Homemade Soy Candles with Essential Oils
These homemade soy candles with essential oils are a safe, healthy and all-natural alternative to store-bought candles. And they make a great homemade gift for Christmas or any other occasion!
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I started making my own candles 3 years ago at Christmas when we couldnāt afford to buy gifts for everyone in our family.
I’d wanted to try candle-making for a while, but hadnāt wanted to spend the money on the supplies I needed to get started. But the fact that it was Christmas and I had to spend money on gifts anyway gave me an excuse to finally invest in some candle-making supplies for a fraction of the cost of individual store-bought gifts for everyone on our list.
I decided on soy wax for a few different reasons. First of all, I wanted a natural wax that burned clean and was safe and healthy for my family. This meant paraffin wax was not an option as paraffin is an oil derivative and has been shown to release toxic carcinogens into the air when burned. So my options were pretty much to either use beeswax or soy wax.
While I do love beeswax, I wanted a white candle that I could add fragrance to, similar to the ones you might find at the store. So I settled on soy wax and Iām still using it to this day.
Never buy candles from the store again
The first time I lit one of my homemade candles, I was hooked. I honestly donāt think Iāve ever bought a candle from the store since that day. I quickly started buying larger quantities of wax and making more and more candles.
I realized that buying in bulk was the best way to go because it ended up costing less per candle by purchasing large, 50-lb. boxes of wax. Now I always have a box of wax at home ready to go for whenever I need to whip up a few quick homemade gifts or replace some of the candles from my own collection.
I usually make my candles in repurposed old Mason jars, which I usually get from the local Thrift store for pennies. I also save money on wicks by purchasing lengths of wicking, measuring them out and placing the tabs on the wicks myself, but if youāre just getting started I would recommend just going with the ready-made wicks. Theyāre pretty affordable as is and make life a lot easier when youāre just starting out.
As for other supplies, I use a 4-lb. pouring pot, a kitchen scale and a meat thermometer, as well as a wooden dowel I bought from the dollar store which has become my designated stir stick for mixing the wax. I always wipe it down with a paper towel while the wax is still hot so that it stays nice and clean. Same goes for the pouring pot.
The most costly part of making these candles is the money spent on essential oils, however Iāve found an amazing company that sells super affordable high-quality essential oils, so all in it only costs me an average of a couple dollars per candle, which is a sliver of the price of similar store-bought candles. Not to mention, using essential oils in candles is a much healthier alternative to the synthetic fragrance oils that are added to most store-bought scented candles.
Fragrance oils vs. essential oils
When I first began making candles at home I did use fragrance oils to scent them. I wanted to mimic the scented candles I used to buy frequently from boutique stores and a from a certain chain of soap and candle stores that resides in malls across North America.
But it didnāt take me long to realize that, as lovely as these fragrance oils make candles smell, theyāre anything but natural and they also emit toxic carcinogens into the air when burned. So I started looking for healthier alternatives.
Essential oils were the clear choice as they are 100% pure and natural and they smell amazing! So I began using essential oils in place of fragrance oils in my candles.
The only problem with essential oils is that the scent from essential oils doesnāt āthrowā well when burned in candle form, so you have to use a lot of essential oils in order to produce any scent at all. And even then, you donāt get anywhere near the same intensity of fragrance that you get from synthetic fragrance oils.
But essential oils are like, a thousand times safer and healthier than candles scented with fragrance oils.
(Okay, I don’t have the exact stats in front of me. But you get the gist.)
I will admit though, that I do love scented candles (those spicy, warm apple pie, pumpkin spice and fresh evergreen ones that come out around the holidays are some of my faves!) and so I do still scent some of my candles with a little fragrance oil mixed with essential oils. Not all of them (I aim for the 80/20 rule), but I have fragrance oils left over from a couple years ago, so I used some in my latest batch.
I also mix fragrance oils with essential oils in the candles that I sell (I’ve sold at craft fairs and I’m selling some at a pop-up Christmas shop this season), because I know people are looking for delicious-smelling scented candles (plus I can’t afford to be putting hundreds of drop of essential oils in each batch I sell or I’d never make any money!) But I now also mix with essential oils, which I find actually enhances the smell of the essential oils so I’m able to use less fragrance oils and essential oils than I used to.
