How to Add Dried Herbs to Candle Wax

Don't add large pieces of dried herbs to your candle wax.

Adding dried herbs to the hot wax during candle-making gives fragrance and texture to the candles. Herbs suited for candle-making include rosemary, lavender, thyme, mint, hyssop, bergamot, savory and germander. You can add a great deal of herbs to your wax, depending on personal preference. To dry the herbs, simply tie fresh herbs in bunches and hang upside down in a dry, dark, well-ventilated area for about two to three weeks.

Things You'll Need

• Herbs
• Knife
• Paraffin wax
• Double boiler
• Spoon
• Candle molds
• Candlewicks

Instructions

1. Cut the herbs into very small pieces, about a ¼-inch length, or less. Use enough herbs to make it visually appealing, while leaving enough wax for the candle to hold together.

2. Melt the candle wax in the top pan of a double boiler, over simmering water. Allow the wax to melt completely.

3. Remove from the heat source and add the herbs to the melted wax. Stir with a wooden spoon or similar shaped object to blend.

4. Pour the hot wax into your candle molds, with wicks already in place.

Tips & Warnings

• Never melt your wax over a direct flame, as wax is flammable.

• It is possible for some of the herbs to burn, when the candle burns.

References

• "The Complete Book of Herbs and Spices"; Sarah Garland; 2004
• "The Everything Candlemaking Book: Create Homemade Candles in House-warming"; Marie-Jeanne Abadie; 2002