How To Make Beeswax Candles With Essential Oils: Beginner-Friendly DIY
Beeswax candles burn brightly, produce little soot, and release a natural, sweet fragrance as they melt, which is exactly why I keep coming back to them. Beeswax is my favorite base for a scented candle, and once you’ve made one, you’ll understand why.
This is a true beginner’s beeswax candle in every sense. It is straightforward to make, forgiving of small mistakes, and requires very little equipment.
Its simplicity is matched only by its versatility. Change the scent, color, or container, and you have a completely different candle. In fact, you can tweak the basic beeswax candle recipe for every season or occasion.
Add orange mica powder and a few drops of sweet orange essential oil, and you’ve got a cheerful autumn candle. Swap in lavender and a soft lilac dye for a pretty spring gift. The combinations are as limitless as your essential oil collection.
The recipe scales easily too. Buy beeswax in proportion and make multiple batches at once. It’s one of the easiest aromatherapy DIYs, whether you’re making a small batch for your space or a larger batch for gifting.
Table of Contents
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What You’ll Need to Make a Beeswax Candle in a Jar
Ingredients
- 1½ cups Beeswax Pellets
- Essential oils of your choice: about 150 drops (roughly 2 teaspoons)
Equipment
- 8 oz Glass Jar – a wide-mouth jar works best for easy wicking
- Candle Making Kit (includes wicks, wick holders, and pouring pitcher)
- Double boiler or a heat-safe pitcher set in a pot of water
- Thermometer (optional but helpful)
Notes About the Equipment Used or Recommended
Beeswax
Beeswax comes in both white and yellow varieties.
Yellow beeswax retains more of its natural color and very subtle honey scent. White beeswax has been filtered and bleached, giving it a cleaner, paler appearance.
You can use either or mix both types in any ratio. The color of the finished candle will vary slightly depending on which you choose.
Both types of beeswax are natural and non-toxic. Both burn just as beautifully, and both emit a lovely, gentle aroma. Only the color will be different.
8 oz Wide-Mouth Glass Jar
This recipe fills an 8-oz jar perfectly with a little headspace. Two 4-oz jars also work if you’d like to make a pair.
A wide-mouth jar makes wicking much easier.
I used a jar I had at home, but have linked to an interesting set of 7-oz glass jars I found online. You can choose from a wide range of colors in clear or frosted glass. Using a jar in a color that matches the scent or the occasion elevates this project from simple to thoughtful.
I like that the jars in this collection have covers, so you can make a large batch in advance and close the cover to preserve the scent.
Candle-Making Kit
If you’re new to candle making and don’t already have the supplies, the kit linked above is the easiest way to get started without overcommitting.
For a low price, you get everything you need in one order: the pouring pitcher, wicks, wick centering bars, adhesive stickers to secure wicks to the jar, a stirring spoon, a silicone trivet to protect your surface, and a digital thermometer. It’s the perfect beginner’s candle-making kit.
Note: this kit includes soy wax, which you won’t be using for this recipe, but all the other tools work perfectly with beeswax. The beeswax kits were all for advanced candle-makers. You can also buy any of the pieces separately if you’d rather pick up only what you’re missing.
How to Make Beeswax Candles with Essential Oils: Step-by-Step
Step 1: Set Up the Wick in the Jar
Place the wick at the bottom center of the jar.
Most candle-making kits include adhesive wick stickers to hold the wick in place. Press the metal tab firmly to the bottom of the jar so it doesn’t shift when you pour.
Drape the top of the wick over a wick centering tool or rest it across a pencil or chopstick balanced across the jar opening. Keeping the wick centered before adding the wax makes the whole process much easier.
I highly recommend getting your jar ready before you start melting the wax. I say this from experience.
Heated wax can cool quite quickly, even faster if you’re working in a cool room. If the wax starts solidifying before your candle jar is ready, you’ll have to re-melt it. Not a huge deal, but it can get annoying, especially if you have to prepare several jars.
