DIY Scented Candle Recipe (Fun Summer Scents)
Want to make your own homemade candles? Check out this DIY scented candle recipe. Not only are these candles easy to make, but they are also 100% all-natural!
I used to be a candle fanatic. Whenever the seasons began to change, I would run to the nearest Bath & Body Works store to stock up on their seasonal candles.
But that was before I learned about the possible dangers of burning scented candles in your home on a regular basis.
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Regular scented candles are a huge source of indoor air pollution. They disperse chemicals in the air that can be just as harmful as secondhand smoke.
Most candles are made of paraffin wax. Paraffin wax creates highly toxic benzene and toluene when burned which are both known carcinogens.
The toxins released from paraffin candles are the same as those found in diesel fuel fumes!
Some scented candles may have lead or lead cores in the wick. The lead can be released into your home through candle soot.
Once I became aware of the dangers of scented candles, I completely ditched them. Instead of burning candles, I began diffusing essential oils.
And I have pretty much been doing that ever since.
I love essential oils, and over the years, I have tried to replicate many of my favorite candle scents by combining different essential oils. You can check out some of my favorite seasonal blends below!
I have almost completely stayed away from candles other than a few homemade candle recipes that were included in past Simply Earth recipe boxes.
But with all that being said, candles do provide a cozy aesthetic that essential oils do not. And I recently had the urge to burn candles again, but I definitely was not going to step foot in a Bath & Body Works store.
So I decided to make my own toxin-free scented candles.
Candle Making at Home for Beginners
Before I share my DIY scented candle recipe, please know that I am not a candle-making expert by any means.
If you want to make homemade candles to sell, this is probably not the post for you. I would recommend finding someone who makes homemade candles for reselling.
I just wanted to make some candles for personal use. So if that is you as well keep reading to discover my DIY scented candle recipe!
How to Make DIY Scented Candles
The first step to putting together this DIY scented candle recipe is to gather all your materials and ingredients. Below is a list of all the things that you will need.
Container/Candle Jar
You, of course, will need a container for your candle to go in. The container you choose is completely up to you. You can use a mason jar, a drinking glass, a terra cotta pot, or a tin container.
You have many options. Just make sure whatever you choose is heat-resistant and leakproof.
I chose these gorgeous drinking glasses.
If you choose to use a glass container make sure the glass is very thick. If it is too thin, the glass may crack.
The size of the container simply depends on the size of the candle you wish to make.
The recipe I will be sharing will be for one 8-ounce candle. You can make one 8-ounce candle or you can make two 4-ounce candles. Or you can double the recipe and make two 8-ounce candles or four 4-ounce candles.
You catch my drift, I hope.
The containers I chose are actually 9-ounce glasses, but they work perfectly because you’re not supposed to fill them completely. You’ll need to leave a small space between the wax and the rim of the container.
Wax
The next thing you’ll need to make homemade scented candles is wax. Unlike choosing the container you don’t have as much freedom when it comes to choosing the wax.
The wax you choose really matters, especially if you want these candles to be toxin-free.
As I mentioned earlier, most store-bought candles are made with paraffin wax and paraffin wax is highly toxic. It’s popular because it is cheap and widely available.
But you will definitely want to avoid paraffin wax.
What Wax is Best for Candles?
Soy wax is considered a safe alternative to paraffin wax. It is made of harvested soybeans that are cleaned, dehulled, cracked, and rolled into flakes.
Soy wax is environmentally friendly, slow-burning, affordable, and widely available.
Beeswax is another safe alternative. As the name implies, it is a wax excreted by bees. Beeswax has been used for thousands of years to make candles.
Beeswax is an amazing base for candles because it has a smokeless burn, it is slow burning, and it actually contains properties that purify the air!
A few other lesser-known candle waxes are palm wax and coconut wax.
Both have a smokeless burn, are all-natural, and are slow-burning. But both can also be difficult to find and a little expensive.
What is the Healthiest Candle Wax to Burn?
Although the above-mentioned candle waxes are all considered generally safe (especially compared to paraffin wax), beeswax is, in my opinion, the healthiest candle wax to burn.
Most soybeans are grown from GMO seeds. Also, herbicides, pesticides, and synthetic fertilizers are often used in soybean farming and traces of these chemicals may be found in soy wax.
Soy wax also undergoes several chemical treatments. Soy oil is typically bleached and deodorized in the process of turning it into soy wax.
Beeswax tends to have less exposure to chemicals like pesticides and insecticides.
Beeswax is simply a natural byproduct from the beekeeping industry. There is no processing involved, unlike soy wax.
As I mentioned earlier, beeswax also contains properties that purify the air. You can read this post to learn more about that.
Coconut Oil
You will also need coconut oil to make homemade scented candles. Make sure to get the solid form and not the liquid (fractionated form).
