How to Make Botanical Candles

Botanical candles make an elegant display in a home, and they make beautiful handcrafted gifts for holidays and special occasions. They can be a bit tricky to make, as mixing herbs and flowers directly into the wax while making candles can be a fire hazard. There is a trick to it, so with a little effort you can make your own botanical candles.

Things You'll Need

• Two candle molds Double boiler Wick Paraffin Grater or knife Long spoon or paint stirrer Nail Hammer Disposable aluminum pan Mold-release spray Mold sealer Pot holder Pencil Tight-fitting metal pot lid Essential oils (optional) Herbs or flowers

Instructions

1. Find two pillar candle molds, one larger than the other. The smaller mold should fit inside the larger mold with a little room to spare on all sides. If you don't have candle molds, and want to save some money, you can use clean aluminum cans, such as a soup can and a coffee can. Poke a tiny hole in the bottom center of the smaller can with a thin nail and a hammer, just large enough to thread the wick through it. If you have purchased molds, they should have a wick holder at the bottom.

2. Grate your paraffin with an old cheese grater, or chop it into smaller chunks with a knife. How much paraffin you will need will depend on the sides of your mold, but it is better to have more than less. You can always reuse leftover paraffin.

3. Place the chunks into a double boiler. Note that you will not be able to use the double boiler for cooking after you make candles in it. If you don't have a double boiler, or don't want to ruin yours, you can place the wax in an empty, clean coffee can. Place the can inside of an old large pot with about 2 inches of water on the bottom.

4. Bring the water to a simmer. Place the can or inner boiler pot with paraffin into the center of the larger pot. As the paraffin melts, stir occasionally with a long metal spoon or paint stirrer. Be careful not to tilt the inner pot with the paraffin so that it does not spill over or get any water into it. If you want your candle to be scented, you can add about 1/4 to ½ tsp. of an essential oil of your choice and stir it into the melted wax.

5. Spray the entire inside of your smaller candle mold well with a silicone mold-release spray. This will make removing the candle much easier and will not damage it.

6. Thread the wick through the hole at the bottom, leaving just the end to stick out of the bottom. Use some mold sealer, a pliable putty, to secure the wick in the hole and cover it so that the wax doesn't leak out. Bring the wick up and out of the top of the can, trimming it to just about 2 inches taller than the can. Wrap the top end of the wick around a pencil, and lay the pencil over the top of the mold so that it holds the wick up straight through the mold.

7. Place the mold in a disposable aluminum pan in case the wax does leak. Remove the melted wax from the broiler carefully, using a pot holder or something to protect your hands from the heat or any splashing. Pour it into the mold, and allow it to set and harden. Again, this will depend on the size of your mold, but it is better to leave it in for a few hours than to try and remove it too soon.

8. Check the mold 10 to 15 minutes after pouring. If a "well" caved in around the candle wick, pour a little more paraffin in it to make the top of the candle level.

9. Remove the candle from the mold when it is hardened. It should pop out with a little tugging and squeezing of the can. If you have a lot of difficulty, turn the can over and use a can opener to open the bottom. Then push the candle out.

10. Set some additional paraffin in the double boiler to melt. Spray the larger mold with the mold-release spray. Place your candle into the center of the larger can. Put your herbs and flowers in around the sides of the candle, about halfway up. The paraffin will force them up higher.

11. Pour the newly melted paraffin carefully around the candle until it reaches the same height. If any flowers or herbs float on top, remove them with your spoon or paint stirrer. Allow a few minutes to go by, and check it. If the new paraffin has settled lower than the candle, add a bit more to make it the same height.

12. Allow the paraffin to set and harden, then pop it out of the mold. You should be able to see all of the herbs or flower petals in the wax. Trim your wick to about 1/4 of an inch, and your candle is ready.

Tips & Warnings

• For a quicker variation without making your own candles, buy a pillar candle and brush it with white craft glue. Place your herbs or flowers in an aluminum tray, and roll the candle in it. This will not look exactly the same, as the herbs won't be embedded in the wax, but for a quick decorative candle it looks good.

• If your paraffin catches fire, never throw water on it. Shut off the heat immediately, and cover the pot with a tight-fitting metal lid. In an emergency, use baking soda or a fire extinguisher (of course, this will ruin the wax). However, if you keep your heat low and allow the paraffin to melt slowly, this should not be a problem.