Step 2: Melt the Beeswax Pellets
Add your beeswax pellets to a double boiler or a pouring pitcher set inside a pot of simmering water. Melt on medium-low heat, stirring occasionally.
Beeswax melts around 145–147°F. If you have a thermometer, this is a good moment to use it. Beeswax can scorch if it gets too hot.
If you don’t have one, watch for the pellets to liquefy fully and the wax to become clear and pourable.
This usually takes 15–20 minutes, depending on your heat source.
Keep the heat low and be patient. Rushing this step is the most common reason for beeswax to burn or discolor.
Step 3: Cool Slightly, Then Add Essential Oils
Once the wax is fully melted, remove it from the heat and let it cool for a few minutes until it reaches around 160°F, or until it’s no longer actively steaming but still fully liquid.
This is the moment to add your essential oils. Adding them while the wax is too hot can cause the fragrance to evaporate off before the candle sets. Stir gently to incorporate.
Around 150 drops (roughly 2 teaspoons) works well for a moderate scent level. You can adjust up or down based on how strong you’d like the finished candle to smell.
Step 4: Pour and Set Aside to Harden
Carefully pour the wax into your prepared jar, keeping the wick centered as you go. Pour slowly and evenly.
Set the candle somewhere undisturbed and let it harden completely. This usually takes a few hours at room temperature. Don’t move it while it’s setting.
As the wax cools, it may sink slightly in the center, creating a small depression or cavity. This is completely normal with beeswax. Simply melt a small additional amount of wax and pour a thin top-up layer to fill the dip and level out the surface.
Step 5: Trim the Wick
Once the candle is fully set, trim the wick to about ¼ inch above the wax surface. This length gives the cleanest burn and prevents excess smoke or mushrooming.
Your candle is ready to burn, or wrap up and give as a gift.
Best Essential Oils for Beeswax Candles
Beeswax has a naturally warm, honey-soft quality that pairs beautifully with certain oil families. A few directions that work particularly well:
- Earthy and grounding: Cedarwood, Sandalwood, Vetiver, Frankincense
- Floral: Lavender, Geranium, Ylang Ylang
- Warm and spiced: Cinnamon, Clove, Cardamom, Ginger
- Fresh and citrus: Lemon, Bergamot, Sweet Orange
- Herbal: Rosemary, Eucalyptus, Clary Sage
Beeswax’s subtle honey note is gentle enough that most oils read clearly. Delicate florals like rose can get lost — lean toward oils with a bit of presence if you want the scent to carry when the candle is burning. Here are three simple starting points:
A combination of essential oils will give your candles a more complex aroma.
Here are three simple essential oil blends for scenting beeswax candles:
Soft Floral
- 60 drops Lavender
- 50 drops Geranium
- 40 drops Ylang Ylang
Soft and powdery, with lavender carrying the blend and ylang ylang adding depth. Explore more floral essential oil blends that you can use for beeswax candles.
Bright Citrus
- 70 drops Sweet Orange
- 50 drops Bergamot
- 30 drops Lemon
Warm and uplifting, with bergamot bridging the sweetness of orange and the brightness of lemon. It is one of many citrus essential oil combinations that you will find in this compilation.
If you love the idea of a citrus-scented candle, this lemon peel version takes it one step further – the peel itself becomes a natural candle container.
Fresh Spring
- 60 drops Lavender
- 50 drops Bergamot
- 40 drops Geranium
This is a classic spring diffuser blend – light, green, and just a little floral. It’s the scent equivalent of an open window on a warm spring morning. Get more refreshing blend ideas in this list of spring diffuser blends.
For complete blend collections sorted by mood and season, see the standalone essential oils for candles post. It covers which oils perform best in wax, how much to use, and troubleshooting tips for scent throw.
Tips for Success When Making Beeswax Candles
- Use beeswax pellets, not blocks. Beeswax pellets melt more evenly and are much easier to measure than large blocks.
