Homemade candles made with mason jars and essential oils. These homemade candles are easy to make and are scented with natural essential oils. Make these as gifts or for yourself!
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I love candles. I usually have a candle burning while I am home and love finding new scents to burn. There is something about candles that is so soothing. Whether it is the flickering of the flame, or the fragrance in the air a burning candle always seems to calm my nerves.
Because of my love for candles, I find myself often searching for my next one. My Saturday sales emails almost always include a candle. Candle addict? Guilty! If you want these sales sent straight to your inbox, sign up for my newsletter!
Lately, I have become aware that burning scented candles in your home can be a safety concern. Some scented candles can contain harmful toxins that are released into the air while burning.
Who knew?! I never find myself looking at a candle label as I do nutrition labels to see if the ingredients are natural. There are so many things to watch out for these days, so I decided why not make my own candles so I know exactly what is going into them.
It is far easier to make homemade candles than I thought it would be. This project has been on my list for some time now, but I’ll be honest. I avoided it because it seemed a little daunting. I was so wrong!
These make great candles for around the house or an easy gift idea. Mother’s Day is right around the corner or just stock up for easy last-minute gift ideas. That is another great thing about candles, no one is ever mad about receiving one as a gift.
What you’ll need
- Beeswax or soy wax
- Wooden wicks (you can use cotton wicks too!)
- Heat-resistant pouring pitcher
- Essential oils – lavender and lemon
- Glass jars (see below links)
- Lemon zest (optional)
- Lavender flower (optional)
Soak the wicks in olive oil or melted wax for at least 20 minutes. This will help the wick stay lit. This only applies if you are using wooden wicks, cotton wicks will most likely be pre-waxed.
Place the wicks in the iron stands and dip the bottom of the wick in melted wax. Quickly stick the wick to the bottom of the jar in the center. If you are using cotton wicks, you will need clothes pins to keep the wick standing straight up.
Melt the wax in a double boiler set up using a heat-resistant pouring pitcher and a saucepan. Most pitchers for candle making are tall and made of metal. These are the best pitchers for candle making, but you can use a glass Pyrex measuring pitcher like I did.
Bring the water to a boil and then reduce it to a very low simmer. Pour the wax into the pitcher and allow it to melt. Watch the water to make sure it remains at a low simmer. You do not want water to splash into the wax or it will rest at the bottom of the candle once it hardens.
It will take about 30-40 minutes to melt and you can add more wax as it melts. I used about 8 cups of wax to make three candles.
While the wax is melting, warm the jars just slightly in the oven at the lowest temp for 5-10 minutes. This will help prevent cracking when the wax is poured in.
When the wax is completely melted, pour the wax into the center of the jar up to the base of the rim. Remember to use an oven mitt! Add about 5-10 drops of essential oil into the jars.
Allow the candles to cool for 1-2 minutes and then sprinkle the lemon zest or lavender flower on top of the candle. The wax on top should still look melted and just start to cool around the edges. This will allow the zest or flower to sink down slightly into the wax.
Allow the candle to sit for several hours until completely cooled. Once the candles are cooled, trim the wick to 1/3″ above the candle.
For the best burn, the first time you light it allow the candle to burn until there is a melted pool all the way to the edge. Also, knock off any charred pieces of the wick before burning.
If you have any access wax, do not pour it down your sink! Pour it into a container or a paper cup and throw it away.
beeswax vs. soy wax
There are actually several different wax types you can use to make candles. Beeswax, soy wax, granulated wax, palm wax, and paraffin. I prefer either beeswax or soy wax because they are both natural waxes.
Beeswax has a longer burn life because it is more dense. Beeswax also burns cleaner; it doesn’t release any toxic byproducts or heavy soot in the air while burning.
Soy wax is also a great option for candle-making. Soy wax has a lower price point and is derived from soybean making it a vegan product. The downside to soy is that even 100% soy wax has a little paraffin which can release small amounts of toxins into the air.
wooden wick vs. cotton wick
Both wooden and cotton wicks are great choices for your candle. Wooden wicks have a certain style to them and they give a little crackle when burning. They also burn longer and cleaner and are non-toxic and eco-friendly.
Cotton wicks are pre-waxed and traditional, but they require a little more attention during the candle-making process and can be treated with chemicals.
jars for homemade candles
One of the fun parts about makings candles is finding a container to put them in. There are many options like ceramic bowls, tins, and even flower pots but I tend to lean toward glass containers for my candles.
I love that glass allows you to see the color of the candle and how it burns. Glass jars like the ones below, are great for candle making because they can tolerate high heat.
If you want to make more products at home so you know what is going into them. Check out these DIY bath salts, sugar scrubs, or rose hip night cream.
I love this! I’ve been wanting to make candles at home for awhile now. Thanks for the how-to! 🙂
Thanks Maddie! It’s so much fun to make candles at home!