DIY Soy Candles with Orange and Cassia Essential Oils
by Tammy Myers (CUREoils.com)
In honor of my danish roots I am celebrating winter by making levende lys (Danish) for candles. Levende lys means "living light". During our long, dark winter days there is nothing better than candles to bring "hygge" (pronounced hue-gah) into our homes. The danish tradition of hygge is a way of life that promotes feelings of coziness and comfort. Hygge is also the tradition of taking genuine pleasure in making the everyday and ordinary into something more meaningful. A simple thought to light a candle during a dark, winter afternoon is indeed making life more meaningful and illuminated.
During 1945, when Denmark was liberated from German occupation, the people lit candles in their windows and continued to burn them night and day. The constant candle burning is a danish tradition that has never stopped. According to the European Candle Association, Denmark burns more candles per person than any other country in Europe. In 2018, I visited the wonderful baltic countries of Denmark and Finland. These countries have made living in a cold climate comfortable and appealing. To honor of my danish ancestry, I have rekindled my love of having a 'living light" burning in my home during the dark days of winter. Enjoy your "living light!"
Soy Candle with Essential Oils
1.5 oz. (3 T.) soy wax pellets
.5 oz. (1 T.) white beeswax pellets
.5 oz. (1 T.) solid coconut oil
1 wick
3 oz. glass jar with lid
30-40 drops of CUREoils essential oils (10 drops Cassia and 30 drops Orange)
Melt soy wax, beeswax and coconut oil in a large glass measuring cup. Once melted into liquid form, remove from heat and let cool. Before the wax sets up add the essential oils. Then pour into a glass jar with wick centered in the bottom and middle.
SOURCING:
Soy wax - I like soy wax instead of paraffin wax because of the way the candle will burn. .Due to the lack of soot and toxins released into the air, soy wax candles have a stronger scent profile than paraffin wax candles. The chemicals released by paraffin wax can interfere with the scent during burning, I also like to use the small pellets so they will melt faster.
Beeswax - I use white beeswax pellets so that there is less yellow color from the beeswax in my finished candle. Again, I like to use the small pellets so they will melt faster and at the same rate as the soy wax.
Coconut Oil - The solid coconut oil is a food grade product and can be found in all grocery stores.
Wicks - For this candle I used a long wax coated wick from EricX Light from Amazon. They have metal anchors and a stabilizing bar that comes with the wick kit. I buy long wicks in case I want to make a large or tall candle. They can be trimmed after the candle wax is hardened.
Jars - I prefer a glass jar that has a lid that I close when not in use, so the aroma doesn't dissipate.>
TIPS:
Making a larger candle is always better than making a small candle. With a larger candle you get a larger wax melt pool and so it will give off a stronger aroma. Double your ingredients and get a larger jar.
Do not add the essential oils when the wax is really hot. The essential oils will burn off if the wax is too hot.
Pick essential oils that have base notes instead of top notes. Cassia (cinnamon leaf) is a great base note oil for candle making. Top note oils will evaporate faster so the aroma will not last as long. Always blend the top oils (like Orange) with a base note oil (like Cassia).
