How to Make Aromatherapy Beeswax Candles
Aromatherapy can help some individuals find emotional balance. Making your own aromatherapy beeswax candles can save a great deal of money on aromatherapy costs. Make lavender or jasmine candles to help with stress, or chamomile to help you fall asleep. Peppermint or lemon candles can sharpen your mental clarity, and marjoram scented candles may lessen the feelings of depression. There are two ways to make aromatherapy beeswax candles; you can use pre-made molds and melt beeswax or you can buy and roll pre-made sheets of beeswax.
Things You'll Need
- Candle wicks
- Beeswax sheets
- Essential oil
- Blow dryer
- Double boiler
- Candy thermometer
- Candle molds
- Metal spatula
Instructions
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Rolled Beeswax Sheets
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1
Cut a piece of wick long enough for the height you want the candle, then cut the beeswax sheets to be two inches shorter than the wick.
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2
Add fragrance to the wax that will be rolled on the inside of the candle. Use five drops of oil to two pounds of wax for a lightly scented candle. Add a few teaspoons of fragrance for a heavier scented candle.
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3
Use a blow dryer to warm the end of the beeswax sheet you want to be on the inside of the candle. You may see a subtle color change in the wax.
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4
Lay the wick along the warmed edge of the beeswax sheet, and then roll the wick up into the wax until you hit a cool, un-malleable piece of wax. Warm the next section with the blow drier, and then continue rolling.
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5
Warm the last edge of the wax until it is very warm. Roll the candle until there is no more wax, and then lightly press the outer edge into the candle until well stuck together.
Melting Beeswax
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6
Melt beeswax in a double boiler set on high. To prevent ignition of the wax, use a candy thermometer to make sure the heated wax does not reach over 200 degrees. The wax will start to melt between 140 and 150 degrees.
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7
Add fragrance to the melting wax. Use about five drops of scent to two pounds of melting wax for a lightly scented candle, or a few teaspoons for a heavily scented candle. Stir well.
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8
Cut wick to the length of the candle mold plus an additional half-inch. Dip the wick into heated wax in order to prime it.
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9
Coat the molds with a think layer of silicone spray or a cooking spray in order to help the candle come loose after the wax hardens.
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10
Poke a small hole in the top of the candle mold for the wick, and push the wick through the mold. Leave a half-inch of wick in the bottom of the mold.
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11
Open the mold and pour the hot wax into the mold. Center the wick into the wax and put two coffee stirrers or toothpicks on either side of the wick to hold the wick in place.
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12
Let the wax cool completely, and then remove the candle from the mold. Trim the wick if it's too long for the candle. Smooth the bottom and sides of the candle with a hot metal spatula.
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1
References
- Photo Credit Burning candle image by Serghei Velusceac from Fotolia.com
