Making Beeswax Candles
Thinking about making beeswax candles? What a great idea. Beeswax candles are somewhat more expensive to make than other candles, but there is good reason. Candles made with beeswax often burn longer than other candles, and they hardly drip. Because these 100% natural candles drip less, they are often used in churches and other venues that burn candles frequently and for long time periods. Beeswax candles also emit a nice sweet fragrance. If you are looking at making beeswax candles, there are just a few things you need to know before jumping in with both feet.
For more info & ideas on making beeswax candles
check out my sister Sarah’s ebook collection
Secrets to Successful Candle Making
First, what type of candle do you want to make? How about a pillar candle…which is created by rolling a sheet of beeswax around a wick? Do you want to make hand dipped beeswax candles? Do you want to make your beeswax candles with a mold? Once you know what direction you want to go, the rest is a piece of cake.
What’s so great about beeswax?
It’s an all natural substance made by bees as opposed to paraffin, a petroleum by-product. Beeswax candles burn with the spectrum of the sun emitting a brighter, longer burning flame. It is said that a burning beeswax candle emits negative ions which clean the air and invigorate the body.
Beeswax gets its color and smell from the honey and pollen packed into each honeycomb cell. The color variation of beeswax candles depends on the floral source of the pollen.
Making Beeswax Candles with Honeycomb Sheets
I love this project, and you too will see just how simple and fun this project is to do. It’s great for bonding with the kids and a great place to start learning how to make candles at home.
The items you will need are readily available:
- Scissors
- Large cutting board
- Honeycomb Beeswax Sheets
Honeycomb beeswax sheets are not often found at local craft/hobby stores. However, you can purchase all your supplies online. Use an internet search engine and search for honeycomb beeswax sheets. You may be surprised at how many sites come up and the variety of colors available!
- Wick
You can purchase at a local craft store or online with your honeycomb beeswax sheets.
That’s it in terms of supplies. Let’s roll…and I mean that literally.
Place one beeswax sheet on your cutting board. At the narrow edge, gently press down wick. On one side leave approximately ½ inch of wick extended over edge of wax sheet and cut.
Carefully begin curving the wax up and over the wick. The warmth of your hands will help the wax from becoming brittle. If you’re cold blooded 
, use a hairdryer, but be careful not to get carried away and melt the wax sheet. Keep manipulating the wax over the wick until a roll is started.
Once the roll is started, use your fingers to evenly (and fairly tightly) roll the rest of the way down the sheet. When you reach the end, gently press the wax edge with your fingertips to create a seal.
You will find that the wax is pretty forgiving, so if necessary you can unroll a section and re-roll. Take your time and enjoy the process.
Before lighting candle, cut your wick to ¼ inch.
Never leave candles unattended or within reach of children or pets. Always place candle on a non-flammable surface and away from a draft.
Tips
One beeswax sheet will make one taper. To make a thick pillar candle simply overlap sheets by ¼ inch. You may add as many sheets as you like. Ten sheets will make a pillar that is about ten inches in diameter.
Beeswax candles will naturally drip less. To make your candles totally dripless, place them in the freezer for a few hours.
When lighting a pillar for the first time, let it burn for only the size liquid well you desire. For example…about ½ inch on either side of wick. Snuff out and let cool. When you re-light the pillar, the well will not go past the well size that you have established.
Pairs of tapered pillars wrapped in tissue with streaming ribbons or make fabulous gifts.
I hope you enjoyed this “making beeswax candles” video and text overview. Now get out there and put what you’ve learned into making some fabulous beeswax candles.
For more info & ideas on making beeswax candles
check out my sister Sarah’s ebook collection
Secrets to Successful Candle Making
