A Simple Coconut Oil and Beeswax Candle Recipe

The sweet and subtle scent of this coconut oil and beeswax candle is sure to cozy up your home on a cold or rainy day. The recipe is simple and straightforward, plus it only requires two natural ingredients and a few supplies. Once you’ve made your own candles, you may never want to go back!

When my sister and her husband opened up their candle business, I learned all about the toxins in the wax and wicks of paraffin products. I quickly purged our home and made the switch to their 100% soy based goods. Then I discovered that you could also make candles out of beeswax and I was hooked.

While we all love a fresh smelling home, it’s important to minimize toxin exposure wherever we can. Though the scent is subtle, a coconut oil and beeswax candle pairs great with the aroma of diffused essential oils. If you’d rather buy candles, the ones from Il Dolce Cero are 100% organic soy wax scented with natural fragrance oils!

Is Beeswax Good for Candle Making?

Beeswax is excellent for natural and nontoxic candle making at home. It doesn’t require chemical processing to turn it into a wax like paraffin does, as it’s a natural byproduct of beekeeping! Beeswax burns well and has a very subtle but sweet scent. Plus, beeswax is useful in many other homemade recipes such as organic deodorant bars!

Should you add Coconut Oil to Beeswax Candles?

Candles can be made from beeswax alone, but adding coconut oil extends the burning time, making your candle last longer. It also helps prevent tunneling (when the center of your candle burns, but the outer edges don’t, which wastes a lot of wax and a lot of money!)

Can you add Fragrance Oil to Beeswax Candles?

You can add fragrance oils to beeswax candles if you’re looking for a strong scent to fill the room. Fragrance oils are not natural products, so if you’re making this coconut oil and beeswax candle to minimize toxins, I’d opt out. I like to diffuse essential oils with my diffuser while this candle lit, so you get both an aroma and the warmth of a candle.

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Ingredients

Beeswax– Use filtered organic beeswax for an all natural candle. I used beeswax pellets for this recipe, but you can buy a bar of beeswax and grate it down for candle making.

Coconut Oil– As mentioned above, coconut oil will extend your candle’s burning time and prevent tunneling. I used refined, organic, non GMO coconut oil in this recipe.

Supplies

Wicks & Wick Clips– you can use any type of non-toxic wicks for this recipe. It’s important to know the burning radius of your wicks before you place them in the jars. So if you’re using small jars, a single cotton or hemp wick would work fine, while a large wood wick may pose a fire hazard. If you’re using a wide jar, a wood wick might work better, or you may need to use 2-3 cotton/hemp wicks to avoid tunneling.

Wick Stickers or Glue– You can purchase wick stickers to stick the wick clips to the bottom of your jars. I just used a hot glue gun.

Jars– This recipe will make two 8 oz mason jars. You can change it up to make one 16 oz candle or four 4 oz candles.

Clothes pins, Bamboo skewers, or Pencils– These will be used to keep your wick stable as you’re pouring the melted wax into your jars. The clothes pins will only work for small jars. The bamboo skewers are also helpful when stirring your wax, because beeswax is very difficult to wash off utensils!

Melting Container & Large Pot– You’ll be melting the wax and coconut oil in a container, which will sit inside a pot of boiling water (see directions & photos below for details). You can purchase a reusable candle pitcher if you’ll be making candles frequently. An old coffee can is a disposable alternative if this is a one time craft for you!

How to Make a Coconut Oil and Beeswax Candle

Grate the beeswax if using a bar. If using pellets, leave them as is. Place the beeswax into a candle pitcher or metal can.

Fill a large pot about halfway with water and bring to a boil. Carefully place the candle pitcher/metal can into the pot, making sure the boiling water doesn’t splash into the pitcher/can.

While you’re waiting for the wax to melt, glue the wick clips to the bottom of the jar (or use stickers if you purchased those). Stabilize the wick in the center of the jar with a clothespin if using small jars. If using a large jar, wrap the top of the wick around a pencil/bamboo skewer until it rests on the rim of the jar.

Once the wax is melted, remove it from the pitcher/can from the pot of water and add the coconut oil to the beeswax. Stir until everything is melted.

Pour the mixture into your jar, 3/4 of the way full. Leave 1/4 of the jar empty.

Once the candles are completely hardened (takes about an hour), cut the wick, leaving about 1/2 inch available.

Light the candle and enjoy the hygge!

Candle Making & Candle Maintenance Tips

• An alternative way to make candles is to place wax/oil directly into the wicked jars, place in a crock pot, and melt them that way.
• The pitcher/can may bobble around in the pot of water. I stabilized it by minimizing the amount of water in the pot, and aligning the pitcher handle with the pot handle.
• It’s best to pour the wax into the jars in a warmer environment. This will help prevent air pockets around the outside of the candle.
• As the wax/oil is cooling in the jars, you may see some spots that cave in from the contents settling. If you reserve some extra wax/oil in the pitcher, you can poor this on top for a smooth finish.
• When you initially light the candle, DO NOT blow it out until it has melted all the way across the top. If the candle is blown out too early, you’ll be left with an outer ring of unburned wax (tunneling).
• Try to avoid burning your candle near a fan, air vent, or drafty location. This can cause the flame to burn towards one side of the candle and not the other, making the entire candle burn unevenly from that point on.
• Stay consistent with trimming your wick between uses. If it gets too long, the edge of your jars can turn black.

Yield: 2 8oz candles

Coconut Oil and Beeswax Candle Recipe

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The sweet & subtle scent of this coconut oil and beeswax candle is sure to cozy up your home. Made with just 2 ingredients & 10 minutes time!

Prep Time 5 minutes

Active Time 5 minutes

Additional Time 1 hour

Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes

Materials

• 2 cups (205 grams) beeswax
• 4 tablespoons coconut oil

Tools

• Wicks with wick clips
• Wick stickers or glue
• 2 8oz jars
• 2 clothes pins (or pencils or skewers)
• Candle pitcher or old metal can
• Large pot

Instructions

1. Grate the beeswax if using a bar. If using pellets, leave them as is. Place the beeswax into a candle pitcher or metal can.
2. Fill a large pot about halfway with water and bring to a boil. Carefully place the candle pitcher/metal can into the pot, making sure the boiling water doesn't splash into the pitcher/can.
3. While you're waiting for the wax to melt, glue the wick clips to the bottom of the jar (or use stickers if you purchased those). Stabilize the wick in the center of the jar with a clothespin if using small jars. If using a large jar, wrap the top of the wick around a pencil/bamboo skewer until it rests on the rim of the jar.
4. Once the wax is melted, remove it from the pitcher/can from the pot of water and add the coconut oil to the beeswax. Stir until everything is melted.
5. Pour the mixture into your jar, 3/4 of the way full. Leave 1/4 of the jar empty.
6. Once the candles are completely hardened (takes about an hour), cut the wick, leaving about 1/2 inch available.
7. Light the candle and enjoy the hygge!

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