How to Make Beeswax Candles

Learn how to make beeswax candles with this quick and easy step-by-step tutorial. They make great gifts, or enjoy them yourself!

close up of yellow and white beeswax pastilles on a wood table

How to Make Beeswax Candles

Beeswax is the most finicky of all the natural waxes used for candle making. This is because is has a high melting point, which means you won’t have much time to work with it while it’s in liquid form. It’s also tricky because every batch of beeswax is just a little different.

This means you may not get the same scent throw, burn rate, etc. from one batch of candles to the next. Here’s a more in-depth look at the different types of candle wax on the market and the best uses for each:

What is the Best Wax for Candles? Soy vs. Beeswax vs. Paraffin

overhead view of 4 candles, each made of a different type of wax- paraffin, soy wax, and beeswax

If you’re brand new to candle making, I would suggest starting with soy wax instead of beeswax, since it’s much easier to work with and your end results will be more consistent. Here’s my go-to soy candle tutorial.

That said, beeswax does make for gorgeous rustic candles, and it’s hard to beat their natural warm honey fragrance. If I haven’t talked you out of trying beeswax by now, let’s make some beeswax candles!

Materials

A. Beeswax Pastilles (I’m using this brand from Amazon. You can also use white beeswax)

B. 6″ Cotton Candle Wicks

C. Wick Centering Devices (mine came with the wicks above but you may need more than 2)

D. Metal Pitcher (I’m using this inexpensive one from Amazon)

E. Digital Meat Thermometer

F. Candle Vessels (I’m using these 8 oz amber glass jars. Here’s a list of my favorite candle jars & tins if you’d prefer something different)

G. Bee Balm & Coco de Mer Candle Fragrance Oil, from Makesy (This oil smells amazing with the beeswax. You can omit the fragrance oil for a more subtle scent)

H. Hot Glue Gun & Glue Sticks

Directions

1. Measure the Beeswax

Beeswax pastilles will melt down to roughly half their original volume. I’m making two 8 oz candles and I want a little extra wax to be on the safe side. So I’m using 5 cups of pastilles, which should melt down to about two and a half cups of wax.

close-up of a metal pitcher full of yellow beeswax pellets

2. Melt the Wax

Set up a double boiler on the stove by placing the metal pitcher inside a saucepan of hot water. The wax will melt quickly with this method, so keep a close eye on it and stir it frequently.

double boiler melting beeswax pastilles on the stove top

folk stirring yellow beeswax in a double boiler

beeswax melting in a metal pitcher to make beeswax candles

mostly melted beeswax in a double boiler on the stove top

This digital meat thermometer from Amazon is my go-to for all my candle making and wax melt projects.

metal pitcher of melted beeswax with a digital thermometer that reads 167 degrees

3. Add Fragrance Oil (Optional)

I’m adding this lovely Bee Balm & Coco de Mer fragrance oil from Makesy to give my beeswax candles some extra scent. This is totally optional. Yellow beeswax has a nice scent on its own, but it will be more subtle.

Add _________ Fragrance Oil. If you’re making a different quantity of wax, see the Beeswax Candle Math Guide at the end of this post to figure out the right ratio of wax to fragrance oil.

bottle of candle fragrance oil- bee balm & coco de mer

Stir well for at least 30 seconds to be sure all the fragrance is incorporated into the wax.

pitcher of melted beeswax being stirred with a fork

4. Secure the Wicks

Use a hot glue gun to add a dab of glue to the bottom of the first wick. Then stick it to the bottom of your candle jar. As you can see, I’m using three wicks for this candle, so I’m doing my best to space them evenly.

amber glass jar with 3 candle wicks attached to the bottom

Next use the wick centering devices to hold the wicks in place. They could probably stand up on their own right now, but as soon as a hot wax hits them, they will flop over.

hand sliding wick centering devices onto three candle wicks over an empty candle jar

5. Pour the Candle

The wax should have had a little time to cool by now. It’s best to pour beeswax when it’s hovering right around its melting point. Unfortunately I can’t just give you a target temperature.

But you’ll know your wax is just right when it immediately starts to harden when it touches a cooler surface. See how some of the wax is already hardening on the walls of the pitcher?

melted beeswax being poured into an amber glass jar to make a diy candles

Carefully pour the candle, leaving a good 3/4 inch at the top of the jar. We’ll come back and do a second pour later.

6. Let it Cool

You’ll see the wax begin to harden quickly, but the candles will need to sit for at least a few hours before doing the second pour. They should be completely cool.

overhead view of a cooling beeswax candle

7. Re-Heat the Wax

Return the pitcher with the remaining beeswax to the double boiler and to re-melt it. You’ll know it’s at the right temperature when it’s just barely melted.

8. Second Pour

Pour enough wax to completely cover the top of the candle.

hot beeswax being poured over the top of a cooled candle

9. Let it Cool

Give the candle time to cool completely. This won’t take very long since there’s not nearly as much hot wax this time.

beeswax candle cooling on the countertop

10. Trim Wicks

Use a pair of good sharp scissors to trim the wicks to about a half inch.

close up of scissors trimming wicks on a DIY candle

overhead view of a finished DIY beeswax candle

11. Cover & Let it Cure

Replace the lid on the jar and set it in a dry place away from direct sunlight for two weeks.

How long do beeswax candles need to cure?

The rule of thumb is two weeks. Every batch of beeswax has a slightly different makeup since it’s a natural product, but two weeks is a safe bet. This is true for all beeswax candles, whether of not they have additional fragrance added.

overhead view of burning candles with multiple wicks

What To Do With Leftover Beeswax

It’s likely that you’ll end up with some extra scented wax after pouring your candles. Don’t let it go to waste! I’ve got two great options to use the leftovers: beeswax wax melts, or make a few tealight candles.

DIY Beeswax Wax Melts

Beeswax Candle Math

Helpful Tips for Working With Beeswax

I try to use as few bowls and utensils as possible, since cleaning the hardened wax off of things is a pain.
If your wax is cooling too quickly in the pitcher before you have time to use it, place it back in the pot of hot water to keep it hot.

Clean Up

messy candle making supplies on a countertop with hardened beeswax

How to Get the Most Out of Beeswax Candles

As with all candles, it’s best to keep beeswax candles sealed up when not in use. That’s why I prefer to use candle vessels that come with lids.

When you burn your candles for the first time, be sure to light all the wicks at the same time. The goal is for the candle to burn evenly and for the wax pool to reach all the way to the outside edges of the candle jar every time you burn it.

If you just burn your candle for 30 minutes and put it out before the wax pool has covered the entire top of the candle, you’ll get an effect called tunneling. I’m sure you’ve seen this before. It’s where only the wax right around the wick gets used and the wax around the outside never melts.