DIY Beeswax candles with essential oils

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I honestly had no clue just how easy it was to make these DIY Beeswax candles with essential oils! Using products that are not only easy to source, but not overburdensome on my bank account.

I don’t know about you, but I would call myself a Pinterest girl back in the day. I would scroll Pinterest looking at all these amazing DIY projects. There was a project for every nook and cranny of my home and every holiday on the calendar. These projects never got done for two reasons:

1) They were overwhelming in steps and

2) I needed a million products just to get it done. 

I am one that hates clutter, so when I see a project requiring a lot of stuff, I move on. NOPE. 

Luckily, this DIY beeswax candle recipe is SUPER easy and budget-friendly as well. These DIY beeswax candles don’t take much time. Fall just began here in Colorado, and I wanted something really easy that I could make to get the cozy vibes going.

*Taylor(Thecleanlivingnurse) is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

Back before I started my non-toxic clean living journey, I would go and stock up on my favorite scents at a well known bath and body store. Come to find out, those candles aren’t so great for our health. I have also found out that there can be a lot of “greenwashing” in the candle business. These companies state that their candles are “non-toxic” but come to find out they really are not.

If you never know the ingredients,  you could potentially be burning a slew of toxins. There are only a few candle companies I trust,  but the problem is I really don’t feel like spending $25 for a small candle that will only last me a couple of days.

Greenwashing is the process of conveying a false impression or misleading information about how a company’s products are environmentally sound. Greenwashing involves making an unsubstantiated claim to deceive consumers into believing that a company’s products are environmentally friendly or have a greater positive environmental impact than they actually do.

Let’s start with the basics of what is in a standard candle:

Are there toxic chemicals in candles?

The problem with burning most candles is that when they are lit, they can release VOCs(Volatile Organic Compounds) into the air. VOCs can be anything from formeldahyde and benzene which are both known carcinogens.

These get released into the air because most candles are made of paraffin wax which is derived usually from petroleum. Sounds relaxing right? Not exactly what I had in mind.

Then comes the actual wick that burns the candle. Although lead-based wicks were banned back in 2003, that did not stop companies from making wicks out of other potentially harmful ingredients. A lot of manufacturers still make their wicks out of heavy metals like zinc. Another potential problem is the wax that the wick is coated in may be from paraffin wax which would then excrete petroleum by-product into the air.

Fragrance

If you have read any of my previous blog posts, you know that “fragrance” is a big offender in my arena. Why? Because the term fragrance is not regulated and can contain up to 4,000 different chemicals. These chemicals can cause allergic reactions, respiratory issues, wreac havoc on our endocrine system, and can be linked to cancer.

Fragrance is also tricky because it might not be labeled as “fragrance” or might not even be labeled at all. It could be labeled as “parfum” or “naturally essenced.” Whenever I am looking at a label, the only acceptable form of fragrance for my home is “naturally essenced with essential oils.”

Paraffin and vegetable waxes

A good amount of conventional candles are still made with paraffin wax, which is made of petroleum, coal or oil shale.  Companies are now getting smarter however and beginning to use soy and or vegetable base such as coconut or apricot as a base for their wax. 

One of the problems of using vegetable-based waxes however is that companies will often times process their waxes by using hexane as an extraction method. Hexane is a chemical commonly extracted from petroleum. Soy is also one of the largest GMO(genetically modified organism) crops in the U.S. which means it is heavily sprayed with pesticides. You definitely do not want to be burning that with your candles.

What is the best wax option?

In my opinion, 100% pure beeswax is the absolute best option for candles. One of the amazing benefits of beeswax is that beeswax helps to purify your air. It’s not just there to cover up a scent. Checkout the amazing benefits of beeswax

• Since beeswax is an all-natural product it doesn’t off-gas any harmful chemicals
• Beeswax produces negative ions which in turn helps to negate the positive charge of air toxins much like an air purifier does
• Burns cleaner and longer since they are 100% natural and not extracted with any chemicals
• Higher burn point which leads to beeswax candles lasting much longer than paraffin candles

There is a better way

The good news is that more companies are now becoming aware that the consumer doesn’t want to risk their health to burn candles in their homes.

More companies now are becoming transparent in their ingredients and using better options. The only issue is that these candles can come with a higher price tag that a lot of people aren’t able to pay.

Can you use essential oils in beeswax candles?

Absolutely! I encourage you to use essential oils as long as they are pure essential oils. This is a great brand I love!

How many drops of essential oils in beeswax candles?

Essential oils naturally will not be as potent smelling as artificial fragrances so this is truly up to your preference. You may have to experiment a bit with how many drops suit your preference. I prefer 20-30 drops, it gives a nice smell.

What essential oils are best for beeswax candles?

Unfortunately, essential oils are also not a regulated industry, so there are a lot of bad brands out there that don’t use pure essential oils extracted from plants. A lot are cut with chemicals to produce them at a cheaper price. The only essential oils I recommend that come at a very good price point and are 100% pure are the Plant Therapy brand.

Let’s dive into how you can make your DIY beeswax candles with essential oils 

I can bet you have at least two if not maybe three of these items needed to make these DIY beeswax candles with essential oils.

• Crockpot 
• Clothing pins
• 100% cotton wicks
• Glass jars(I use leftover jam/jelly jars)
• Tea Kettle
• 100% pure beeswax

(note on beeswax, make sure it is 100 percent organic and made in the U.S.) there is beeswax made in China and it is not regulated so there may be other chemicals mixed in

Step 1 in process

Step 2 Fill crockpot with boiling water

What wax should look like after about 30-45 min

Add 20-30 of favorite essential oil

Place cotton wick into center of candle and secure with clothing pin until wax dries

Trim cotton wick about 1/4 inch from wax

Light and Enjoy!

Troubleshooting:

It may take a little longer for your wax to melt depending on your crockpot and how long it takes to heat up.

Make sure you secure the wick properly with the clothespin otherwise the wick might slip and get stuck sideways making for an uneven burn

Make sure to burn the candle the first time for at least an hour to get an even burn

These DIY beeswax candles with essential oils make such a great gift for someone in your life. Gifting someone a non-toxic beeswax candle is one of the best steps to get someone started on their non-toxic living journey. Ditch the toxins it is so worth it!

I hope you make these awesome, inexpensive and easy DIY beeswax candles, let me know if you try it!