Did you know that you can make 100% natural candles using herbs and dried flowers? When I’m home in the evening, I love to use candles to create a nice cozy atmosphere and relax. However, store-bought candles contain a lot of chemicals, and that’s why I decided to make my own, using herbs and flowers from my garden.
Ingredients and Step-by-Step Procedure
Ingredients for 2 candles:
- 4 x Cups soy Flakes or beeswax
- 2 x Wicks with metal base
- 20–30 drops of essential oil (I used thyme & cedar wood)
- Dry lavender flowers
- Dry orange slices
- 2 x glass or metal jars
- 1 x Skewer or chopstick to mix
How To Make Your DIY Candles:
- Melt soil wax using a double boiler and heat gently.
- Pour your vegetable oil into a small cup or container
- Cut the cotton string and wick it with a metal base
- Secure the string and soak it with vegetable oil
- Set to dry and once dried, skewer to hold the shape
- Dip the metal base into the melted wax and secure it inside your jar
- Pour melted wax and add 20/30 drops of essential oils
- Add dry lavender flowers and dry orange slices inside the jar and leave it to set
- Allow the candle to cool and harden completely. (This can take several hours.) Trim the wick to about 1/4 inch before lighting and enjoy
Why Make Your Own Candles?
Before we dive into the step-by-step process, let’s explore the benefits of making your own candles.
Natural Ingredients: Commercial candles often contain paraffin, a petroleum byproduct, and artificial fragrances that can release harmful toxins when burned. By making your own candles, you control the ingredients, opting for natural waxes like soy or beeswax and pure essential oils.
Customization: Create candles that are uniquely yours. Choose your favorite flowers, blend essential oils to create a signature scent, and select the perfect container that matches your decor or serves as a thoughtful gift.
Cost-Effective: DIY candles can be more economical in the long run. Once you have the basic supplies, the cost per candle decreases significantly, allowing you to indulge in your candle-making hobby without breaking the bank.
Eco-Friendly: Use reusable containers and sustainable materials to reduce waste. Plus, repurposing old jars and incorporating dried flowers from your garden gives new life to items that might otherwise be discarded.
Therapeutic: The process of making candles can be incredibly relaxing. The act of melting wax, mixing scents, and arranging flowers can be a meditative experience, providing a creative outlet and reducing stress.
Additional Tips
- Balance the Scents: You can start with a small number of essential oil drops and adjust to your preference. Also, too much oil can affect the burning quality.
- Flower Placement: Avoid adding too many dry flowers, as they can act as a secondary wick and affect how your candle burns.
- Safety First: Lighting up your DIY candle is fun but always monitor your candles when burning, and keep them away from flammable objects.
Creating DIY candles is an enjoyable experience and a great bonding activity between family and friends. You can experiment with which herbs and flowers suit your taste and play around with different oils. This is also an amazing, eco-friendly gift for any occasion.
Try it and have fun!
