How to Make Pine Cone Candles and Firestarters

Pine cones make perfect candles and fire-starters, as well as inexpensive seasonal gifts and holiday ornaments. With a few household items and one free afternoon, you can dip and decorate enough pine cones to last the entire winter season.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Pine cones
• Wax paper
• Paraffin or used candles
• String or candle wick
• 1 or more tin cans or coffee tins
• Double boiler or sauce pot
• Pencil or crochet hook
• Egg carton or newspaper

1. Make sure pine cones are free of seeds by placing cones in a single layer on a metal cookie sheet or pizza pan. Place pan into a very low (170 degree F) oven for about 5 minutes or until the cone opens and seeds fall out.

2. Cool pine cones on a single sheet of waxed paper.

3. Start at the bottom, the fattest part of the pine cone, and wrap a length of candle wicking or a string coated in melted wax around the pine cone.

4. Use a pencil or crochet hook to press the wick in as you wind it around and up toward the cone top.

5. Secure the wick at the top and the base with a dab of glue. When you reach the top, leave about an inch of extra string for lighting and then snip off the string.

6. Fill a double boiler about halfway to two-thirds full with water and set on low heat to warm. Keep heat even and very low.

7. Place a block of paraffin or a handful of assorted, used candle ends into a tin can or coffee tin. Make sure the tin can is wider than any of the pine cones you’ll be dipping.

8. Place the tin container into the warming water and allow the wax to melt slowly. Do not allow it to bubble.

9. Hold each pine cone by its top string, and dip into melted wax until coated.

10. Place the wet pine cones on an open egg carton or newspaper to dry.

11. Replenish the wax periodically by adding paraffin and individual candle ends to the tin. If using colored candle ends, use single colors or similar colors in each batch.

12. Create multi-colored candles or fire-starters by allowing the first coat of wax to dry, then dipping the pine cone in a second tin of melted wax, or melting the desired second color and drizzling wax over pine cone.

13. Dip the pine cone repeatedly, allowing it to dry before re-dipping, until it wears about 1/2 inch of wax, if you will be using it as a candle. For use as a fire-starter, dip the candle 2 or 3 times, allowing it to dry between dippings.

Tips & Warnings

• When ready to light a fire with your pine cone fire-starter, wedge the pine cone underneath a stack of kindling and light the wick.
• Candles and fire-starters may be used for holiday decorations or gifts. To decorate, sprinkle glitter lightly over waxed pine cone while it is still warm.
• To use pine cones as holiday tree ornaments, wrap a short piece of florist’s wire or an ornament hook around the cone tip. Bend wire to form a hanging hook at the end.
• Use only very low heat when drying pine cones and melting wax, as both are flammable materials.