How to Make Beeswax & Tallow Candles

Adding beeswax to tallow will improve the quality of your candle.

Beeswax candles have a pleasant smell, produce steady light and give off little smoke. Their only drawback is that they are expensive. Tallow candles are inexpensive. They are made from rendered animal fat and can release a distinctive odor while burning. They can also produce a significant amount of soot with an inconsistent flame if the wick is not trimmed properly. Adding beeswax to tallow to make a candle will lessen the drawbacks of tallow while reducing the cost of your candles.

Things You'll Need

• Tallow
• Beeswax
• Double boiler
• Ladle
• Scissors
• Cotton wick material
• Dipping frame or molds

Instructions

Preparation

1. Fill the lower portion of a double boiler with water. Place it on the stove over low heat.

2. Place your tallow and beeswax in the upper portion of the double boiler. Use at least 2 oz. of beeswax for each pound of tallow. Pure tallow candles will soften and lose their shape when exposed to temperatures over 80 degrees. This small amount of beeswax will allow the candle to maintain its shape in warmer climates. Additional amounts of beeswax will improve the overall quality of the candle. The exact mixture is up to you.

3. Place the upper portion of the double boiler over the lower portion. Continue to apply low heat until the tallow and beeswax liquefy. Mix thoroughly with a ladle.

4. Cut your wick material to length with scissors. Cut them at least 2 inches longer than the finished candle if you are using molds. For dipping, cut the wick material 6 inches longer than the length of two candles. When using a dipping frame, the wick is draped over the frame and allowed to hang equally off of each side. This allows two candles to be made with one piece of wick.

5. Dip each cut piece of wick into the melted tallow/wax mixture. Allow the wicks to soak until they are saturated. Doing this will increase the stability of the candle’s flame when it is lit by eliminating small air pockets that can form during the dipping or molding process.

6. Remove the wicks from the mixture. Lay them out straight on a flat surface until they have cooled to room temperature.

Dipping

1. Drape the finished wicks over the frame. The ends of the wick should be even when the frame is level.

2. Lower the wicks into your melted mixture. Lift them out of the mixture and set the frame aside until the tallow and beeswax have cooled.

3. Repeat the dipping procedure until your candles have reached the desired diameter. Dipping is a slow process as only a thin layer of wax is added on each dip.

Molding

1. Tie one end of the wick to a small stick. The stick should be long enough to rest comfortably on both sides of your mold at the same time.

2. Lower the wick into the center of the mold. The bottom of the wick should touch the bottom of the mold while the stick holds the top of the wick centered at the top.

3. Slowly pour the wax mixture into the mold. Allow the candle to cool completely before removing.

Tips & Warnings

• Beeswax will lessen but will not completely mask the odor of tallow.

• Make one or two candles at a time until you discover the ratio of beeswax to tallow that works best for you.

• If you do make a bad batch, simply drop the candles back into the double boiler and add more beeswax.

• Never melt wax in a single pot over a direct heat source. Always use a double boiler to reduce the risk of fire.

• Heat your wax mixture only enough to liquefy it. Overheating will damage beeswax and increase the risk of fire.

References

• Happy Candles: Candle-Making
• Chest of Books: To Make Homemade Tallow Candles
• Candle Whiz: Candle Making Materials
• Candle Maker Secrets: Candle Making Wax