How do You Make a Candle Without Beeswax or Paraffin? – Simple Step-by-Step Guide!
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Is it possible to make a candle without beeswax or paraffin? What base product should I use? Which wicks work best? How about adding fall scents? Here’s how to do it!
Wax-Free Candles: How Do You Make Them?
I can’t believe it’s already November! It’s time to whip out the baggy sweaters, and cozy blankets and prepare my favorite spiced drinks! But you know what else I can’t do without during this time of the year? A fragrant candle! They enhance the zen-like atmosphere in the home so effortlessly and if you light up enough of them they can actually keep you pretty warm! However, what makes this experience truly enjoyable is when you decorate with candles that you’ve made yourself! How do you feel about trying something new this year? We’re all familiar with the ones made of paraffin and their more organic substitute – beeswax. But what if I told you that you don’t need either of those to make beautiful, heavenly-scented candles? Let me show you how to do it!
Why Choose This Type of Homemade Candle?
There are very few things quite as cozy as lighting up a scented candle at home. However, it’s important to be extremely cautious and particular about their chemical compound. Some researchers suggest that, when lit, candles release traces of toluene and benzene into the air. Without proper ventilation, exposure to these dangerous chemical compounds can irritate the eyes, nose, throat, and skin. It can also cause headaches, dizziness, anxiety, and disorientation. Between paraffin and beeswax-based candles, the latter is definitely the healthier option. Not only that, but they also burn much slower, which also makes them cost-efficient.
What Oil Should I Use to Make a Wax-Free Candle?
To make a wax-free candle, you’ll need some kind of oil, at best edible or at least safe and of natural origin, which remains in a solid form at room temperature. Animal fats such as lard are not a preferable option, although they can also be used. The most commonly used oils are shea butter, coconut, and ghee.
Read also: How to make an Advent wreath with candles? Easy DIY tutorial plus 17 great design ideas!
Melting Point of Suitable Oils
Probably one of the most important things to keep in mind after choosing your candle oil is the melting point of the various lipid materials. This means knowing the temperature at which they will go from solid to liquid.
- Coconut oil – 22°C – 24°C (71.6°F – 75.2°F)
- Lard – around 30°C (86°F)
- Shea butter – 28°C – 35°C (82.4°F – 95°F )
- Ghee (clarified butter) – around 42°C (107.6°F)
How to Make a Candle Without Beeswax or Paraffin: Step-by-Step
Without further ado, here’s how to make a wax-free candle, using organic ingredients from your own pantry! It’s simple to make, non-toxic, and easy to customize with your favorite scents. For our candles, we decided to use shea butter. Here’s the complete list of supplies you’ll need:
- 1 cup shea butter
- 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
- wooden candle wick
- 250 ml glass jar or larger
- 5 drops of essential oils of your choice or seasonal spices/herbs
- food coloring (optional)
*Some common spices or aromatics to use in fall and winter are cardamom, cinnamon (use with caution), nutmeg, cloves, ginger and star anise.
First, melt shea butter and olive oil in a bain-marie. To do this, fill a saucepan with water, bring it to a boil, and reduce the heat to medium-low. Place a heat-resistant glass container with the oils on top of the saucepan and stir frequently until they have melted completely. If you choose to use the microwave, melt them in a microwave-safe bowl a couple of times for 30 seconds each, and check the thickness of the mixture every time.
Take a long wooden candle wick and cut it so that its length exceeds the depth of your glass jar by 1.5-2 cm. Use a couple of drops of your melted oils to attach the stick vertically to the bottom of your glass jar. Make sure you stick it right in the center of your container and hold it in place for a few minutes until the oils harden. If you’re having trouble with this step, you can also use a hot glue gun.
Pour the oil slowly into the container. If you decide to do so add the essential oils, the spices and herbs, and the food coloring. The oily substance will begin to solidify almost immediately, but you’ll need to let it set completely, which may take several minutes or a few hours, depending on the size of the candle and the room temperature. There you have it: now you know how to make a wax-free candle!
Read also: How to Reuse Candle Jars – 7 Creative Ways That’ll Make Your Life Easier