Herbal Craft
Make Hand Rolled Herbal Beeswax Candles
Making DIY rolled beeswax candles is astonishingly simple and has both a functional and beautiful outcome. It is a satisfying craft project for adults and kids alike. Keep your hands busy while enjoying teatime with friends. Encourage fine motor skills in children. Savor the honey sweet scent of the beeswax and the aromatic notes of crushed herbs.
What are rolled beeswax candles? Rather than melting beeswax and pouring it in a vessel, you roll sheets of beeswax to make tapers. The sheets look similar to the beeswax foundation used in beehives. It has the same hexagon print which mimics the shape bees naturally form when making cells. A bonus to this method is there is little mess or clean-up needed as the process is very tidy.
How do you make rolled beeswax candles? Put simply, you cut the wax sheet into strips, cut a length of wick about 1/2" longer than your beeswax sheet and let it roll. The candles come together in seconds. The medium is forgivable to any misfolds, allowing you to smooth out the bottom and edge. And for a few additional seconds, you can add herbs to enhance the experience of both making and burning the candles.
Let's make it herbal! Herbs can be placed inside or outside the candles... or both! Use a natural adhesive to secure them to the beeswax sheets. The herbs offer a very subtle aroma when burning, but if you would like a stronger scent, saturate the wick with a few drops of essential oils. Additionally, the herbs can be used for symbolism based on the intended use of the candle. Check out the list below for herbs connected to seasons and occasions where you might use candles.
How do you burn rolled beeswax candles? Just like any other taper, put your hand rolled beeswax candle into a candle stick holder. An 8 in candle will burn approximately a few hours. Because there are herbs burning with these candles and natural adhesives don't provide a permanent hold, please use a wide base to catch any bits that might fall and never leave lit candles unattended.
Make Herbal Rolled Beeswax Candles
Wick
Scissors
Bowl
Natural adhesive such as homemade marshmallow glue or papier-mache flour glue
Hair dryer, optional
Cut beeswax sheet to desired length. It is often suggested to cut the 16" sheets in half. However, if you prefer shorter candles or thicker candles or may even be making birthday candles, cut them to whatever length suits your fancy!
If you would like to create a tapered look at the top of your candle, cut a fading line starting at one corner and cutting across about 1/2" down.
Cut your wick about 1/2" longer than the length of your beeswax sheet.
Pour herbs into a shallow bowl. If using home grown plants, be sure to crush them up to a small, tea-like size.
If you are working in a cooler environment or it's wintertime or want to avoid cracking in the beeswax or you just want to make the process happen more smoothly, a hair dryer will give you a head start in warming up the wax. Simply blow dry the sheet for about 10 seconds.
Line up the wick so one end is in line with the edge of the beeswax sheet and the other end juts out about 1/2" over the top.
Tightly roll the beeswax around the wick by pinching it to encase the wick. Roll a few more rotations to set the base of your candle.
Rub your natural adhesive on the remainder of the flat beeswax to about 1/2" from the edge.
Sprinkle herbs of your choosing onto the glue, gently pressing them down to help them adhere.
Continue to roll the beeswax sheet, pressing firmly with each rotation to keep a tight cylinder.
Once the candle is fully rolled, use your fingers to press the seam to smooth it out.
Test your candle to see if it can stand up straight. If not, press and rotate the bottom to "stump" it.
To add herbs to the outside of the finished candle, dip the bottom in the glue and roll in a bowl of herbs. Let dry.
Notes
-The herbs will loosely adhere to the candle. Only burn them over a plate or within a candle holder that has a wide bottom to catch any pieces that may fall.
-Always use fire safety practices. Do not leave a candle unattended or within reach of a child while it is burning.
I don't have music tuned to this video. Instead, enjoy the background noise of a wild 4 year old trying to set-up naptime for her cat and a mama trying to get her work done. Notice how I say she has to wait for snacks and then a few minutes later we hear the fridge door opening. ;)
Choosing herbs. All plants have a storied history and symbolism from centuries of human interaction. Consider their significance when deciding which ones to adorn your candles.
Bridal Shower or Wedding Gift - rose, rosemary, marjoram and yarrow for love, happiness, blessings and fidelity in the marriage.
House Warming Gift - elderflower, rose, oregano and sage for cleansing, plus peace, love, and good health in the home.
Birthday Cake Candles or Birthday Gift - basil, cinnamon, clover, and marjoram for health, happiness, luck, and abundance.
Valentine's Day or Date Night - rose, hibiscus, apple peel and cinnamon or cardamom for love, lust and an open heart.
Spring - dandelion, sage, mint, and tarragon to cleanse, refresh and transform.
Spring Equinox - dandelion, violet, apple blossom, nettle and/or cleavers.
Summer - lemon balm, lemon grass, basil and lavender to deter insects while outdoors.
Summer Solstice - St. John's wort, chamomile, calendula, elderflower, rose and/or mugwort.
Fall - mullein, sage, mugwort and rosemary for remembrance, protection, divination and to thin the veil when connecting with ancestors.
Autumn Equinox - apple peel, rosemary, sage and/or clove.
Winter - mugwort, sage and mint for dreaming, vision, intuition, and clarity.
Winter Solstice - pine, cedar, juniper, cinnamon, orange, and/or holly.
Books with Plant Symbolism
The Green Witch by Arin Murphy-Hiscock
The Master Book of Herbalism by Paul Beyerl
Magical Herbalism by Scott Cunningham
Discovering The Folklore of Plants by Margaret Baker
For entertainment purposes only.
Always take all cautions when working with fire.
Never leave lit candles unattended or within reach of a child.
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