If you choose to mix fragrance oils and essential oils to get a nicely scented candle, I’ve found I like 2 ounces of fragrance oil for every pound of wax, and about 20 drops of essential oils mixed in.
You could, of course, forgo both the fragrance and the essential oils altogether if you wanted and still get that warm, cozy glow:)
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Say no to dyes
One more thing to consider is the dyes that are used in commercially-produced candles. Coloured candles typically use synthetic dyes, and surprise surprise! These dyes also contain toxic carcinogens!
I used dyes in my own candles once when I wanted to make some different coloured candles for the holidays. But after learning about the dangers lurking in these synthetic dyes, I decided never to use them again.
Plus, I really love classic white candles, donāt you? They look much cleaner and classier than coloured candles in my opinion.
Supply list for making soy candles with essential oils
While I could go on all day about the reasons why you should make your own all-natural soy candles with essential oils and no dyes, Iām sure that if youāre here, what you really want is to know how to make them. So letās get on with itā¦
First, youāre gonna need a few supplies. Iāve linked to the products and brands I personally use and/or recommend for starting out:
- Soy wax (flakes or pellets)
- Essential oils (I use and recommend Plant Therapy)
- Wicks (either pre-made or cotton wicking by the length plus wick tabs to make your own)
- Wick holders (store-bought or using items from home such as clothespins)
- Jars (Mason jars work great!)
- Glue gun (for sticking wicks to jars)
- Pouring pot plus sauce pan to use as double boiler
- Digital kitchen scale
- Wooden spoon or dowel for mixing
- Kitchen thermometer
- Fragrance oils (I almost feel guilty including these here since I preach all-natural everything all the time. But hey, ya gotta live a little too. And if you’re like me and LOVE scented candles fragrance oils, you may as well make your own. At least this way you can add beneficial essential oils, omit dyes, know that your wax is all-natural and control the amount of fragrance oil you add).
- Labels (these are optional, but they help you to remember which oils are in which candles and they look great for gifting).
*** Iāve got some free printable labels for soy candles available under the āLabelsā section of my Free Resource Library.
You can also grab a copy of my FREE Guide to Candle-Making with Soy Wax & Essential Oils from the “Homesteading & Self-Sufficiency” section of the resource library. Sign up to gain access and download your freebie so youāll have everything you need to make soy candles at your fingertips!
How to Make Soy Candles With Essential Oils
1. Prepare your jars.
If repurposing old jars, make sure theyāre clean and dry.
2. Measure out your wax.
I recommend weighing wax with a digital kitchen scale.Tare the pouring pot first (tare just means hit the ātareā or āweight resetā button with your empty pot on the scale so that the scale doesnāt count the weight of the pot itself). Reset the scale to 0, then fill with wax until youāve reached your desired weight.
*Note: Even though I use a 4-pound pot, I usually make my candles in two-pound batches so I can do a wider variety of scents. Two pounds of wax will fill approximately four or five 8-oz Mason jars (jam jars or half-pints) or 8 to10 4-oz jelly jars.
3. Melt wax in pouring pot or double boiler on the stove.
Never heat up a pouring pot directly on the stove top. Always fill another pot with about an inch or two of water and place pouring pot in the pot. Melt wax on high until wax has completely liquified. Use a kitchen thermometer to check the temperature of the wax. For best results, allow it to reach 180ĀŗF and then take it off the heat and allow it to cool a bit before adding your essential oils.
4. While wax is cooling, prepare your wicks.
Centre and glue wicks to the inside bottom of jars using a glue gun. Place wick holders (or clothespins) across the tops of jars to keep wicks upright and centred.
5. Allow wax to cool to roughly 130ĀŗF.
Once cooled, add your essential oils. Youāll want to add about 100 drops of essential oils for every pound of wax. Yes, you read that right. I told you you need to use a lot! Mix in essential oils using a wooden spoon or mixing tool. (If you’re adding fragrance oils, now is the time to add those in too).
