Winter DIY Project: How To Make Your Own (Lavender) Candles
It’s winter. Or at least feels like it, if not officially here yet. It’s colder outside, daylight is at a premium, and you are spending more time indoors. What better idea than to light a candle during these dark hours and enjoy watching the little flame dance with light? Additionally, a candle can provide hope, relaxation, and festive cheer—perfect for winter!
DIY-ing candles are surprisingly easy with the right materials and only a little patience. This post will take you through how to make a basic lavender-scented candle.
Materials
Candle container: you can either use a metal container or a glass jar
Wax: I recommend using this beeswax. As yellow beeswax, it has a slight honey scent. To avoid the honey scent, get white beeswax.
Wick: the size of the wick depends on the diameter of your chosen container. The wick shown in this post’s pictures is actually too large for the container and yields a larger flame. On the flip side, if your wick is too small, you will only burn the wax in the center of your candle (of course you can solve this by torching the wax at the sides every so often to allow the wax to burn evenly).
Wick Anchor: necessary to keep the wick upright as the candle burns to the end! I reused an old one, but you can use these (just pinch the top to ensure it grabs the wick).
Stirring utensil: to stir the hot melting wax to quicken melting time and to mix in the lavender essential oil.
Pan: stove pan to hold the containers melting the wax. I sacrificed a pan (nearing the end of its non-stick life) specifically for this purpose so I don’t have to worry about cleaning wax from the pan.
Lavender Essential Oil: I recommend this one, as no chemicals are used to harvest the oil. And it smells divine!
Glass beaker or other additional container for melting wax: I used both the candle container and a glass beaker.
Process
The first step is to melt the wax needed for the candle. To melt wax, pour enough water into the pan to partially submerge or allow a container holding the wax to float. Boil the water and then place the container holding the wax into the pan. I used both the candle container and a glass beaker to hold the melting wax. Stirring the wax will help speed the melting process along.
While the wax is melting, cut the appropriate amount of wick needed and attach an anchor to the wick. The anchor is necessary to help the wick stay upright as you burn through the candle. Without the anchor the wick will fall over once enough wax is melted and therefore shorten the lifespan of your candle.
Once the wax is melted, add the lavender essential oil just before removing the wax container from the heated water. Add approximately 50 drops of lavender essential oil, but this amount is based on your scent strength preference. In general, I would recommend adding double the amount you think you need. The beeswax I use smells a bit of honey, so I am balancing the lavender with the honey scent.
Pour all the melted wax into the candle container and remove the candle container from the heated water. Once the container is removed from the heat, the wax will start to cool. Immediately place the wick, anchor end first, into the container. Center the wick and ensure that it is vertically straight as possible so the flame doesn’t fall over as the candle burns.
Secure the wick with a pencil or other utensil and let the candle sit overnight to allow the wax to cool and solidify. After only an hour the wax at first may look like it’s solid, but that is only the surface. Wait until the container feels cool to the touch. Cut the wick to appropriate length for burning safely.
Safety Note
Never leave a candle burning unattended and have the container rest on a heat-safe surface. If you use a metal container as I did in this project, be sure to place the candle on a tile surface before burning.
You have now completed your first candle! May the flickering flame bring you peace and warmth over these cold winter nights with the relaxing scent of lavender. For more at-home crafts and relaxation, check out these posts:
Knitting: Home Craft Project and Holiday Gift?
Insomnia: Tips to Beat Stress for More Zzz
