How To Make Homemade Candles

I’ve been wanting to make tallow candles ever since the last time I made homemade tallow in the crockpot this Spring. We’ve just been so busy though, it didn’t happen until today.

Candles in jars like these make really nice homemade gifts, which is something to keep in mind with the holiday season coming up – and especially with canning supplies (jars) going on sale right now with the end of canning season.

Besides, homemade candle making makes me feel really Little House On The Prairie-ish, and that’s always cool.

We have a one-up on Ma Ingles, though, because not only can we run down to the nearest Hobby Lobby for some candle wicking, and we have easy access to essential oils to put in our candles, which not only covers up the beefy smell of tallow (if that’s your chosen “wax”), but make them smell amazing!

Whatever material you choose to use, the process for making candles is pretty much the same. Beeswax, soy wax, or plain ol’ paraffin wax beads are super easy and mess-free to melt and pour,  and have virtually no smell of their own, so you end up using less essential oil to get a great scent.

How To Make Homemade Candles

Materials:

• tallow
• candle wicking
• pencil
• jar (or another glass container)

First, gather your supplies.

Step two: Tie the candle wicking to your pencil, making sure the wicking reaches the bottom of your jar.

Optionally, you can tie a small weight, like a washer, or a wicking tab, to the bottom of the string to make sure the wick stays in the bottom.

Melt your tallow or wax. You don’t want it to be hot, just warm enough to be melted.

Add your essential oil, a few drops at a time, stirring after each addition until it smells good to you. I love, love, love a good, strong, lavender candle!

Leave your candle alone for a while to harden. My tallow candles in these little jars took less than an hour to set up.

Cut the wick about half an inch above the tallow or wax.

That’s it! Now light it and enjoy!