Beeswax candles are my ultimate favorite source of light. Well, beeswax candles or fires, and since we can’t have a fireplace, I’ll be satisfied with the candles. That beauty and ambiance come at a premium price when purchasing premade candles, however, so I decided to make my own. Read below how you can quickly and inexpensively create your own as well!

How to Choose a Container for Beeswax Candles

One of my favorite parts of pouring my own beeswax candles is that I can choose whatever jar or container I’d like to hold the candle. I found these two gorgeous glass and ceramic containers at the thrift store for only one dollar each! Make sure you stick to only glass or ceramic containers – plastic will, of course, melt. 

You can be so creative here – I love to browse the aisles of the thrift store looking for unique containers to give as gifts or to decorate specific parts of my home with. The options truly are endless! Of course, upcycling a jar you already have is a perfectly thrifty and economical choice that is just as charming. 

Wick Options

Next, consider which type of wick you would like for your candles. I love to use beeswax-coated hemp wick, which I have found at a great price. Wood-burning wicks are also an option. They typically require some extra effort but are a fun addition to your homemade candles. Keep in mind that beeswax burns quite slowly, so we need to find a sturdy wick. Sometimes I even double up on the wooden and hemp wicks for a stronger flame – but be sure to be cautious that it doesn’t get out of hand! 

Beeswax Candles: pellets vs. bricks

Most importantly, you will need beeswax. This is the brand I purchase. They sell both bricks and pellets. but bricks are significantly more affordable. I simply melt a whole brick at a time and pour multiple candles. It takes slightly longer to melt but as long as you can be patient and not overheat, it should be fine. 

Pot or Double Broiler

Lastly, a pot. Beeswax will ruin your pot. Please please please just use an old pot you don’t use or head to the thrift store for one. I grabbed one from my local thrift for under 2 dollars and saved my nice stainless steel from ruin! You can also do a double-broiler situation using a stainless or glass bowl over a pot of boiling water. Either one works in my experience, but a pot will take a lot more babysitting than the double broiler! 

A few other things that you will need are; scissors to trim the wicks, coconut oil to mix with the beeswax (optional), and hot glue or wick holders to keep the wicks in place as you pour. I typically use a chopstick to aid in the stabilizing process for the hemp wicks!

Now that you have all of your supplies gathered, on to the fun part!

Step-by-Step Instructions

Over low heat, melt your desired amount of beeswax. As a general rule of thumb, 0.2 pounds will make a 4 oz candle. If you are using the 1-pound brick, that means you can make about 5 candles out of one melt! I sometimes will add a bit of coconut oil to stretch my beeswax but more on that later. 

Keep an eye on your wax and do not let it come to a boil! Low and slow is the name of the game here! At this point, if you would like to dilute the beeswax with some coconut oil you can. I typically will do ⅕  coconut oil. So, for example, if I have 1 pound of beeswax, I will add .25 pounds of coconut oil. I have not tried out higher concentrations but if you do, let me know how it goes in the comments! 

Once everything has melted, turn off the heat and move the pan off of the warm burner. Now is the time to place the wicks. 

Depending on the width of your jars, you may decide to add more than one wick. I recommend a distance of at least ¾” from the edge of the jar to the wick. Measure the length needed for the wick, then add 2-3” to wrap around the chopstick or pencil for stability. If using the wooden wick, it should come precut. Either hot glue the base of the wick holder to the bottom of the jar, or hot glue the wick itself to the bottom of the jar. If you are going the latter route, I recommend adding the beeswax a bit more slowly to prevent shifting, so there is a more even burn. 

 Hopefully, your wax has somewhat cooled by this point but is still pourable. Slowly and carefully pour the wax into the containers. Allow the wax to set for 2 days. If your home is cold, be sure to set your candles in a warm place to prevent cracks from forming in the setting wax. 

That’s it! Trim your wicks to ¼” and enjoy the slow, beautiful burn of a homemade beeswax candle. Upcycle those jam jars and light your home as we wind down these days of winter and hopefully await spring! 

I’d love to see how your beeswax candles turn out on Instagram @makeshifthomestead! Leave me any questions or comments below. 

See y’all next time!