I read various different blog posts about making your own candles before taking the plunge and buying everything I would need to make them myself.

The first thing every blog told me that I needed to buy was a stainless steel jug. When it comes to wax, it is impossible to completely get out or off of any kitchen equipment, and you really do not want to be eating food that has been cooked in wax. Trust me.

So, I went to a local hardware/kitchen store and bought a cheap stainless steel jug that does the trick. 

Also, if you are trying to clean wax out or off of anything, hot water, a dedicated-to-wax scourer, and Cif work a charm!

I decided, like many of my December posts, to make some candles as gifts. I invested in some essential oils and beeswax from iHerb, and bought some candle wicks off of Etsy. Inexpensive, and super quick delivery.

As a word of warning with beeswax, it does have a faint honey smell, therefore you need to put a lot of essential oil into the wax in order to make the candle smell of anything other than beeswax.

Ingredients

beeswax pellets 
pre-waxed candle wick
mason jar
essential oil of choice

1. Fill the mason jar with beeswax pellets, then add to a stainless steel jar. Repeat two more times. You will likely need three times the volume of the jar once the pellets have melted.
2. Place a large pot of water onto a low heat, and place the stainless steel jar into the pot of water, to create a water bath for the wax.
3. Once the wax has completely melted, remove from the heat.
4. Add 50 – 60 drops of your chosen essential oil to the wax. 
5. Dip the metal base of the wick into the wax, then set in place in the centre of the mason jar.
6. Allow to cool slightly, then poor the wax into the mason jar. Reserve a small amount of the wax in the jar.
7. Using a chopstick, make sure the wick remains in the middle of the jar as the wax cools.
8. Once the wax has completely cooled, reheat the remaining wax.
9. Gently pour this into the mason jar. This will fill in any crack or wells that may have formed.
10. Wrap a ribbon around the lid, and tie a tag around the candle describing the name and what the scent is good for (e.g. Lavender – calming, refreshing, peaceful).