6. Pour wax slowly into prepared jars.
Allow to cool completely before moving the jars (sort of like leaving the jars to cool on the countertop after canning). Trim wicks to desired length, put custom labels on your jars and voilĆ ! C’est fini!
Enjoy your candles, whether youāre giving them away or burning them yourself at home:)
Essential Oil Combinations for Soy Wax Candles
Candle-making is by-and-large an exact science. The creativity lies in coming up with different essential oil combinations to use in your homemade candles.
The following are some of my favourite essential oil combinations that I use in my own homemade candles. Feel free to follow these recipes or create your own combinations!
1. Lemon & Lavender
I like blending 3 parts lavender and one part lemon, so 75 drops of lavender and 25 drops of lemon. But you could do it the other way around if youād like a more ālemonyā scented candle. I also like to add bergamot and/or vetiver essential oil to this combo.
2. Orange & Cinnamon
I usually mix equal parts orange and cinnamon bark essential oils, but I also like to add clove, nutmeg or ginger to this combo for a warm, āholidayā scented candle.
3. Rosemary & Cedarwood
This is a new favourite of mine. I really like the combo of rosemary and spruce or fir needle as I find it woodsy and manly. But Iāve recently discovered cedarwood essential oil and itās one of my new all-time favourites. You can also mix a combination or rosemary, cedar wood and spruce or fir. These are all earthy, woodsy scents and they make a great combo if youāre looking for a more rugged, āmanlyā candle.
I’ve also started playing around with adding vanilla to my candles. Plant Therapy sells vanilla essential oil, which is what I use in mine. But it’s more like vanilla extract, so it doesn’t blend quite the same way.
You need to make sure it’s really well blended into your wax before pouring so it doesn’t “gather” at the bottom of your candle. But the vanilla does make the candles smell amazing. You could even try this with plain old vanilla extract that you have in your kitchen!
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Of course, the possibilities are endless when it comes to essential oil combinations, so feel free to play around with different scents. If youāre not sure how certain oils will smell together, open the bottle of the oils youāre thinking of using a hold them all together and smell them in the bottles together.
And of course, if you come up with some unique and delicious scent combinations, this homestead mama wants to know about them! Comment below, share on Instagram and tag me @thehouseandhomestead or post your recipes and any photos of your candles to our Facebook page!
P.S. Donāt forget to grab your printable labels and a copy of the Complete Guide to Candle-Making from my Free Resource Library!
Iāve included more in-depth information on candle-making as well as a trouble-shooting guide for common problems and printable labels to use on your own homemade candles.
Wishing you homemade, homegrown, homestead happiness š
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Iāve been thinking a lot lately about what it really means to be "self-reliant."
We talk a lot about self-reliance (or self-sufficiency) in the homesteading community, and outwardly it may seem as if the goal of "achieving" self-reliance is what ultimately drives many of us to live this lifestyle in the first place.
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A few years ago, Forbes published an article titledĀ Dear Homesteaders, Self-Reliance is a Delusion.
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Check out the full article, along with a preview of the spring issue at modernhomesteadingmagazine.com
Link in bio @thehouseandhomestead to SUBSCRIBE or login to the magazine library and read the full issue (for current subscribers).
What are you MOST excited to grow in your garden this year??
Let me know! š
#seedstarting #seeds #springgardening #growyourowngroceries
I am very new to cancel making , could you tell me why my candles burn unevenly . They only melt in a circle around the wick , leaving behind a ring of soy around .
Thanks
Hi Linda,
It could be that the wicks you’re using are too small for the size of the candle you’re making. You might want to opt for thicker wicks. Anna lists all of the candle-making products she uses here on this page. You can also download a free copy of Anna’s Complete Guide to Candle Making guide from our Free Resource Library. The guide includes s a troubleshooting section that you might find helpful, as well as printable labels and other useful information.
love this great information…just started making soy candles and am a big believer of essentials oils but I discovered Candle Science CLEAN fragrances and they have no carcinogenic phthalates…..would you consider them? I am trying to save some money on selling my soy candles? thank you jan
Hi Jan,
I haven’t heard of that brand of fragrances so I have not tried them. But if they are indeed “clean” and without carcinogenic ingredients, then it sounds like a good option.
