Making homemade lavender candles is a rewarding and creative process that allows you to control the ingredients and enjoy a natural, calming fragrance in your home. It's relatively simple to do with the right supplies.
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Bring the lavender idea from this article into your home with these Island Lavender favorites.
Key Components of a Homemade Candle
Before we dive into the steps, here are the essential elements you'll need:
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Wax: The base of your candle. Popular choices for homemade candles include soy wax (natural, clean-burning, holds fragrance well, ideal for container candles), beeswax (natural, subtle honey scent, long burn time), or paraffin wax (traditional, good scent throw, versatile). Soy wax is often recommended for beginners due to its ease of use.
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Wicks: These need to be appropriate for the type and size of your candle and wax. Cotton wicks are common, and you'll find them pre-tabbed (with a metal base) for easy adherence to the container. Look for lead-free wicks.
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Container: Glass jars (like mason jars), heat-safe ceramic bowls, or metal tins are popular choices. Ensure they are clean, dry, and can withstand heat.
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Lavender Scent:
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Lavender Essential Oil: This is the most effective way to add fragrance to your candle. Use a high-quality, pure Lavandula angustifolia (true lavender) essential oil for the best scent and therapeutic benefits.
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Dried Lavender Buds: These are primarily for decoration and visual appeal. It's crucial to use them safely, as dried botanicals can pose a fire risk if they get too close to the burning wick. They are best pressed flat against the sides of the container or used sparingly and submerged in the wax to avoid direct contact with the flame.
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Step-by-Step Guide to Making Lavender Candles
This guide focuses on using soy wax in a container, which is ideal for beginners.
Materials You'll Need:
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Soy Wax Flakes: (Enough to fill your containers when melted – you'll need about 1 lb of wax flakes for every 2 standard pint-sized mason jars).
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Lavender Essential Oil: (Approx. 0.5-1 oz per pound of wax, adjust to desired strength)
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Candle Wicks (pre-tabbed): Choose the correct size wick for your container's diameter.
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Glass Containers: Clean, heat-safe jars or tins.
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Double Boiler: Or a heat-safe pouring pot and a larger saucepan for a DIY double boiler.
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Candle Thermometer: Crucial for monitoring wax temperature.
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Wick Holders/Centering Devices: (e.g., clothespins, chopsticks, specialized wick clips) to keep the wick centered.
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Wick Stickers or Hot Glue Gun: To secure the wick tab to the bottom of the container.
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Scissors: For trimming wicks.
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(Optional) Dried Lavender Buds (for decoration only, use sparingly and safely): Pressed lavender works best to adhere to the sides of the jar.
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(Optional) Candle Dye: For a lavender color.
Instructions:
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Prepare Your Containers and Wicks:
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Ensure your containers are sparkling clean and completely dry.
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Secure a wick to the center bottom of each container using a wick sticker or a dab of hot glue. Press firmly.
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Use wick holders or clothespins resting across the top of the jar to keep the wick upright and centered while you pour the wax.
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Melt the Wax:
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Measure your soy wax flakes. A good rule of thumb is to fill your container with flakes twice to get enough melted wax.
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Place the wax flakes in a double boiler or your pouring pot, which is placed inside a larger pot filled with a few inches of water.
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Heat the water over medium heat. The wax will slowly melt. Do not melt wax directly over high heat, as it can scorch or become a fire hazard.
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Monitor the wax temperature with your thermometer. Soy wax typically melts around 170-180°F (77-82°C).
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Add Essential Oil and (Optional) Dye/Botanicals:
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Once the wax is fully melted and has reached the recommended temperature (often around 185°F / 85°C for essential oil, but check your wax's specific instructions), remove it from the heat.
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Add your lavender essential oil. The general guideline is 0.5 to 1 ounce of essential oil per pound of wax. Stir gently but thoroughly for at least 1-2 minutes to ensure the oil is fully incorporated into the wax.
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If using candle dye, add it now and stir until fully blended.
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If adding dried lavender buds for decoration: This is the tricky part for safety. If using whole buds, some crafters wait until a thin layer of wax has set on the bottom and then sprinkle a few buds around the wick, being careful to keep them away from where the flame will be. However, the safest method is to press dried lavender (or other botanicals) flat against the inside of the jar with a thin layer of wax before pouring the main candle, ensuring they are well below the eventual top of the wax and far from the wick.
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Pour the Wax:
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Allow the wax to cool slightly before pouring. The ideal pouring temperature for soy wax is often around 130-140°F (54-60°C), but this can vary by wax brand. Pouring at the right temperature helps prevent cracks or frosting on the candle surface.
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Carefully pour the melted wax into your prepared containers, leaving about 1/2 to 1 inch of space from the top.
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Ensure your wicks remain centered as you pour.
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Cure and Trim:
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Allow the candles to cool and set completely undisturbed, ideally for 24-48 hours (or even longer, up to 1-2 weeks for optimal scent throw). This "curing" process allows the wax to fully harden and the fragrance to bind with the wax.
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Once fully cooled and hardened, trim the wicks to 1/4 inch above the wax. This is crucial for a clean, safe burn.
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Safety Tips for Making and Burning Homemade Candles:
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Never leave melting wax unattended.
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Use a thermometer to avoid overheating wax, which can be a fire hazard and degrade your essential oils.
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Keep dried botanicals away from the wick. Botanicals can catch fire if exposed directly to the flame. If you use them, ensure they are embedded deeply in the wax or pressed against the sides of the container, well below the flame's reach.
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Ventilation: Work in a well-ventilated area, especially when melting wax and adding essential oils.
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Proper Wick Size: An incorrectly sized wick can cause tunneling (wax doesn't burn to the edges) or an excessively large flame. Follow wick manufacturer guidelines for your wax and container.
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Burn Safely:
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Always burn candles on a heat-resistant surface and within sight.
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Keep candles away from drafts, flammable materials, children, and pets.
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Trim the wick to 1/4 inch before each use to ensure a clean burn and prevent soot.
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Don't burn a candle for more than 3-4 hours at a time to prevent the container from overheating.
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Discontinue use when 1/2 inch of wax remains in the container.
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With these steps and safety tips, you'll be able to create beautiful, aromatic lavender candles to enjoy in your home!
