use beeswax pellets?

    Reply
  65. Great post. I would like to start making my own candles, but I don’t really want to add all those fragrances which can be found in so many of the commercially produced candles. Making a Beeswax candle looks like a great alternative.
    thanks,
    Michael

    Reply
  66. Good evening,
    I’m just wondering if i have to do anything to my beeswax that i got from a farmer.. its just pieces/chunks of beeswax with varying levels of honey coverage,

    Reply
  67. Hi,

    From what I have read most people have used essential oils. I have also read from other sites that if you over heat 170F you could burn the wax.

    I’m a great lover of scented candles, but aftwe reading about soy being mixed with parrafin, I do not want to buy them anymore.

    So has anyone successfully used fragrance oils with success??

    As I plan too do some experiments with fragrance oils in with the beeswax.

    Thank you in advance 🙂

    Also, has anyone

    Reply
  68. Hi,
    Very nice, helpful site.

    Suggestion: Many questions and answers are repeated. As there are so many, would it be possible to cluster (those that can be) them by topics?
    If possible, I think that it would be win-win.

    Thanks,

    Irene
    WI

    Reply
  69. I melted by comb, strained it using pantyhose, let it cool and it separated from the honey. But my beeswax seems to not burn as well as store bought beeswax. Store bought is very yellow, mine is more a of a darker yellow/brown. For instance the store bought wax burns great in a 2 inch votive with a number 3 wick, but even using a number 6 wick, my wax makes a small melt pool and flame goes out. I suspect I am not melting and straining correctly. Help?

    Reply
  70. Hello Mommypotamus!
    Love your recipes and entire vibe! I was wondering if I could use cacao butter instead of coconut oil? Melted of course. I have a bunch thats for topical use only so I’m wondering if it would work here 🙂

    Reply
  71. Hi,
    I am starting doing bees wax candle, it looks great. but when using tin and not jars, it seems the wax shrink and the candle moves inside the tin. Any suggestion?
    Thanks a lot.

    Reply
  72. Hi Heather! When I made beeswax candles, they burned too fast and created a big crater in the middle, without melting the sides. How do you prevent that?
    You pictures are gorgeous!

    Reply
    • Hmmm, I wonder if clothepins have some variation in sizing, because mine fit. Bummer! The good news is you can set the wick by placing two clothespins (or pencils) on either side of the wick to hold it in place.

      Reply
  73. Something to think about, I recently watched an interview with Dr. Mercola and he was saying that low heat oils such as Coconut oil off-gas Formaldehyde when burned too hot. I’ve read elsewhere that Beeswax burns very hot but I don’t know how that compares to a stove top. It may be something worth considering though since most people are trying to avoid the toxins in regular candles by making these.

    Reply
  74. Here’s to hoping this thread is still being monitored!

    I am unable to find the wick size chart everyone is referring to. Could you reply with that information?
    Thanks!

    Reply
  75. Heather, Thanks for this well written and informative post. So many people dont realize how easy beeswax is to work with. I enjoy my beeswax candles – even when they are not burning. The natural wax gives off such a sweet clean fragrance.
    Beekeeper Charlotte

    Reply
  76. Thanks a lot for this recipe! Is it possible to use candelilla wax instead of beeswax? Had you tried it? And what how much do you have to use ?….Thank you!

    Reply
  77. OK, there were MANY references to a wick CHART in this post. There is NO WICK SIZE CHART ANYWHERE in this article! Evidently, it is pretty important to make the candle burn properly to have the correct size wick for the container, so……. where is the chart? And, yes, I read through ALL 233 comments.
    Thanks! I have several pounds of beeswax, unfiltered. What is the issue with using unfiltered? Not really covered here.
    And for Jo: All bee products are for the use of the bees. So long as beekeepers leave plenty of the products for the bees, harvesting some for others/ourselves should be no problem. Just like milking cows or goats: they will produce more with little harm to themselves. As long as ‘we’ don’t over-harvest honey, pollen or wax, bees should have plenty for use for themselves. Otherwise, bees would have disappeared long ago since humans have been harvesting their products for centuries.

    Reply
    • This post has been updated to recommend just one wick size for simplicity. It’s based on what I’ve found works best over the years using the three jar sizes I mentioned. Unfiltered beeswax sometimes contains sediment that will prevent the candles from burning cleanly – aka the sediment causes smoke. For that reason, I recommend filtering it.

      Reply
  78. When I poured my wax, the oil Immediately separated from the wax. What did I do wrong? I can’t find anything on the internet about other people having this problem!

    Reply
  79. 5 stars
    I have a few dozen partially used pure beeswax candles. Can I use them to make new ones? Should I “grate” them first or just “chop” them into little pieces.

    Reply
  80. Hi Heather! What a gorgeous recipe for candles. And I love your style (threading a red clothes pin.)
    My question is about the essential oils. Are you using undiluted oils? Or pre-diluted with carrier oils? I would like to use doTerra oils for Frankincense and Myrrh candles for Christmas presents. I was thinking maybe 5 drops per 4oz quilted ball jar. Thank you!! Anne

    Reply
  81. Thank you for this tutorial. One of the better ones, and I printed it! Do you have any advice for sinking wax after the pour? I made PILLAR candles with paraffin wax many years ago and they were perfect every time. But I’m struggling with bees wax in glass containers. . 😩. I used to use my wood skewer to poke relief holes after a brief cool down, then re heated the wax to a bit higher temp than the original pour, and fill the holes. I don’t know how to prevent sink holes in my glass jars and beeswax! I’ve tried pre heating my jars, cooling the wax before pouring, still happens, any suggestions? Thank you.

    Reply
  82. A great way to remove wax from your bowl or whatever you used to heat it & even your empty candle holders, is to place them in the freezer. Wax will pop right out when frozen.

    Reply
  83. Thank you for the excellent tutorial on beeswax candles. I followed the directions to cool in a warm oven and it didn’t cone in the center. However, the candle has separated from the sides of the glass. I have had this happen before when I made beeswax candles. Is there a way to keep this from happening. Any help would be appreciated.

    Reply
  84. I made the candles above lastnight. I didn’t add any coconut oil since I wasn’t adding any sent. When I got up this morning and took a look at the candles they look as if someone scooped out the wax between the wicks and the sides. I was wondering what caused this and if melt more wax and poor it in will it fix them.

    Thank for your help.

    Reply