Recipe Dump #3 – Candles + Wax

Making candles IS SO FUN AND SATISFYING and if you haven’t done it, I highly recommend you do. The jar candles and wax melts I share in this post are incredibly easy to create.

However, a few notes:

First, I learned through this process that essential oils are so perfect for wax melts. The oils and the wax mingle, prolonging the scent, while they are gently warmed on an electric wax warmer. The candles, however, are an entirely mixed bag.

Essential oils, remember, are volatile oils, meaning that they evaporate quickly at room temperature. If you increase the temperature, they will evaporate faster; hence needing a medium like wax to keep ’em around longer. An open flame, though, will literally just burn the oil. While the scent of the cold candle is, in each case, unfathomably delicious, the scent of the burning candle ranges from pretty ok to nonexistent to actively bad. Proceed with caution.

After an incredible amount of research, I learned that candles scented with only essential oils will always result in burnt oil. The only way to prolong and stabilize essential oil in the presence of a flame is to mix it with a whole lot with synthetic stabilizers. And, we’re not talking about a 2:1 ratio. We’re talking about chemistry that is beyond most of us.

“Naturally” scented candles, that is, candles scented only with essential oils, with always always always pale in comparison to synthetic scent blends. It’s just science. Eventually, I picked a reputable scent producer, and carried niche scents like Tomato Leaf and Nag Champa. I actively miss those two!

General Proportions

The recipes that follow will specify which of these volumes/products that it was designed for.

For 2 candles:
400g soy wax
10-15ml essential oil

For 4 candles:
800g soy wax
3 tsp (30ml) essential oil

For 6 wax melts:
375-400g soy wax
15ml essential oil

To actually create these products, you need to do a little research in candle making. It’s very easy to get going, and it’s very easy to do in your kitchen and in small batches, but you do need to learn a little about wicks and wax and temperature.

---

Wax Melts

For 6 wax melts:

1. WM001
   1. 2tsp turmeric
   2. 1 tsp fir needle
2. WM002
   1. 1.5 tsp lavender
   2. 1 tsp patchouli
3. WM003
   1. 1.5 tsp peppermint
   2. 1 tsp Rosemary

---

Candles

Initially, I’d made 7 candles, based on the 7 chakras, and named for them. Later, I simply named them by the ingredients, and tracked them with codes.

All of these scents are fuckin bomb, I won’t lie, but remember what I said about essential oils and candles: don’t do it. Adapt these recipes to wax melts, perfumes, cleaning products, aromatherapy products, or other things you can use essential oils with.

But! There are some potentially irritating oils on this list. Do you research on essential oil safety and appropriate ratios!

Each recipe is for 2 8oz candles

1. JC001 (BE)
   Cinnamon leaf is so delicious. It feels like you’re inside a cinnamon muffin.
   1. 1 tsp Cinnamon Leaf
   2. 1/2 tsp Clove Bud
   3. 10 drops Ylang Ylang
2. JC002 (FEEL)
   1. 3/4 tsp Geranium
   2. 1/2 tsp Sweet Orange
   3. 1/4 tsp Cedarwood
3. JC003 (DO)
   1. 3/4 tsp Litsea Cubeba
   2. 1/2 tsp Frankincense
   3. 1/4 tsp Rosemary
4. JC004 (LOVE)
   Easily my favorite scent of the bunch. The combination is so GREEN and soothing.
   1. 3/4 tsp Bergamot Mint
   2. 1/2 tsp Ho Wood
   3. 1/4 tsp Basil
5. JC005 (SPEAK)
   1. 3/4 tsp Clary Sage
   2. 1/2 tsp Peppermint
   3. 1/4 tsp Tea Tree
6. JC006 (SEE)
   1. 3/4 tsp Lemongrass
   2. 1/2 tsp Sweet Orange
   3. 1/4 tsp Clary Sage
7. JC007 (KNOW)
   Geranium is one of my favorites.
   1. 5/8 tsp Copaiba Balsam
   2. 1/2 tsp Geranium
   3. 3/8 tsp Ylang Ylang
8. JC008
   This is a crazy smell. It’s loud and shocking, but also cleansing and clearing.
   1. 3/4 tsp citronella Java
   2. 1/2 tsp dill seed
   3. 1/4 tsp lime
9. JC009
   Warm and sweet.
   1. 3/4 tsp turmeric
   2. 1/2 tsp  clary sage
   3. 1/4 tsp ylang ylang
10. JC010
    1. 3/4 tsp eucalyptus
    2. 1/3 tsp pine (pinus sylvestris)
    3. 1/4 tsp cedar wood

Check out the other posts in this series:

• Recipe Dump #1 – Essential Oil Blends
• Recipe Dump #2 – Perfume + Anointing Oils
• Recipe Dump #3 – Candles + Wax