Why Add Coconut Oil to Beeswax Candles?
Coconut oil helps beeswax candles burn more consistently which helps prevent the candle wax from tunneling. It can also help extend the candle’s burn time.
I’ve also heard that it helps give beeswax candles a stronger scent.
It’s not 100% necessary, but I definitely recommend it. Not just because of the reasons above but also because it can help save you money.
Beeswax is a lot more expensive than coconut oil. So, if you use some coconut oil as part of your base you can save a few bucks.
Also, beeswax can be a bit difficult to melt, so adding coconut oil can make the melting process easier and quicker!
Double Boiler or Metal Pouring Pot
You will need something to melt the wax in. You can use a double boiler, a metal pouring pot, or just a plain large pot.
Keep in mind that wax (especially beeswax) isn’t easy to remove, so it’s best to use something that is only used for making homemade products and not for cooking food.
Also, keep in mind that if you are doubling or tripling the recipe, you’ll want to use a metal pouring pot or a large double boiler.
Wicks
The type of wick you choose is very important. As I mentioned earlier, some wicks have lead cores, and the lead can be released into your home through candle soot.
I chose to use these organic hemp candle wicks. They are non-toxic and biodegradable.
They don’t contain any lead or any other metals for that matter.
I really like them because they have a clean, smokeless burn, and they burn very slowly. The wicks last a long time and burn the candle wax all the way down with zero tunneling.
The wick size will depend on the size of the container you choose. You’ll want the wick to be a little longer than the height of your container.
It is fine to get an extra long wick because you can trim it down to the correct length. But make sure the wick is at least 1 1/2 to 2 inches longer than the height of your container.
You will also need a glue gun to glue the wicks to the bottom of the candle jar and clothespins or something like it to prop the wicks up while the candle wax is setting.
I ended up using these hair clips that I had on hand.
Fragrance
So, of course, when making scented candles, you’ll need some type of fragrance to give the candle your preferred scent.
Many homemade candles are scented with essential oils, but after a lot of research, I actually decided not to use essential oils, and I’ll explain why and what I chose to use instead.
Can You Use Essential Oils For Candle Making?
You can use essential oils for candle making, but they are not the best option, and here are a few reasons why.
Essential oils have very low flash points, which means they can evaporate when added to hot candle wax. This can greatly minimize the scent of the candle.
Essential oils can be pricey and in my opinion, using them for candle making is a waste of money because the essential oil evaporates quickly while also not providing very much scent to the candle.
With that being said, I dont think using essential oils in candle-making is a completely terrible idea. Essential oils are all-natural and can provide a slight fragrance.
I just don’t think they are the best option—although I do think they are a better option than synthetic fragrances.
How to Make Scented Candles Without Essential Oils
So how do you make scented candles without essential oils? Well, the answer most often given is to use fragrance oils instead.
However, I didn’t want to use fragrance oils because they are synthetic and typically contain toxic ingredients.
So while I was searching for an alternative to synthetic fragrance oils, I ended up discovering natural fragrance oils.
Natural fragrance oils are made from natural sources such as raspberries, lavender, strawberries, etc.
To make a natural fragrance oil, one of the aromatic components of the plant or fruit is isolated and then that isolated component is blended with isolated components from other natural sources.
The isolated aromatic components are often blended with essential oils to create unique blends that you wouldn’t be able to get with essential oils alone.
For example, you cannot produce essential oil from strawberries or raspberries. But you can create an all-natural fragrance oil from these natural sources.
You can click here to learn more about natural fragrance oils.
I purchased my natural fragrance oils from Makesy. Their natural fragrance oils are made from natural materials extracted from natural chemicals and essential oils and are ISO 9235 certified.
ISO 9235 certification means that the raw materials used to create the fragrance oil are defined as raw materials of vegetal or microbiological origin, such as flowers, bark, seeds, leaves, etc.
You can click here to learn more about ISO 9235.
Keep in mind not all of the fragrance oils sold by Makesy are all-natural. The ones that are all-natural will have “ISO 9235 certified” listed in the description.
You can click here to check out all of their natural fragrance oils. Most of them contain a blend of natural fragrance oils and essential oils.
If you decide to purchase all-natural fragrance oils from Makesy, you can use this link to get $10 off your first purchase of $50 or more!
Essential Oils vs. Fragrance Oils in Candles
In my opinion, both essential oils and natural fragrance oils are great options for adding fragrance to your homemade scented candles.
But I ultimately chose to use natural fragrance oils because they were cheaper than essential oils, they give off a stronger scent, and they have a much higher flash point.
Also, natural fragrance oils provide so many more scent options that just aren’t available with essential oils like peach, pineapple, and kiwi.
Okay, now that we’ve gotten all of that out of the way, hopefully you’ve got everything you need!
