Every year around Christmastime, I gather the ingredients necessary to make a delectable — though unfortunately inedible — sweet-smelling treat. Peppermint Candles. They are so wonderful that I find myself thinking of them in June, craving another batch!
However, I also make candles for reasons not so aesthetic. 😉
Imagine this: You are literally picking up the pieces after an earthquake. By a miracle, your home is still standing, but you’re without power. Things in your area are well enough that relocation is unnecessary, but your children are crying all the same. The sun is going down. Darkness is creeping in, and they feel it.
You head to your closet, your pantry, the garage, or the box under your bed…
Thanks to your homemade candles, you have the ability to bring warmth and hope to the family members huddled together in your living room. Oh, the joy that comes from being able to bring comfort to your family during a trial!
Light is one of the most important aspects of preparedness. No matter the type of disaster, you want to be able to provide light.
Sources of alternative light include:
- wax candles
- clay oil lamps
- hurricane lamps
- flashlights
- glow sticks
I keep several different sources on hand for good measure. The most comforting are my peppermint candles. They make wonderful homemade gifts for friends and family. They smell heavenly. You can mold them or make them in a variety of containers, and making them is far easier than you’d expect.
Peppermint Candles
Ingredients
- wax
- wicking
- peppermint essential oil
Instructions
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Melt wax using the double-boiler method.
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Place the melting pot, 2/3 full of wax chunks or chips, inside a pot of water.
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Melt the wax on low heat until it is liquified, but do not let it boil.
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If using a thermometer, bring the wax to approximately 170 degrees Fahrenheit.
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Add essential oil, 5 to 10 drops at a time, until you reach your desired level of scent strength.
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Before filling containers with melted wax, you need to set the wicking.
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Cut the wicking to a length a bit longer than needed for the candles, drop one end into the containers, and wrap the other end around round object((a thin dowel, firm straw, small tube, pencil, pen, etc.).
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Lay the round objects across the tops of the containers and make sure the wicking has very little slack.
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Pour the melted wax into the prepared containers.
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Let cool completely, then use.
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Enjoy!
Recipe Notes
The beautiful thing about making your own candles is that you get to tailor each aspect to your liking. The type and shade of wax, the thickness of wicking, the scent, and the containers/molds you choose are all a matter of personal preference. Use your imagination and get creative!
Can I use glass containers?
Yes, but it's a good idea to warm the glass before adding the wax. This will ensure that you don't crack the glass in the process. It's the same principle as heating your jars during canning. Hot liquid + cold jars = messy cleanup and a little too much danger than we like.
Do I have to use beeswax?
Nope! I prefer beeswax because it melts slowly, promoting even burning. However, you can use soy wax, palm wax, or tallow just as easily.
Do I have to use peppermint oil?
Absolutely not! I use peppermint more than any other oil because it's one of my favorite scents. Also because it's one of the stronger-smelling essential oils, which means I can use less. However, you can use any essential oil you like. Wild orange oil makes a great-smelling candle. Burning a lavender candle in your home can be extremely therapeutic.
What kinds of containers can I use for candle-making?
Create candles in glass canning jars, used mint tins, tea cups, sea shells -- whatever item of which you might have an abundance. I purchased a tapered-candle mold from a local wholesale (and online) store called GloryBee Foods, and it's my favorite.
NOTE: If you're using a mold, make sure you follow the manufacturer's instructions for lubricating the mold before you pour wax into it. Beeswax, especially, has a tendency to stick if the mold is not lubricated properly.
My candles are cracking! What did I do wrong?
Try melting the wax at a lower temperature next time. If your wax is too hot when it's poured, your candles may crack.
How do I clean my melting pot?
First of all, never pour wax down your sink drain! It will clog it quicker than a duck on a Junebug. Pour the extra wax into a disposable cup or container to harden, and wipe the melting pot with a rag or paper towel. Rather than using soap to clean your melting pot, try 1/2 cup of white vinegar instead. Swish it around and scrub the remaining wax from the bottom and sides of the pot.
Light is miraculous!
It can change our hearts, warm our souls, calm our fears, and bring us together. For centuries, people have gathered around light in homes near and far. Jesus is the Light of the World. Light is vital to our emotional, spiritual, and mental well-being.
What is your favorite form of light? How do you plan to provide light in the event of an emergency?
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We love candles! When we moved here last fall we bought a series of oil lamps which we have used off and on. We just make sure we always have a source of matches in the event of an emergency. I would love to try making some sometime! Thanks for the tutorial. 🙂
I absolutely LOVE oil lamps. I won’t admit in writing how many I have stashed away. 😉 There is just nothing like true firelight – in all it’s forms – to brighten your mood and warm your soul!
Great Job Laura! I will be trying this, probably closer to December 🙂
Excellent! Let me know how it goes Bobbi!
I never thought of adding peppermint to them! That’s a great idea and it’ll make the house smell HEAVENLY.
Ah, yes. Peppermint is a glorious scent to have wafting through your home. I also love wild orange and peppermint together. Not to mention, they’re both invigorating which helps a lot on those early mornings!!