- Don’t skip the double boiler. Direct heat scorches beeswax quickly. The indirect heat of a water bath gives you much more control.
- Don’t leave melting wax unattended. Beeswax is flammable at very high temperatures. Keep the heat low and stay nearby while it melts.
- The color-to-color note. White beeswax produces a pale, almost cream-colored candle. Yellow beeswax gives a warmer, golden tone. Mixing the two lands somewhere in between – a soft ivory that looks lovely in a clear glass jar.
- Patience with cooling. Beeswax takes longer to set than soy wax. Give it several hours before disturbing or burning.
- Top up the candle to cover up sink-holes. As it cools, beeswax can develop sink-holes, as you see in the image above. Melting the leftover wax and pouring it lightly over the top of the candle is the easiest way to cover up the depression created.
Ideas for Customizing Homemade Beeswax Candles
One of the best things about this recipe is how completely it can be transformed with two simple additions: a mica powder for color and a complementary essential oil blend for scent.
Match the two and you have a candle that feels intentional and finished, not just “a candle” but a specific candle for a specific mood or moment.
Add mica powder at the same time as your essential oils, stirring gently to distribute the color evenly throughout the wax.
Start with a small amount, around ¼ teaspoon per batch, and adjust until you reach the depth of color you want.
Soft Purple + Lavender
Stir light purple mica into the cooled wax and use the Soft Floral blend above. The result is a pale, dusty lilac candle that smells exactly as it looks – quiet, powdery, and genuinely lovely.
This one makes a beautiful gift on its own, and it pairs perfectly with a small bunch of dried lavender tucked alongside it.
Warm Orange + Sweet Orange
Orange mica gives the wax a warm, sun-kissed glow. Pair it with the Bright Citrus blend, and the whole candle reads like a late summer afternoon.
The color and scent reinforce each other in a way that feels considered rather than accidental. This combination also works beautifully for autumn: deepen the mica to a burnt orange or amber shade and swap bergamot for a drop of cardamom or clove.
Natural Beeswax + No Color
Worth mentioning: the candle in its natural state – pale cream or warm gold depending on your wax – is genuinely beautiful without any additions.
If you use yellow beeswax, the warm honey tone of the finished candle is enough on its own.
Leave it uncolored and unscented and it still looks elegant in a clear glass jar.
Frequently Asked Questions about Making Beeswax Candles with Essential Oils
Can I use any essential oil in beeswax candles?
Most essential oils work well, but very delicate florals may not emit a strong scent when burning. Bolder oils tend to give better scent throw.
Why did my candle sink in the middle?
Beeswax contracts as it cools, which often creates a small depression. A simple top-up pour of fresh melted wax fills it in completely.
How many drops of essential oil should I use?
Around 150 drops (about 2 teaspoons) per 1½ cups of wax gives a noticeable but not overwhelming scent. Adjust based on your preference.
How long do beeswax candles last?
Beeswax burns slower and longer than paraffin or soy. Burn time depends on the jar size, but beeswax candles typically last significantly longer than similarly sized paraffin candles.
Can I use fragrance oils instead of essential oils?
Yes. Fragrance oils are a common choice in candle making and typically have stronger scent throw than essential oils. The process is the same.
Ready to Make Your First Batch of Beeswax Candles with Essential Oils?
Beeswax candles are one of the most satisfying natural DIY projects. They are quick to make, genuinely beautiful, and something you’ll actually use or want to give away as gifts.
The recipe is simple enough to become a go-to, and once you start experimenting with essential oil combinations, the whole process becomes immensely more enjoyable.
If you’re ready to keep going, this lemon peel candle is just as beginner-friendly and uses the same beeswax base.
And when you’re ready to level up, the soy wax rose garden candle is a gorgeous project with wax flower decorations on top. It takes a little more time to make the wax flower decorations but the process itself is surprisingly easy!
