How to Make Beeswax Tealight Candles

Let me show you how to make beeswax tealight candles!

I find January to be such a dark month, especially once the Christmas lights have been packed away.  I always think we need a bit of light and sparkle to get us through the month.  So, at the weekend I experimented with making my own beeswax tealight candles.

It was so easy and successful (for a crafting novice like myself!) that I’ve put together a simple easy guide on how to make beeswax tealights for you.  Hopefully, it will help brighten up your month too.

I always assumed that making candles would be difficult or would require some specialist equipment or tools.  The good news is that you don’t!  In fact, you can make these beautiful beeswax tealight candles in about twenty minutes flat in your own kitchen.  The best bit is you don’t need any specialist equipment.  Nothing more than some basic candle-making supplies, an old tin can, and a saucepan of water will suffice!

How to Make Beeswax Tealight Candles

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Ingredients

To make beeswax tealight candles you will need:

4 metal or ceramic containers I used old pie tins found on eBay*.
Approximately 300g beeswax pellets* for four tealights
4 petroleum-free candle wicks with sustainers*
Clean tin can
Saucepan
Newspaper
Bamboo Skewers

Instructions

To make beeswax tealight candles, first, gauge how many pellets you need per holder. To do this, simply fill your container with beeswax pellets. Pour these into the tin can, and then repeat. Through trial and error, I’ve found that to get the right amount of wax you need double the amount of pellets that your container can hold.

Next, put some newspaper down to protect your work surface.

Now put your tin can containing the pellets into a small saucepan of boiling water, and keep boiling. Just take care not to get any water into your can.

Whilst the pellets are heating in the can, stir with a bamboo skewer to help the wax break down into a liquid. It should take around 15-20 minutes to completely liquefy.

Once the wax has completely liquefied turn off the hob.  Next, using an oven glove, very very carefully lift the hot can out of the water.  Now slowly pour the melted beeswax into your tealight candle container. Take extreme care with this as the wax will be very very hot.

Add your wick.  It may need support with a skewer until the wax starts to firm up again.

Once the beeswax tealight candles have hardened trim your wick to no more than 1cm in height.

Finally, burn as you would any other candle.

As with any candles always bur your beeswax tealight candle on a heat-resistant surface, and never leave a burning candle unattended.

Variations on Beeswax Tealight Candles

You can use any metal or ceramic container that you like for these beeswax tealight candles.  I picked up these old metal pies tins on eBay last year and have been hoarding them until I could decide how best to use them.  However, I saw that Artemis of Junkaholique made candles in enamel mugs that looked really pretty too.  I’ve also seen candles made in teacups before.  And you could even use tin cans for extra recycling points!

If you want to make scented beeswax tealight candles you could add some essential oils to the pellets as you’re melting them down.  Lavender is one scent that immediately springs to mind that could be really nice!

I think these beeswax tealight candles would make a lovely eco-friendly gift idea.  I kind of wish I had thought to make them before Christmas, but hey, it’s a good excuse to keep them all to myself!

If you have any beeswax leftover, then these beeswax wraps are another really easy and practical make. And if DIY isn’t for you, do check out my guide to the best beeswax candles to buy, to get all the benefits without any of the work!

Here’s to a light and bright January!