Scented candles with essential oils

In the past they were used more for practical purposes, for light, but now they are used more for emotional effects. Lighting candles always creates a pleasant and cozy atmosphere. And placing them around the home adds a touch of elegance to any decor.

Candles can be made entirely from beeswax (my experience does not include soy wax, but this is also an option when it is organic and ethically grown), or a small amount of coconut oil can be added. Adding it to the candle may prevent central burning (tunneling) or cracking, although it is not the only factor.

An amount of 50g unrefined coconut oil is sufficient to mix with 450g beeswax.

Materials needed

• Beeswax. I prefer yellow because it is less processed and has an unmistakable honey flavor.
• Coconut oil (optional)
• Essential oils (optional). If you don't feel comfortable adding them to the candle you can opt to add them to the diffuser.
• Candle wicks (cotton or wood). I prefer the wooden ones. They have a slight sizzle when burning similar to a wood fire which I find soothing. If you prefer cotton, it's ideal to have them waxed beforehand to make them easy to fix.
• Candle container. Can be glass, ceramic, even wood. I advise you to choose them with care because with some materials, due to their permeability, when the candle is lit, melted wax can pass through the container.
• Spray silicone or glue to fix the wick to the jar. Use as little as possible but enough for a secure hold. Remove excess.
• Glass or stainlessmelting container, preferably with a beak for ease of pouring.
• Silicone spatula for cleaning the edges of the melting pot.
• Bath bain marie dishes in which you will place the melting pot.
• Bamboo chopsticks or clothes pegs or wooden pencils for securing the cotton threads.

How to work

• Prepare the candle containers by cleaning each one according to the material it is made from.
• Calculate the amount of wax you need by adding up all the containers. If you don't know the weight of the containers, weigh them empty, then add water to the desired level and weigh them again. The difference in weight is the amount of wax needed. Opt for slightly less than the maximum height of the containers, so as not to overfill them and to make room for the wick or wicks. Leave about one centimeter of space at the top of the jar.
• Add the wax (along with the coconut oil if you choose) to the melting container.
• Choose the number of wicks and their size according to the manufacturer's specifications. Each wick has a certain diameter of a wax it can burn.
• Secure the wicks in the containers using the silicone gun or glue. Always remove excess.
• Prepare the essential oil blend if you have opted for scented candle. The strength of the fragrance depends on the essential oils chosen and the amount added to the candle. Beeswax can incorporate 6-12% flavored oil. Start with a small amount and gradually increase until you reach the desired potency.
• Place the bain marie dishes on the heat. When the water starts to boil reduce the temperature/heat and place the wax melting pot. If you have a candle, cosmetic or roasting thermometer, make sure the temperature does not exceed 85°C but is above 62°C (wax melting temperature). When the wax is completely melted, remove the pot from the heat. Carefully wipe the water from the outside of the pot to make sure it does not get into the candle. Using bamboo sticks secure the cotton wick in the center of the container. This will keep the wick centered as the wax hardens.
• Add the essential oil mixture when the wax has reached ~70°C. Stir gently and pour the wax into the prepared containers. If you do not have a thermometer, gently stir the melted wax and add the essential oils when the wax begins to harden around the edges of the bowl.
• Carefully pour the wax into the prepared containers. Allow the wax to harden slightly at room temperature.
• Clean the containers used (details below).
• Cut the wick when the wax has hardened. Size recommendations vary by manufacturer. I recommend not exceeding 1cm.

Cleaning the containers

Homemade candles are often treated superficially. I have read recommendations about using melting containers that are then thrown away because they would be impossible to clean. In the following I will explain in detail how to do this.

When pouring the wax into the containers, gather as much as possible from the sides of the pot with the spatula to make cleanup easier and to minimize waste. Using paper towels, gather up any wax that is left on the sides of the pot and on the spatula while the wax is still warm. If it has hardened, reheat in the same bain marie in which you originally melted. Caution!!! Do not wash containers with wax in them. Over time the pipes may clog. The wax hardens very quickly and settles on the pipes. Using napkins and ethyl alcohol you can remove the last traces of wax from the containers. Wash in the usual way.

Recipes with essential oils

Here are some recipes that I have tested as candle flavorings. Of course, you can use whatever blends you like. If you're not comfortable with using essential oils in candles, you can add the blends to your diffuser. I also recommend that you read the article \"The safety of using candles with essential oils\". It contains several studies analyzing candle emissions.

To calculate the optimal amount, you can refer to the Blog article, \"Diluting Essential Oils at Home\", where there are some useful conversion tables.

My suggested blends are 1ml to make your calculations easier. Use your desired amount (less or more than 1ml) depending on your preference and container size.

Wellness

• 8 drops Lemon (Citrus x limon)
• 10 drops Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
• 2 drops Peppermint (Mentha x piperita)
• 4 drops Vetiver (Vetiveria zizanioides)
• 3 drops Sandalwood (Santalum album)
• 6 drops Ylang ylang (Cananga odorata)

Moments of relaxation

• 4 drops Lime (Citrus x aurantifolia)
• 10 drops Grapefruit (CItrus x paradisi)
• 10 drops Sweet Orange (Citrus x sinensis)
• 2 drops Spearmint (Mentha spicata)
• 5 drops Patchouli (Pogostemon cablin)

Forest freshness

• 6 drops Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus radiata)
• 5 drops Frankincense (Boswellia carterii)
• 9 drops Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii)
• 7 drops Siberian fir (Abies sibirica)
• 6 drops Myrrh (Commiphora myrrha)
• 3 drops Vanilla (Vanilla planifolia)

Flowers and Love

• 9 drops Lime (Citrus x aurantifolia)
• 6 drops Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens)
• 3 drops Jasmine (Jasminum grandiflorum)
• 11 Ylang ylang (Cananga odorata)
• 3 drops Rose (Rosa damascena)

Sensuality*

not recommended for children under 16

• 5 drops Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum)
• 10 drops Ginger (Zingiber officinale)
• 5 drops Clary Sage (Salvia sclarea)
• 3 drops Jasmine (Jasminum grandiflorum)
• 10 drops Ylang ylang (Cananga odorata)

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