I really want to try this!
DO it!! And then tell me about it. It’s very exciting to me that others are interested in this. 🙂
Love the idea of making my own candles! Especially with all of the canning jars on hand. Thanks for the info!
I am really digging the idea of using the canning jars. I especially like using the odd shapes and sizes I have gathered from friends as “jam gifts” over the years. When I can, I like to keep things uniform — no poking fun — and this gives me a way to cull the odd balls out of the bunch.
This is a wonderful article. Thank you for sharing the art of making candles. I must go out and try this. I love candles and agree it is a good idea to have a light storage for emergencies. 🙂
Thanks Frankie! It’s very simple and would be a great craft to do with your daughter!
I need to do this! I used to love candles burning, but since cutting out artificial scents we haven’t had any in the house!
Melody, I was in the exact same situation! We eliminated artificial cleaners and scents from our home to help with my older son’s eczema, but I l-o-v-e candles burning. It completely changes the feeling of a home for me. I was so happy that my experimenting with essential oils paid off!
Thank you for this recipe! I have some over sized canning jars that are going to become a source of emergency light for our family.
I am excited for you to try this Steph! Just a few tips – for larger jars, you can do one of two things to help your candle melt all the way to the edges so you aren’t left with a bunch of leftover wax: 1) Use multiple wicks in one candle – just follow the same process but place two or three wicks in one jar to help the heat distribute evenly, or 2) Use a wax with a lower melting point. Soy Wax has a lower melting point, at around 120 degrees F, than beeswax, at 160 degrees F. Palm oil is one of the highest, with a melting point around 188 degrees F. Have fun!
I’ve never made my own candles, mostly because I never knew how. This seems pretty easy to do and the fact that I can make my own scents totally rocks! Thanks for a great article Laura!
You are very welcome Amber! If you come across a scent that you absolutely love, let me know! I’m always up for trying something new!
Love it! I used to love making candles and haven’t done it in a long time..never made peppermint! Putting this on my list!!
Yessss! Nothing like an old past time to make you feel nostalgic! 😉
Sounds fantastic. Will definitely be trying this!
Yay Meta! I’m so glad! Burning candles (out of reach, of course) is a great way to occupy little ones, of which you have an abundance. 🙂
Love this!! Your artucle has inspired me. Making some for my family soon!!
Thank you Jade! I hope you find as much enjoyment out of it as I have!
This is going on my summer to do list of things I must try 🙂 Thanks
You are very welcome Judy!
Sounds incredible. Will definitely be trying!!
Oh good! Let me know how it goes for you. 🙂
So fun Laura! I’m glad to have your blog to refer to. 🙂
Thank you Jessica! I am so grateful to be able to write for Wardeh here. Her stuff is fantastic and I LOVE her website.
I love this idea! I’ve never made candles but it sure sounds easy enough!
Definitely easy, and a lot of fun too! I remember the first time I tried it I was amazed at the simplicity of the process. Not sure what I was expecting, but it was so much easier than anticipated! 😉
A sudden craving for Junior Mints aside, I loved your article, Laura! It was educational and inspiring! I’ve never made candles before but after reading this article I can’t wait to give it a try. Thanks! 🙂
Mmmmmmm… Junior Mints are my FAVORITE! Now there’s an idea. Next I need to figure out a way to combine my wax with unrefined coconut oil so you get the coconut/mint scent wafting around… Ooooohhhh Melissa. Now I’m on to something. 😉 I use that (coconut and mint oil) for my deodorant and my husband says it gives him a sweet tooth.
I enjoyed reading this. The question and answer section addressed each of my queries in a format that was much easier to understand. Also, it allowed the directions for making the candles to be more succinct. I hope you will continue to write articles that show some personality, while offering practical and straightforward information. I will definitely make some candles!
Melanie, I’m so glad you found the post clear and helpful. I tried to think back on the first time I made candles, and the specific questions which I asked myself – out loud of course – in my kitchen. My goodness I wasn’t even a mother back then! Three children later and I am still finding enjoyment in candle-making! 😉 Thank you for your kind words. They made my day.
I have been wanting to try candle making, and I have a ton of canning jars I’ve been trying to decide what to do with (until I’m brave enough to try canning again)
This will be a perfect use for those canning jars, Carolyn! I’m glad you’re going to venture into the world of candle-making. 🙂
Peppermint candles, yum. I miss burning candles “just for fun” since learning about the toxins in the “regular” ones, so I just might have to make a few – with some beeswax in mason jars!
Lindsey, the “toxin problem” is the exact reason for my learning how to make candles myself! I have an almost-three-year-old with eczema and we have to be very careful with the scents and cleaners we keep in our home. One of the things I love about making candles is that you can create as many or as little as you desire! Whipping up a batch of 2, 3, or 6 pint candles is easy-peasy lemon-squeezy!
Great post! I sometimes melt up old candle scraps too!
Any recommended resource for the oils?