Let us know what you think of them as I am sure we are all trying to save a few dollars here and there. š
Hi there, thank you so much for this incredible article, I am so excited to try this out on my own. Quick question though – I see how you explain how much essential oils to use, but I have not read how much fragrance oil you do use when you add it to your mixture. I went to the link you provided in one of your responses and I found their natural fragrance oil and am excited to try it out., but not sure how much you use.
Hi Kathy,
In the post, Anna says that if you choose to mix fragrance oils and essential oils to get a nicely scented candle, she likes to use 2 ounces of fragrance oil for every pound of wax, and about 20 drops of essential oils mixed in.
If you were to use only fragrance oil I would start with the 2 oz per pound of wax and adjust to your desired fragrance strength.
I hope this helps. š
Great guide here and looking forward to my next candle-making attempt! Quick question, though… When you say to add ~100 drops essential oil or ~2oz fragrance oil per pound of soy wax, is that per pound of solid wax or per pound of melted wax?
Thanks for clarifying!
I weigh my wax out in solid form, then melt it. It will still be the same weight once melted. So base the amount of oils/fragrance on the weight you get when you measure it out in solid form. I hope that makes sense!
Thank you for the information. I am Trish and I live in Adelaide South Australia. In “the land down under”.
I have just started making my own candles, and am well and truly hooked.!~!!!
I love mixing my own scents to make a unique blend. A little bit of this , and a little bit of that, voila. Beautiful. I write down what I have done so I can repeat the recipe if necessary, ( or though I do rather like mixing the oils up a bit) .and I also give them a name eg. ” Woodland Caper “, “Sea Shanty” etc. Great fun and very very relaxing, then I get to light them and enjoy the newly created scent. Thank you again, it was very pleasant and enjoyable reading all the comments. Happy candle making and take care, Warm Regards, From Trish (Adelaide South Australia)
Hi Trish! Thanks for the comment! I used to live in Australia and remember making my way through Adelaide. Beautiful!
I also love playing around with different scents. I do find I need to use a bit of fragrance oil to get the essential oils to really throw. I’m currently on the hunt for natural fragrances made from botanicals (rather than synthetic). We’re coming up on candle-making season here in Canada as we head into fall and winter. Take care and happy candle-making to you too!
Thanks for this information. I just started making candles. I have a question about essential oils, how do you measure how much oil to put if you will be using 3 or more essential oil ? Likewise with mixing fragrance oil and essential oils?
Hi Nikki,
When adding more than 2 essential oils, just divide that number by 100 (the number of drops needed per pound of wax). But it really is up to you. So- if using 3 oils – that is basically 33 drops each if you want an even distribution of each scent… or you could use 50 drops of one and accent with 25 of each of the other two. The combinations are endless and this is where your creativity comes in to make it your own blend.
As for mixing fragrance oil and essential oils together, Anna recommends to use 2 ounces of the fragrance oil with 20 drops essential oil per pound of wax. Mixing any different oils within those guidelines is up to you.
Hi,
Thank you soo much for providing this information. I did my first lot of candles the other day and could not understand why they didn’t smell of anything. Now i know why as i only put about 10 drops of essential oils in!
Thank you! š
I make my own ‘essential oil’ by warming 1 cup of my favorite carrier oil (my current favorite cheapest is Costco Avacado Oil) in a small crock pot. I add whatever spices I want: coffee grounds, Orange Peel, Vanilla Pods, Fir Needles from my small living christmas tree, nutmeg, you name it. I bring it to just under a boil and turn it down to simmer an hour or two. I then store in a glass container, I currently use my husbands old wine bottles. My family says my candles smell like cookies!
I also get dried twigs from a tree outside and light my candles with those. It is cheap and gives it a fun rustic look!:)
Really!? And they actually throw scent? I’m gonna have to try this!
Hi Anna,
I noticed you said you buy soy wax in 50# bags. Would you be able to send me a link to where I can purchase in bulk? Thanks so much for the great tutorial!
