How-to: Rolled Beeswax Tealight Candles

rolled beeswax tea candlesBeeswax tealight candles are expensive, petroleum-based tealight candles are polluting and unhealthy, and yet my lovely little essential oil warmer won’t work with anything larger.

In the mornings, I MUST waft the scent of peppermint and rosemary essential oils through the air, lest I never escape the desire to just go back to bed, and so I’ve gotten into the habit of making my own rolled beeswax tealight candles. They’re quick and easy to make, inexpensive, and you can do them in any colors that you fancy. Read on to see how it’s done:

press the wick into one end of the beeswax sheetUnless you’re a bigger DIY rock star than I am, you’ll need to first purchase beeswax sheets to roll. I’ve been unable to source beeswax sheets locally, so I purchase mine online (check out my beginner’s rolled beeswax candle tutorial for sourcing information). I’ve also had good luck finding beeswax sheets at garage sales, so a query through Craigslist or Freecycle wouldn’t be a bad idea. One full-sized 8″x16″ beeswax sheet will make eight tealights, but if you have a variety of colors, you can mix and match, even within a single tealight.

Cut a piece of beeswax that measures 1″x16″. To make a multi-colored tealight, play with that second number as you cut–two 1″x8″ pieces, for instance, or four 1″x4″ pieces (which is what I’m using for these particular candles).

Cut a length of cotton candle wicking (this is easier to find anywhere that sells candlemaking supplies) to about 1.25″–cotton wicks have a top and a bottom, so don’t mix them up!

Press the wicking into the beeswax at one short end, lining the bottom of the wick up with one side of the piece (this will be the bottom of the candle), and letting the top of the wick stick out from the other side.

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Written by Julie Finn

I'm a writer, crafter, Zombie Preparedness Planner, and homeschooling momma of two kids who will hopefully someday transition into using their genius for good, not the evil machinations and mess-making in which they currently indulge. I'm interested in recycling and nature crafts, food security, STEM education, and the DIY lifestyle, however it's manifested--making myself some underwear out of T-shirts? Done it. Teaching myself guitar? Doing it right now.

Visit my blog Craft Knife for a peek at our very weird handmade homeschool life, and my etsy shop Pumpkin+Bear for a truly odd number of rainbow-themed beeswax pretties.

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