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DIY Christmas candles are made using natural ingredients and scented with essential oils for a healthy, cozy home. Using essential oils in candles is a wonderful way to receive aromatherapy benefits and purify the air in your home.

Three homemade Christmas candles with greenery and berries in the background.
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I love making homemade gifts using essential oils. Everyone loves them; they are practical and very thoughtful.

Making up a simple Christmas gift basket is by far my favorite way to give presents during the holidays or for birthdays.

I’ll usually make two or three different recipes to add to the basket, then, depending on the season, add in a homemade mason jar candle or a scented Christmas candle for a unique finishing touch.

Candle-making may seem intimidating at first, but it is a straightforward process and will make an excellent present for anyone on your list this year.

In this post, I’ll share two different methods for making DIY candles. Both methods are very easy ways to make lovely Christmas-scented candles this holiday season.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Handmade gift: Candles are the perfect gift for anyone on your list, and they are so simple to make. You can get really creative by picking a cute Christmas mug to make your candle in or by decorating a mason jar.
  • Natural ingredients: These candles are made with natural soy wax, cotton and lead-free wicks, and essential oils. You can keep harmful pollutants out of your indoor air by making your own candles with only the best ingredients.
  • Save money: Natural scented candles can have quite a high price tag, so making your own is a great way to save money! The ingredients in a DIY Christmas candle cost a small fraction of what naturally-scented store-bought candles can cost.
  • Seasonal scents: Scented candles are so fun during the cozy season, especially when they have nostalgic holiday scents. I love to add my favorite Christmas essential oil blends for a festive holiday scent this time of year. 

What Goes Into This Recipe

DIY Christmas candle ingredients.
  • Candle wax: You can use beeswax or soy wax for this recipe; I used white beeswax. Yellow beeswax is also a fine option, but it will make your candles yellow in color.
  • Coconut oil: You want regular cold-pressed coconut oil, not fractionated coconut oil, for this recipe.
  • Mason jars: You can make your candles into any heat-resistant, fire-safe container, such as old coffee mugs, bowls, or jars.
  • Essential oils: Essential oils will give these candles a lovely Christmas scent without any artificial fragrance. Keep reading for Christmas blend ideas!
  • Candle wicks: I recommend finding wooden or cotton candle wicks that are free of heavy metals.
  • Metal wick bars: Wick bars make the process easier, but you can also use a bamboo skewer or a pencil to hold your wick up as the wax hardens.
  • Warming equipment: If you are making your candles in a slow cooker, that’s all you’ll need. If you are making your candles on the stove, you’ll need a large pot and a metal pitcher to melt the wax in.

How to Make DIY Christmas Candles in the Slow Cooker

Making candles in a slow cooker is a great way to avoid wax-covered dishes. Melting the wax directly in the jars makes for an easy method and virtually no cleanup!

Pouring wax pellets into a mason jar.

Step 1: Fill the mason jars with wax all the way to the top of the jar. 

Pouring water into a crockpot.

Step 2: Pour water into the slow cookerโ€”about 2 inches, covering the bottom of the pot. 

Placing a lid on a crockpot with candles inside.

Step 3: Place the mason jars of wax in the slow cooker. Set the cooker on high with the lid in place. 

Adding more wax pellets to a jar of partially melted wax.

Step 4: Keep an eye on the wax; you may need to top it off with more as it melts.

Adding essential oils to a jar of melted wax.

Step 5: Once all the wax is melted, carefully remove the candles from the slow cooker. Allow the wax to cool slightly, then add 15-30 drops of essential oils into each 4-ounce jar.

Step 6: Feed a wick into the center of the candle and secure it in a metal wick holder. Allow the wax to cool and harden for 24-48 hours, then trim the wick before lighting.

How to Make Candles without a Slow Cooker

You can easily make candles without a slow cooker. This method melts the wax faster but does require some cleanup.