Hi Suzanne,
It looks like the wax that I normally use is currently unavailable on Amazon, but this one is rated as the number 1 best seller and is comparable to the brand I use, AND it comes in a 50-lb. box:) Here’s the link: https://amzn.to/2YgKdRS
Is there another soy wax that you recommend? The link is a discontinued product. Thanks!
Hi Cindy,
Thanks for letting me know! For wax, most any pure soy wax will do. But I’ve also used CandleScience soy wax and like their products.
A great resource, thank you for posting as I really want to try my hand at making my own candles. I tried at sign up for access to your resource library but I haven’t been sent a confirmation email yet and I’ve now tried 3 times in the last 5 days.
Hi Sarah! Sorry to hear you’re having trouble accessing the resource library. I will email you directly with details as it looks like you signed up a while ago, which is why you’re not getting a confirmation email now. Please check your inbox for an email from me with instructions:)
This was very helpful Anna, thank you for this piece. I tried making beeswax candles with essential oils which was not only costly but really quite difficult and the smell was not amazing as beeswax doesnāt work that well with essential oils plus finding the right wick was so difficult. Hopefully I might try with soy wax see if that fares any better.
Hello
I was wondering what the absolute max is of essential oil that I can add? For a strong smelling candle? Is it dangerous to add more than a teaspoon per pound of wax? What would happen?
Hi Samantha,
I don’t know that there’s a maximum as far as safety is concerned. It’s just that it starts to get very expensive the more essential oils you add and the scent doesn’t become much more potent. I’ve tried up to about 125 to 150 drops but I didn’t notice a huge difference adding the extra 25 to 50 drops so I’d rather conserve my oils:)
I have wasted so much money trying to get my Candles to smell. I use 444 soy wax and I’ve spent tons on variety of essential and fragrance oils. The wax burns beautifully, but no scent. I’ve tried every melting temp from 185-130. Added oil at temps from 180-120. I’ve tried making 1 single candle to making 3 8 ounce which averages out to 1 pound of melted wax to 1ounce of oil. I either get a perfectly burning candle with no scent or a candle that catches fire if I add more oil for stronger scent throw. I don’t know what else to do??āāļø??
Hi Tina,
That’s strange that you can’t get them to smell… I could see if you were only using essential oils, the scent just doesn’t throw well with essential oils so they’re very mild. However, I’ve never had a problem when using fragrance oils. Are you using fragrance oils that are specifically meant for candles and cosmetics? I use fragrance oils from a company called Voyageur Soap & Candle Co. Here’s their website if you’d like to check them out: https://www.voyageursoapandcandle.com/
I’m just getting into candle making and this was so helpful, thanks so much for all the tips.
My pleasure:)
Thanks for this! What kinds of ratios do you use when mixing fragrance and essential oils? Are certain fragrances more popular or better for starting out?
Well, Anna recommends using 100 drops of essential oils per pound of wax. So, if you want to blend your own scents, then I would recommend thinking about which scent you want to stand out a little more and do a 60/40 ratio– or you may want to divide them equally for a balanced scent combination. I would start with a 1/2 pound of wax and 50 drops of your favorite scents for starters, or follow her blends listed and maybe you will find your favorite there? The ones she has listed are her most popular ones so far.
Enjoy!
Hi, this really did help. I just have some questions! I started making soy candles. Iām struggling on getting a strong scent. I have 8 oz jars and 4 oz. I make each at a time. Verses a big batch. What would you suggest on how much essential oil to use per 8 oz and 4 oz to get the best results?
Well, if you use only 8 oz of wax (1/2 pound) to make 2 small (4 oz) candles or one larger candle, then I suggest starting with 50 drops of essential oil. That would be the best place to start based on Anna’s recipe. Scents can be a very personal thing and everyone has their own perception of what is a strong smell. If this is not enough, then you can increase the drops until you have the strength you desire.
If you only want one small candle using 1/4 pound (4 oz) of wax then perhaps start at 25 drops and work up (or down) from there. These are just some guidelines to start and then you can proceed with what appeals most to you and then you will have your own personal recipe for your needs.
Good luck with your small batches of candles!
Hi! Iād using fragrance oils, how much would you use per lb?
