Beeswax candles
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Clean beeswax melted in a double boiler and poured into 4-ounce mason jars with braided cotton wicks. Each burns 12 hours.
What You’ll Need
- 2-1/2 pounds clean beeswax or beeswax pastilles
- #2 square braided cotton wick and 12 square wick tabs or 12 pre-waxed #2 square cotton wicks with tabs
- 24 thin bamboo skewers
- Scotch tape
- 12 (4-ounce) mason jars
- Double boiler; ladle; parchment or waxed paper
Equipment
- double boiler
- mason jars
Directions
- Chop large pieces into rough chunks. Melt them slowly in a double boiler over medium heat until just liquid, taking care not to scorch them.
- If the wicks are not primed: cut 12 wicks about 1 inch longer than the height of the jar, dip each into the melted wax several times, lay it on parchment, and pull it straight as it cools. Thread each through a tab, crimp tightly, and trim below the tab. (For pre-tabbed wicks, just straighten them.)
- Pour wax into each jar until it is about one-third full. Center the wick tab on the bottom and press it into the cooling wax with a skewer or chopstick.
- Lay two skewers across the rim, one on each side of the wick, and tape them snugly to hold the wick centered. Then slowly fill the jar to about 1/4 inch below the lip.
- Let the candles cool completely, without touching them. If a dip forms near the wick, top it off with a little more melted wax for a smooth surface.
Notes
Burns more than 12 hours each. Wick size matters: too small won’t melt the wax, too large can overheat the jar; a #2 wick suits 4-ounce jars. Safety: melt wax only in a double boiler, never over direct heat, and never leave melting wax unattended (it’s flammable); keep kids away from hot wax. Never leave a burning candle unattended; burn on a heat-safe surface away from drafts, curtains, kids and pets; trim wicks to about 1/4 inch; stop burning when about 1/2 inch of wax remains.