The Story of the Candle
“My candle burns at both ends;
It will not last the night;
But ah, my foes, and oh, my friends –
It gives a lovely light!”
As the great poet Edna St. Vincent Millay knew so well, the candle is much more than a way we can still make dinner in the middle of a power outage. Lighted candles are metaphors for hard work, for hope, for love, for peace. We use them to celebrate and to mourn. They guide our way, they offer comfort, they turn the starkest living space into a warm, romantic place for the imagination. Just ask Edna!
Humans have used the basic ingredients of the candle for thousands of years: the ancient Egyptians soaked reeds in tallow (animal fat); the Romans used waxed papyrus to light their homes (the first recorded examples of the ‘wicked’ candle). These candles would have smelled as funky as they sound – probably something like a modern-day fried chicken outlet at 1am on a Saturday night. Not really an aroma we want stinking up our living spaces! Candles made from beeswax, or the oil from the sperm whale, were less pungent, but it wasn’t until early last century that the scentless paraffin candle, the most common type of candle still in use today, was first produced at scale.
How to Make Your Own Aromatherapy Candles
Thankfully, you don’t need to torment an unlucky cow, sheep, sperm whale or beehive to start making your own scented candles: we’re going to teach you how to make a wonderful vegan version instead. You’ll need the following:
Pour the wax flakes into your pitcher, and place the pitcher in a pan of boiling water. When the wax has melted and reached 185°F (80°C), add your preferred essential oils. Stir with a chopstick. Remove the pitcher from the heat. Once the wax has cooled to 135°F (57°C), place your candle wick in the center of the glass, keep it centered with a pair of barbecue prongs, and carefully pour the wax around it into the glass, up to about an inch from the brim. Keep the wick centered as the wax hardens. Leave the candle to cool and harden overnight, trim the wick, and you are ready for lighting! Cheap, easy to make, and perfect for personalized gifts, the do-it-yourself aromatherapy candle is our beacon of joy! Safety first, though – remember to place your lighted candle on a heat-proof surface, with nothing overhanging it, and never leave lighted candles unattended.
5 Aromatherapy Candle Recipes
Don’t worry, Edna St. Vincent Millay, these candles only burn from one end (but we know what you meant). Ready to experiment with some aromatherapy candle recipes? Then strike a match, and curse the darkness!
Try this relaxing blend of Rose Damask, Lavender and Marjoram essential oils in your candle for a tried and tested way to unwind.
Getting ready to start your weekend in style? This vibrant blend of Geranium, Lime, Vanilla and Palmarosa essential oils will get you ready to party.
Craving the scent of nature, but it’s still a bit too chilly to venture out? Bring the aroma of the outdoors into your home with this crisp, foresty blend of Birch, Wintergreen and Eucalyptus essential oils.
Ok, admit it – you got that fried chicken delivered instead. Clear the grease from the atmosphere with this cleansing blend of Grapefruit, Orange and Lemongrass essential oils.
First things first – we are not pouring wax on each other. It’s not that kind of candle! Instead, we’ll be using it to get the room in the mood with this sensual, aphrodisiac blend of Jasmine, Rose and Ylang Ylang essential oils, with just a hint of Cardamom for that bit of extra (ahem) spice.
How to Make Your Own Diffuser
Are you also interested in making your own essential oil diffuser sticks? You can find out how to do that here.
-02.png)
.png)