I would stick with no more than 2 oz. of fragrance oils per pound of soy wax. Some sources recommend 1 oz. per pound, but I like mine scented a little stronger. Any more than that and you risk having “oily” candles as the ratio of fragrance oil to soy wax can be too high. But feel free to experiment! I have added up to 4 oz of fragrance oils per pound before. But I did find the tops a bit oily once cooled.
How did you attach the labels!
Hi Kelly,
I use these sticky Kraft paper labels for mine, but you can also use paper and glue: https://amzn.to/2XStO76
I’m just starting to research this topic. I want pretty colored candles but understand not using the dyes. I am wondering about the powdered food coloring they use in macaroons or even freeze dried berry powder. Would that work? Yes, I’m more of a baker but dip my hands in many crafts. Just looking for alternatives. This isn’t necessarily the brand I would use but an example with more information than the one I would use. https://www.amazon.com/Americolor-Powder-Food-Color-Black/dp/B006ZCPFPW
Hi Tammy,
I don’t have experience working with powders like that so I can’t say for sure how they would turn out but it’s definitely worth a try!
Hi! Would lemongrass essential oil and vanilla essential oil work together? Trying to decide what to buy. Thanks!
I don’t see why not! You never know until you try:)
I was wondering how many tsp/TBL spoons 100 drops of essential oil would be. Thank You
Hi Jacqueline!
While I’ve never measured it out myself, from the research I’ve done, 100 drops of essential oils equals approximately one teaspoon.
I was wondering if you could tell me where you get your fragrance oils at..like a link if possible..also Iām just getting into this and was wondering since u sell ur candles what do you charge ?
Hi Melissa,
I actually get my fragrance oils from a local company close to where I live here in BC. Itās called Voyageur Soap & Candle Co. So Iām not sure where all they ship to, but here is the link: https://www.voyageursoapandcandle.com/
As for what I charge, I had some candles for sale at a Christmas pop-up shop this past year and she had them on sale for $18. I got 60% of that, so $12. I think $18 was a bit high. I might have gone $16 for the 8oz candles and $10 for the 4oz if it were just me. Iām also in Canada if that matters! Hope that helps:)
Just made these candles for the first time! It was fun and relaxing! Something to keep you zen during these difficult times. A little comforting light and soothing smell. I used Frasier Fir essential oil. ??
Yes! I love getting into little projects like this in stressful times. It really helps to refocus attention on something calming and productive at the same time.
This was a great tutorial, thank you!! I was wondering, though, is it possible to add the oil individually to each jar if you want to do different scents? Some friends and I want to try this, but we all have different scent preferences.
Hi Melia,
Yes you could probably add the individual oils to each candle and maybe just gently stir them in with a toothpick. Just be careful not to stir them too quickly as this can cause the wax to splash up on the jar and can introduce air bubbles which might affect how smooth your finished candle is. And of course youāll want to add a lot less. I would probably add maybe 20 to 25 drops of essential oils per 8oz candle. The alternative would be to make one batch of candles with specific oils and pour one for everyone and then do another batch, etc. so that each person has one of each different scent to take home. I hope this helps! Let me know how they turn out:)
Please give me access to your resource page. Sherrystep2003@lyahoo.com
The link to Anna’s Free Resource Library is at the end of the article, highlighted in red.
Follow the instructions and then you will get an email with the password to access the information in the library.
Enjoy!
I am extremely new this and with all the research I have done I definitely want to go for the natural candles to make where could I connect with you more.
Also was wondering if there are any more essential oils mixes you could recommend for my first collection please
Hi Shona,
If you sign up for my Free Resource Library, there is a printable candle-making guide under the “Homesteading & Self-Sufficiency Resources” section that walks you through the candle-making process and has a bunch of recipes for essential oil combinations. It’s also got lots of great troubleshooting tricks and tips. PLUS, if you sign up for the Free Resource Library, you’ll get on my email list and will get to connect with me every week when I send out new content! (You can also reply to my emails and chat me anytime:) Heres the link to sign up: https://thehouseandhomestead.com/resource-library/
Useful tutorial ,was searching.
Thanks
A great tutorial! Can’t wait to try making them.