I do the same, Heather! We use old crayons in egg cartons for fire starters, but my old candle scraps go into new candles! As far as a resource for oils in concerned, I purchase all my oils through doTERRA, especially since we use them topically on our small children. The oils you buy from doTERRA are Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade oils, which is why I like them. They’re as pure as pure can be. 🙂 If you want more info, visit http://www.mydoterra.com/lauracherry/.
I want to try this! Thanks!;)
I’m so glad!! You can use these candles to show your love to that hubby of yours! 😉
Wonderful article! What a great idea. I didn’t realize candle making was so simple. And adding peppermint to them makes the idea so much more appealing. Yummy. I might just have to make some …
I would love to help if you have any questions or want to get together and do it as a group, Erin! 🙂
Awesome! I was wondering what I could use all of my extra canning jars for. I’ve never thought of making our own candles until now. This seems simple enough, thanks so much for sharing. Can’t wait to experiment with some different smells 🙂 thanks Laura!!
So glad I could help!! If you come across a scent you love, let me know! I would love some new ideas!!
What kind of essential oils do you use? Doterra? Can you buy essential oils at the store that work?
I do use doTERRA! I love them. I have used other brand essential oils in the past. The main thing you want to avoid is buying “essential oils” that are actually synthetic, which happens a lot more than you’d think! Since I use the oils on our kiddos as well as myself, I want them to be therapeutic grade oils. I want them to be approved for internal use. 🙂 If you’re planning on only using them for candles, I don’t see any problem with buying a slightly cheaper oil at a health food’s store as opposed to doTERRA. But definitely do a little research on the brand before purchase, to make sure you’re getting what you want.
Oh, thank you! I’ve been wanting to make candles and am thrilled to now have the perfect recipe.
You are so welcome Dacia!! I hope you enjoy the recipe!!
I love this article! I made candles for the first time last Christmas and I had a lot of fun! I will definately try making Peppermint Candles! Thanks for the great idea!
You are very welcome! I think you will thoroughly enjoy the added peppermint scent. It is a wonderful addition to any candle! It’s like an instant boost of energy and happiness!
Yes! Christmas presents using my abundance of old canning jars – light and warmth says love! I so enjoy reading your posts, Laura : )
Thank you so much, Sandy! I absolutely love that old canning jars can be used for this purpose! I know I am always looking for good uses for the flats and flats of jars I have sitting in our shop. 😉
These sound great!! And simple enough that I can handle it, lol! Thanks!
Simplicity always wins for me, Kara! 😉 So glad you feel the same! I hope you enjoy the process!
I use two #10 cans from food storage for the melting pots: one for beeswax and one for parrafin. I have less to clean up and wax ready to go when I need it.Love the article.
That is a fantastic idea! I may have to pick your brain for ideas more often. 😉 Good thing you live close. Hehe.
Great info, I love making candles though in an earthquake not so much. I live in a city where we have quakes and with aftershocks even container candles are not very safe so keep torches around also 🙂
That is a great point, Tamara! I would absolutely keep other alternative light sources on hand for a period of time following a quake. The last thing you want is a jar of liquified wax in your lap. Ouch! We keep so many different alternative light sources for reasons just like this. Every situation is going to have it’s differences and you never know which method or source of light is going to be most helpful until you’re in the throws of it all!! 🙂
Any idea what to do with all of those candles that have been burned so long that they no longer provide light? We have several candles where the wick has burned a hole in the center that is so deep that the light is trapped inside the cavity. Since we burn candles for light and not for scent, I never know what to do with them. Trash them?
I would melt em down and make new. If you don’t want to mess up a double boiler…you can take two cans…one that fits inside the other…and fill the bottom with water…and melt your candles. I save my special old glass coffee carafe to use over and over for melting wax.
Aliyanna is absolutely right, Elisabeth! If it were me, I would melt all those old candles down and make new candles with that precious wax! You may get some funky colors if you aren’t careful, but as you mentioned you’re using them for light and not for fragrance, you may not mind the fun color combos! Melt them down, remove the last remaining pieces of wicking from the old container, and re-create a great batch of recycled candles! Double green!!
Laura, where do you buy your wax originally?
I was there a chart of strengths of smell for essential oils. I am not a mint fan unless I
mix with lots of lemon!!! lol Sorry…..I love cinnamon and cloves and ginger. But most of these don’t seem to last too long.
Ah yes! Scent preferences are such a personal, individual thing! I take no offense. 😉 Though I have not come across a chart specifically, the following site has a great article on what they use to gauge how much essential oil they should add to their batches of soap. It may prove helpful! http://www.sudsandscents.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=FO_Chart
I have a question. You recommend “clay oil lamps”. I haven’t seen these. Is there a reason why these are better (safer?) than glass oil lamps? Also, I used to live in earthquake country and would recommend having on hand an old roasting pan that you can fill with about an inch of sand then wetting the sand and placing the candles in the wet sand. If an aftershock is strong enough to make the candle fall over at least it will be contained in the pan of wet sand. 🙂
if I have 800 g of soy wax. how much peppermint should I add? 50ml?