DIY Scented Candle Recipe
Gather all of your ingredients.
- 1 cup of wax (I chose to use beeswax)
- 1/4 cup of coconut oil
- 1.5 tablespoons of fragrance oil
The recipe above will make one 8-ounce candle.
As I mentioned earlier, you can make one 8-ounce candle or you can make two 4-ounce candles. Or you can double the recipe and make two 8-ounce candles or four 4-ounce candles.
It’s totally up to you!
I made three 8-ounce candles using the following fragrance oils.
If you decide to purchase all-natural fragrance oils from Makesy, remember to use this link to get $10 off your first purchase of $50 or more!
You will also need your container/containers, wicks, glue gun, clothespins, and metal pouring pot or double boiler.
To get started prep your containers – make sure they are clean and dust free. Next, trim the wicks slightly if needed. I initially trim the wicks so that they are about 1.5 inches longer than the length of the container.
Use the glue gun to glue the wicks to the bottom of the candle jar.
Once the glue has dried completely, use clothespins or hair clips to prop the wicks straight up.
Then, use the metal pouring pot or double boiler to melt the wax. Once the wax is fully melted, turn off the heat and add the
Stir in the
Stir together until everything is blended completely, and then very carefully pour into your candle jar/jars.
Make sure to leave about a 1/2-inch space between the rim of the container and the candle wax.
Place the candle in a warm area to cool and harden. Do not place it in the fridge. If the candle cools down too quickly, it may crack.
Allow the candle to cure for a minimum of 3 days before using. But keep in mind, the longer you allow it to cure, the stronger the scent throw will be.
Before using the candle make sure to trim the wick down to about a half inch like in the photo below.
How Long Do Candles Need to Cure?
If you want your candle to have the strongest scent throw possible, you’ll want to cure it for longer. The maximum cure time will depend on the type of wax you choose.
Suggested cure times are listed below.
| Wax Type | Suggested Cure Time |
|---|---|
| Soy Wax | 10 – 14 days |
| Coconut Wax | 14 days |
| Beeswax | 7 – 10 days |
| Palm Wax | 7 – 10 days |
DIY Scented Candle Recipe
Want to make your own homemade candles? Check out this DIY scented candle recipe. Not only are these candles easy to make but they are also 100% all-natural!
Ingredients
- 1 cup of beeswax (or other type of wax)
- 1/4 cup of coconut oil
- 1.5 tablespoons of natural fragrance oils or essential oils
Supplies
Instructions
- Make sure the jar is clean and dust free.
- Trim the wick slightly if needed. Make sure it is 1.5 inches longer than the length of the jar/container.
- Use the glue gun to glue the wick to the bottom of the candle jar.
- Once the glue has dried completely use a clothespin or hair clip to prop the wick straight up.
- Use the metal pouring pot or double boiler to melt the wax.
- Once the wax is fully melted turn off the heat and add the coconut oil to the wax.
- Stir in the coconut oil until it is completely melted and then add your fragrance oils or essential oils to the coconut oil and beeswax mixture.
- Stir together until everything is blended completely and then very carefully pour into your candle jar/container.
- Make sure to leave about a 1/2-inch space between the rim of the jar/container and the candle wax.
- Place the candle in a warm area to cool and harden. Do not place it in the fridge. If the candle cools down too quickly it may crack.
- Allow the candle to cure for a minimum of 3 days before using. But keep in mind the longer you allow it to cure the stronger the scent throw will be.
- Before using the candle make sure to trim the wick down to about a half inch.
Notes
If you would like your candles to have a stronger scent you can add more fragrance oil or essential oils.
I also recommend curing the candle for the maximum recommended time as well which is 7-10 days for beeswax.
Recommended Products
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How To Make Scented Candles With Essential Oils
If you would prefer to use essential oils rather than natural fragrance oils you totally can!
Just follow the directions above, but instead of adding natural fragrance oils, add essential oils instead.
Some of the best essential oils for candle-making are peppermint, lemongrass, lavender, and ylang-ylang. These essential oils are usually pretty affordable and they also have a strong scent.
You won’t be able to create the same summer scents with essential oils as you can with natural fragrance oils like pineapple and kiwi, but you can still make some really nice scented candles.
How Can I Make My Candles Smell Stronger?
If you would like your candles to have a stronger scent, you can add more fragrance oil or essential oils.
I also recommend curing the candle for the maximum recommended time as well.
Does Beeswax Turn Rancid?
Beeswax has an incredibly long shelf life. If you decide to use beeswax in this DIY scented candle recipe, you won’t have to worry about the candle going bad or the beeswax going rancid.
Beeswax does not expire or turn rancid.
Well, I hope you enjoy this DIY scented candle recipe. Let me know if you have any questions!
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