Making Bees Wax Candles

By: Melissa Martinez - Updated: 26 Sep 2012 | *Discuss

 

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Beeswax is truly the best wax to use to make candles. It burns much cleaner than the common paraffin and gel wax which means less unsightly smoke while being more environmentally friendly. They also have very little drip, which means less chance of wax burns or melted wax staining your table. Another advantage of beeswax candles is that they last much longer than a regular candle, so you don't have to spend as much money or buy them as frequently.

What You Will Need:

• Beeswax in either sheet or block form
• Knife to cut wax
• A double boiler, kettle or candle melting device
• Thermometer
• Candle wicks
• Small funnel (optional)
• Candle dye (optional)
• Candle scents (optional)
• A spoon or wooden stirrer
• Fireproof candle holders or molds

Making the Candle

1. Cut the beeswax into small pieces and place in the double boiler, kettle or melting device. Use only medium heat and keep a very close eye on it to make sure it doesn't scorch.
2. Once the wax begins to melt, slowly stir to even out the heat and help it melt faster. Use your thermometer to check the temperature.
3. Once the wax is melted and reaches a temperature of 77 but no more than 82 degrees Celsius

4. If you wish to add any colour; do so now. If you have liquid colour, drop it in two drops at a time and quickly stir with your spoon or wooden stirrer until desired colour is achieved.

5. If you wish to add candle scents; do so now as well. Candle scents are usually highly concentrated, so a little goes a long way. If you want a fragrant (but not overpowering) scent, try using 30ml of scent per half kilo of beeswax.

6. Prepare your candle holders for pouring by placing an appropriately-sized wick in it. If you are using glass holders, you may want to heat the glass in the oven to about 65 degrees Celsius. This will reduce any air bubbles or soft spots that may form on the sides and let them burn longer.
7. Use a small amount of candle adhesive to hold the wick to the bottom of the holder or mold if it does not stand up on its own. Most come with a small metal piece on the bottom to help them stand but they may still need help.

8. Making sure the temperature has not dropped below 75 degrees Celsius, slowly pour the candles into your candle mold using your kettle or a small funnel
9. Cut your wick down to 5 centimetres

10. Let the candle cool completely before burning. Enjoy!

Tips, Tricks and Cautions

• There are thin sheets of beeswax that can simply be rolled into candles, instead of melting them down. These are easier to make but don't last as long and the sheets are harder to find and much more expensive.
• Only use approved dyes for candles. Items such as crayons are water based and won't mix with the wax, meaning your candle may not burn properly or at all.
• Only use approved candle scents. If you use items like perfume they could ignite when coming in contact with flame and cause injury.
• Never leave a burning candle unattended
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