  1. Add the beeswax to a metal pitcher or metal can. I suggest using a metal container, old popcorn tin, or similar that can be thrown away or set aside exclusively for candle making. Cleaning wax out of dishes is next to impossible.
  2. Place the metal container into a large pot of water and bring to a boil. (Basically a makeshift double boiler)  Reduce heat to medium and occasionally stir until beeswax is melted. Take care to ensure no water splashes into the beeswax container.
  3. Once the beeswax is completely melted, remove from heat and stir in the coconut oil. (The coconut oil will help the beeswax burn slower, making the candle last longer).
  4. Secure a wick at the bottom of the mason jar with a bit of glue and then fill it with the melted wax and coconut oil. Leave about an inch of room at the top of the jar.
  5. If using essential oils, add 15-30 drops of essential oils into each 4-ounce jar.
  6. Finally, using a pencil or bamboo skewer, lay it horizontally across the top of the jar. Wrap the wick around the skewer to center it in the candle.
  7. The wax will take about 24-48 hours to fully harden; after that, trim the wick down to 1/2″ and it is ready to light.

Expert Tips + Notes

  • This recipe will make six 4-ounce candles. You can make the candles bigger or smaller, just adjust the quantity accordingly.
  • You can add more or less essential oil according to your preference.
  • Soy wax can be substituted for beeswax. I’ve also made these with coconut wax, but they definitely burn faster. I suggest leaving the coconut wax for your homemade massage candles.
  • Using boiling water and paper towels is the best way to clean wax off any utensils and supplies used to make your candles.
  • Don’t let any wax get down your sink drain!
  • Some essential oils have a stronger smell than others, so you may need to adjust the amount of oil accordingly. If you find that your scented candles aren’t strong enough, you can remelt the candles in a slow cooker and add more oils.
Three homemade Christmas candles with greenery on a white and blue towel.

Best Essential Oil Christmas Blends for Candles

Peppermint Candy

  • 10 drops peppermint
  • 10 drops wild orange
  • 5 drops grapefruit

Merry and Bright

  • 10 drops lemon
  • 5 drops wild orange
  • 5 drops cinnamon
  • 5 drops Douglas fir

Spiced Cider

  • 10 drops cinnamon
  • 7 drops clove
  • 5 drops cardamon
  • 3 drops wild orange

Tree Farm

  • 10 drops Siberian Fir
  • 10 drops cypress
  • 5 drops cedarwood

Traditional Christmas

  • 10 drops clove
  • 10 drops cinnamon
  • 5 drops frankincense

Scenting DIY Christmas Candles

Essential oils are very concentrated. When using a diffuser to disperse oils, 5-8 drops will generally be more than enough.

However, this is not the case when it comes to candles. When mixed with soy wax or beeswax, the concentration of essential oils, compared to artificial fragrances, will need to be at least doubled or even tripled in some cases to get the same scent. 

I recommend using 15-30 drops of essential oil in a 4-ounce candle. This amount, in general, seems to release the perfect amount of Christmas scent to fill the air. Adjust the amount of oils for your preference. When in doubt, use less.

One more note on scented candles: I’ve had people reach out to me for alternative ways to scent candles, so they don’t have to use so much oil. A simple alternative to adding essential oils to your homemade candles is to leave them unscented altogether.

Then, run a diffuser in your home to get the scent you desire while the candle gives off the cozy warm feel we all have come to love. Diffusers only need a couple of drops of oils, compared to an 8 oz candle which calls for around 40 drops.

Homemade Christmas candles on a blue and white striped towel with greenery.

Recipe FAQs

What kind of wax is best for homemade candles?

Several different kinds of wax will work well when making your own candles. I prefer to use beeswax or soy wax because they are natural and affordable. I opted for white beeswax in this recipe, but I do use soy wax for my DIY rosemary mint candles and hand-dipped candles.

What kind of containers are good for homemade candles?

Anything that is safe to burn in is acceptable for making your candles in. This is the fun part and you can get very creative with this! Head to the local thrift store or your grandma’s basement to find the perfect container for your homemade Christmas candles. This can include jars, coffee mugs, and bowls. Just make sure the container is heat-resistant and fire-safe.

What are the best essential oils for Christmastime?

I like to use essential oils with Christmassy smells this time of year! Some of my favorites include Douglas fir, Siberian fir, peppermint, cinnamon, and clove.

