Back Acres: How to Make Beeswax Candles - with Citronella

Over the winter my wife traded two wreaths - that she had crafted - for two jars of honey and a plateful of Beeswax. The trade was detailed in this post: Barter System: Scored Two Large Jars of Ontario Honey and a Plate Full of Beeswax. After a recent successful trade with another one of her wreaths for a small bottle of citronella essential oil - my wife made five candles with the beeswax and citronella oil - while I carefully documented the process.

I do enjoy the beeswax and citronella combined - a sweet and fresh scent. Citronella essential oil is said to have bug repelling properties. I did burn a store bought citronella candle on my breezy patio this past summer and it didn't seem to help with the swarm of bugs. I'm curious see if these hand crafted candles with citronella added will be more repelling. Beeswax burns slower than paraffin wax and with no drips if there is no breeze. Beeswax candles also burn clean with no smoke. Paraffin wax comes from the dregs of petroleum processing. It's extracted after asphalt, then bleached and treated with chemicals to make it ready to burn inside your home. I prefer beeswax. Paraffin Information Source: Beeswax Candles and Allergies: An Effective Solution.

The Candle Ingredients:

• 450 grams (1 lbs) of Beeswax
• 1/2 cup of coconut oil - this is what allows the citronella to combine with the beeswax
• 10 drops of citronella essential oil
• 5 small Jars for the candles (only 3 in the picture)
• 5 candle wicks and sticks

The Candle Making Tools

• Large Sauce Pan - filled half way with water after the melting can has been placed in the center of the pan.
• Melting Can - a large soup can to melt the ingredients. The wax is hard to clean off afterwards, so it is best to have a dedicated melting can.
• Stir Stick - for stirring the melting ingredients. We used a stick that had fallen off of a tree. The stir stick should also be dedicated for this purpose - it's hard to clean the wax off.
• Heating Element or Stove Top - to boil the water in the large sauce pan.
• Oven Mitts or Gloves - to handle the warm melting can while pouring the candles.

Double Boiler Melting

A double boiler is needed for a consistent and not too hot temperature. Beeswax has a low temperature burning point. Without the double boiler the beeswax can be easily over heated and burn. The sauce pan goes on the stove top. The melting can with half of the bees wax goes in the center of the sauce pan. The sauce pan is half way filled with water and brought to a boil.

• Add Half of the beeswax to the soup can, stir occasionally until melted.
• Add the other half of the beeswax, stir occasionally until melted.

• 1/2 cup of coconut oil goes in the soup can after the beeswax has melted

Beeswax by itself does not mix well with citronella, this is why the coconut oil is added. It will hold the scent of the citronella - and combine with the beeswax.

• 10 drops of citronella essential oil is added after the coconut oil has melted

Watch the video below of the candle ingredients being added to the double boiler.

After the beeswax, coconut oil, and citronella oil have been melted together in the melting can, the candles are ready to pour. In the picture below you can see the candle jars and the sticks with the wicks tied to them. We added another jar and stick with wick after we realized we had enough wax for five candles.

Candle Pouring and Wick Adding

In the pair of pictures below you can see the candle pouring and wick adding process. The picture on the left shows the first half of the candle pour and wick adding process:

• A small amount of wax is poured into the jar.
• The wick bottom is put at the bottom and center the jar, in the wax.
• 8 seconds later the bottom of the wick is anchored in the small amount of quickly dried wax.

• In the picture above-right you can see that the wick is pulled gently straight up while the remaining wax for the candle is poured.
• After the all wax for the candle has been poured into the jar, gently roll the wick onto the stick until the wick is straight and centered - the stick rolls down to rest on the rim of the jar.

Click below to watch to beeswax candle pour and wick straightening demonstration video.

In the pictures below you can see the freshly poured beeswax candles with a nice citronella and beeswax scent. The lighter color candles were poured first.

After 24 hours the candles have completely hardened and are ready use.

• Snip the excess candle wicks down to the desired length.

The beeswax candles with citronella are complete.

Beeswax Candle Burn Test

We burned one of the candles for about 7-1/2 hours collectively - smells very nice - the candle is almost half burned down. According to our calculations, we have estimated these to be 15-hour-burn candles :)

Have a great day!