Making beeswax candles is surprisingly easy. With a soft, yellow-amber color, and a natural honey scent, they are a warming accent to any living space. Contact a local beekeeper for the wax.
You will need: chunks of beeswax, the wick, wick clips, scissors, pliers, a double boiler.
Hand-Dipped Candles
1. Place the beeswax in a double-boiler over a low to medium heat. Remember to add new water when it starts evaporating. Cover the floor with a drop cloth.
2. Stir gently, heating to about 150 to 160 degrees Fahrenheit. Once the wax is melted, cut a piece of wick twice as long as your dipping container, with a little bit extra for holding. Fold wick in half and leave enough room in the middle for your hand to hold.
3. Dip the wick in melted wax three times, letting it drip and cool a little in between each dip. Dip quickly to ensure even distribution of the wax. If you leave the wick in the wax too long, the bottom layers will melt back off.
4. You can rest a large dowel between two chairs. Let each one cool on the dowel, by the time you do about 6, the first ones will be ready to re-dip. After each of these early dips, straighten the wicks by hand, or roll them on a counter. Periodically trim the bottom of your candles to remove the little nipple that develops from the drips.
5. Continue dipping each pair, topping up the container as necessary to keep the level of wax right up to the brim, otherwise your candles will be wider at the bottom than at the top. After an hour of dipping, you should have about six pairs of beautiful beeswax candles. Trim the bottom of each candle and leave them to cool completely. A perfect gift for friends and family. You can also make beautiful small candles to fit a menorah. Enjoy.
Festival of Lights
Hanukkah is also known as the ‘Festival of Lights’. As the name suggests, the entire festival is a celebration of the miraculous event that occurred years ago at the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. The wicks of the Menorah lit for an amazing eight days at a stretch, although the sacred oil in the temple was enough to light the wicks for only one day. Lighting a menorah is one of the main traditions of the Jewish festival. This is the reason why lights and lighted decors play such an important part in the observation of the celebration. Make your own candles for a personal touch.