What are the best essential oils for homemade candles?

Some of the most popular essential oils to use in candle making are rosemary, wild orange, lavender, grapefruit, lemon, clove, and cinnamon. If you want a seasonal scent, you can try a blend that was crafted for the season, such as my Christmas essential oil blends or winter diffuser blends.

Related Content

If you tried these DIY Christmas Candles or any other tutorial on my website, please leave a ๐ŸŒŸ star rating and let me know how it went in the ๐Ÿ“ comments below. Thanks for visiting!

4.75 from 8 votes

DIY Christmas Candles

Prep: 5 minutes
Active: 35 minutes
Total: 40 minutes
Yield: 6 4-ounce candles
Making your own candles with natural ingredients and essential oils is a much healthier way to cozy up your home. Learn how to make the easiest candles and the best Christmas blends to add to them for this holiday season.
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Ingredients 

  • 1 pound beeswax
  • ยฝ cup coconut oil
  • 6 4-ounce mason jars
  • Candle wicks
  • 10 drops Siberian Fir essential oil, per candle
  • 10 drops Cypress essential oil, per candle
  • 5 drops Cedarwood essential oil, per candle

Instructions 

On the Stove

  • Add beeswax to the metal container. ย 
  • Place the metal container into the large pot of water and bring to a boil. (Basically a makeshift double boiler) ย Reduce heat to medium and occasionally stir until beeswax is melted. Take care to ensure no water splashes into the beeswax container.
  • Once the beeswax is melted, remove from heat and stir in the coconut oil.
  • If using essential oils, add 15-30 drops of essential oils into each 4-ounce jar.
  • Lay the bamboo skewer or pencil horizontally across the top of the jar. Wrap the wick around the skewer to center it in the candle.
  • Once the wax has cured, trim the wick down to 1/2 inch before lighting it.

In a Slow Cooker

  • Fill the mason jars with wax all the way to the top of the jar.
  • Pour water into the slow cookerโ€”about 2 inches, covering the bottom of the pot.
  • Place the mason jars of wax in the slow cooker.
  • Set the cooker on high with the lid in place.
  • Keep an eye on the wax; you may need to top it off with more as it melts.
  • Once all the wax is melted, carefully remove candles from the slow cooker.
  • Let it cool slightly, then add 15-30 drops of essential oils into each 4-ounce jar.
  • Feed a wick into the center of the candle, using a pencil or bamboo skewer, wrap the wick around its center, and lay horizontally across the top of the jar.
  • Allow the wax to cure at least 24-48 hours before trimming the wick to 1/2 inch and lighting.

Notes

For visual guidance, Iโ€™ve included the complete step-by-step video tutorial above!
  • This recipe will make six 4-ounce candles.ย 
  • You can add more or less essential oils according to your preference.
  • Soy wax can be substituted for beeswax.ย 
  • Using boiling water and paper towels is the best way to clean wax off any utensils and supplies used to make your candles.
  • Don’t let any wax get down your sink drain!
  • Some essential oils have a stronger smell than others, so you may need to adjust the amount of oil accordingly. If you find that your scented candles aren’t strong enough, you can remelt the wax in a slow cooker and add more oils.
Tried this recipe?Mention @our_oily_house or tag #ouroilyhouse!
This recipe is for your own viewing pleasure and is not meant for healing purposes. Readers must perform their own research and tests before making any recipe.

About Laura

Welcome to Our Oily House, Iโ€™m so glad youโ€™re here! Explore DIY cleaners, homemade soaps, skincare and hair care recipes, fragrance-free solutions, and sustainable laundry tips for a naturally inspired home.

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4.75 from 8 votes (8 ratings without comment)

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13 Comments

  1. Deborah Davidson says:

    I am going to make the Christmas scented candles using a slow cooker. When making it this way, do i only use beeswax, or do I also use coconut oil according to the stovetop recipes? Thank you

    1. Laura says:

      Hi, thanks so much for asking! So you can add coconut oil to the slow cooker method as well, however, I simply just use the beeswax for that method. Totally up to you!