There are a lot of reasons to want to make your own homemade candles. There’s the feeling of accomplishment, and the chance to have a candle just the way you want it. But did you know that making your own candles can also be more sustainable?
If you’re trying to reduce your ecological footprint, but you’re also a candle fan, making your own candles can help make them as sustainable as possible. All you need to do is know a little bit about the materials you’re using and where they come from.
Sustainable candle waxes
The wax makes up most of your candle. It’s the fuel that the candle flame burns to stay lit. It holds the scent and the color that you enjoy. But a lot of us don’t stop to think about where our candle wax comes from. Here are some waxes that you can use for making your very own candles that are more sustainable options.
Beeswax
Beeswax is one of the oldest candle materials used by mankind. It’s produced by bees when they make their honeycombs. Because these combs hold honey, you’ll find that beeswax has a slightly sweet smell. Beeswax for commercial use is collected from managed beehives, not from wild bees, so it’s a renewable resource. It’s also a natural product.
You can find beeswax that's been refined to make a white beeswax without that honey scent if you prefer.
One thing about beeswax that might be an obstacle for some is that it’s an animal product, so it’s not compatible with a vegan lifestyle.
Aside from that, it’s a nice, hard wax that makes a beautiful candle. It does tend to be more expensive than other waxes.
Soy wax
Soy wax is a candle wax created by hydrogenating soybean oil. It’s a relatively recent invention. A candle maker created it in 1991 while seeking a cheaper alternative to beeswax.
Soy wax is a natural wax that’s derived from a renewable source; we can always grow more soybeans.
Soy wax is generally softer than beeswax, and in commercially produced candles is often blended with other waxes, like paraffin. When you make your own candles, you can make sure that the soy wax you use is just soy wax, and not a blend.
Coconut wax
Coconut wax is similar to soy wax. It’s the product of hydrogenating coconut oil. It has a lot of the same ecological benefits as soy wax, such as being vegan and renewable. Coconut wax has a bright white color so it’s great for making colored candles. It also holds and throws scent very well, so it’s fantastic for scented candles.
Soy wax has slightly better burn performance than coconut wax, so to get the best of both worlds, we offer a coconut soy wax blend.
The best essential oils for sustainable DIY candles
Essential oils are seen as healthy and natural substances to add a little fragrance to your daily life. It’s true that essential oils are wonderful for aromatherapy and scented candles, but there are sustainability concerns with some essential oils.
Some essential oils come from plants that are endangered or threatened. Because a very large quantity of plant material is needed to make essential oils, that means harvesting those plants and trees.
If you want to avoid using essential oils that may come from threatened plant species, here are some that we recommend for candle making:
These are just a few of the more sustainable essential oils that would be great for candle making. They’re wonderful on their own and also work great as part of an oil blend.
Natural fragrance oils
Fragrance oils are a great alternative to essential oils when you want to scent a homemade candle. Fragrance oils give you a lot more options, since some plants don’t produce essential oils, and some smells don’t come from plants at all.
Fragrance oils also often have more complexity to them than an essential oil.
Fragrance oils are synthetic scents made from combining different aromatic compounds to get those great smells. Natural fragrance oils are the same, except the aromatic compounds used to make them come from plants. Linalool is one example; this is an aromatic compound found in lavender that’s often used in making fragrances.
We have a line of natural fragrance oils that smell amazing. Check them out and choose one for your next DIY candle project.
Sustainable candle wicks
Most candle wicks these days are made from cotton, which is a natural and renewable material. You may not think that candle wicks come with many ecological concerns, and you’re right.
Both cotton wicks and wood wicks are made from renewable plant materials. They both burn well, though differently, and there’s a wood or cotton wick out there that will work with any of your candle projects.
One thing to think about, though, is whether or not your candle wick has a metal core. Metal cores in candle wicks are added to help the wick stand straight in melted wax as the candle cools. Most metal core wicks contain zinc or tin, but imported wicks, or the wicks in imported candles, may contain lead cores. We know lead is toxic, so you’ll want to make sure you’re not burning lead in your home.
Check out our selection of candle wicks and pick the right one for your project. To help, we have this great article about choosing the best wick for your DIY candle.
Reuse those containers
So what is the most sustainable option for candle containers? The ones you reuse! There are all kinds of things that you can turn into container candles, from mason jars to wine glasses. Just make sure your containers are heat safe and not flammable or porous. If you have a juice glass that’s the last of its set and you can’t bear to get rid of it, it’s easy to make it into a candle.
That goes for your old container jars, too. Once you’ve burned that candle down and cleaned the wax out, it’s time to pour another candle.
Reusing your candle containers and repurposing other containers for making candles is a great way to reduce the amount of waste in your home.
Now you’re prepared to enjoy the most wonderful homemade scented candles while basking in the warm glow of taking a step toward a more sustainable life. Check out our candle making supplies so you have everything you need to make those DIY candles.
