How to Use Essential Oils in Candles

by Genevieve Adams

Overview

Homemade scented candles make a thoughtful and personal gift around the holidays or any occasion. Essential oils are one of the purest ways to add fragrances to your candles. Customize your scent by mixing essential oils, or allow the pure essence of one oil to shine through.
Making a Candle With Essential Oils

Step 1

Wash the candleholder and dry thoroughly.
Step 2

Prepare your candleholder by inserting the wick. Use of a cotton wick with a metal disk attached, as this makes setting the wick easy. Apply superglue to the bottom of the disk, and press it firmly onto the center of the bottom of your glass candleholder. Drape the length of the wick over the side of the glass.
Step 3

Heat the soy wax in a pan over medium heat on the stove until the wax is melted. When the wax is liquid, add the essential oil and dyes.
Step 4

Carefully pour the wax mixture into the glass candleholder until the wax is about 3/4 inch below the rim.
Step 5

Wrap the end of the wick around a pencil. Holding the pencil so that the wick is taut and centered in the newly poured wax, roll the remaining wick onto the pencil until the pencil touches the glass. Lay the pencil on the top of the glass so the wick stays in place.
Step 6

Allow the candle to cool and set entirely. Unroll the excess wick from the pencil, then trim the wick so that it extends 1/2 inch above the wax.

3
1 pound soy wax 1 ounce essential oil Candle dye (optional) Candle wick (attached to metal disk) Glass candleholder Pan Stove Superglue Pencil
1 pound soy wax
1 ounce essential oil
Candle dye (optional)
Candle wick (attached to metal disk)
Glass candleholder
Pan
Stove
Superglue
Pencil
Prepare several glass candleholders with wicks at the same time to make a batch of candles. Essential oils can be used to add scent to existing unscented candles. Simply apply a few drops to the surface of the candle before burning. Reapply as necessary.
Prepare several glass candleholders with wicks at the same time to make a batch of candles.
Essential oils can be used to add scent to existing unscented candles. Simply apply a few drops to the surface of the candle before burning. Reapply as necessary.
Hot wax can be very dangerous and should be handled with care. Make sure to use a glass piece that is thick and resistant to heat to avoid cracking glass.
Hot wax can be very dangerous and should be handled with care.
Make sure to use a glass piece that is thick and resistant to heat to avoid cracking glass.