DIY Eggshell Beeswax Candles
Looking for a fun and eco-friendly DIY project this Easter season? Why not try making your own eggshell beeswax candles? With a few simple steps, you can transform your empty eggshells into pretty and aromatic candles that will light up your home with a warm glow.
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This creative and sustainable craft will add a unique touch to your Easter table or make for a great homemade gift.
Using natural ingredients and essential oils, these candles are not only beautiful but also healthier for you and the environment. Not to mention, who doesn’t love a good repurpose?!
I don’t know about you, but I actually keep all my eggshells and cartons. Eggshells can be used in so many great ways, particularly in compost. Empty eggshells are great for seed starting as well!
A Candle Egg-xactly Fit for Easter and Spring!
Easter is just around the corner! And what better way to decorate your dinner table than with some cute Eggshell Beeswax Candles?
Making your own candles can seem daunting, but with a few simple ingredients and some easy steps, you’ll have some beautiful and fragrant candles to show off in no time. But you may be asking me why eggshells make the perfect candles.
Watch this on Youtube:
The Benefits of Using Eggshells to Create Beeswax Candles
This fun eggshell craft is a great way to repurpose empty eggshells and avoid unnecessary waste. You can even compost the leftover eggshells in your compost piles for a new life next ear.
Beyond the repurposing aspect, using eggshells to create beeswax candles offers several benefits, including:
- Eco-Friendly. Eggshells are biodegradable. Therefore they can be composted after the candle is burned which makes it an environmentally friendly option.
- Cost-Effective. Eggshells are easily available. Also, using them to make candles is an inexpensive option.
- Unique Decorative Element. Eggshell candles add a unique and decorative element to any table setting or room décor. Especially when it comes to the spring season.
- Natural Materials. Using natural materials like eggshells and beeswax creates a natural ambiance. Also, it avoids harmful chemicals and additives that are present in synthetic candles.
- Fun DIY Project. Making eggshell beeswax candles is a fun DIY project for all ages. Also, did I mention it’s a great way to repurpose used eggshells? Because I’m sure most people just throw them in the trash!
To read more check out my post The Many Benefits of Burning Beeswax Candles.
Materials You May Need to Get Started
Crafting with Nature: Make Your Own Eggshell Beeswax Candles
I love taking something that I already use in my life and being able to eliminate waste. I do already use my eggshells, but this just makes them even more useful. After I’m done with my eggshell beeswax candles, they can still be used again.
Either as another candle, as compost, or as a great seed-starting container.
Step One – Gathering Your Eggshells
There are a couple of different options for creating eggshell beeswax candles. So, if you are like me and collect your eggshells as you use them, you’re in luck!
The trick is to make a small hole in the top of each eggshell. However, many people also make a hole in the bottom using a toothpick, wooden skewer, or butter knife.
I chose not to use this method as I didn’t want to have to plug the hole in the bottom so my wax wouldn’t come out. To make a hole in the top I found a small metal object works the best.
First Option: Whole Eggs
- First, start by collecting some eggs from your refrigerator.
- At this point, I used a small screwdriver to break the yolk in the egg by tapping on it gently with a heavier object.
- Over a bowl, gently push the skewer in and out of the hole until the whole egg yolk and white come out.
- Then, in the end, rinse the inside with warm water.
- Then, place them in an egg carton (or cardboard cartons if you’re doing a large batch) to keep them upright.
- If you don’t feel you can get them thoroughly clean, sterilize them instead by baking them in an oven at 250°F (120°C) for about 30 minutes. (Alternatively, eggshells can be sterilized by boiling them in water for at least 5 minutes.)
Second Option: Cracked Eggs
This is for those of us who collect our eggshells as a part of our composting, or gardening. This is repurposing at its finest!
- To start, inspect all of your eggs to find the best most intact eggshells. Try to get at least half of the shell.
- Then lay them on top of a cookie sheet.
- At this point, sterilize the eggshells by baking them in an oven at 250°F (120°C) for about 30 minutes. (Alternatively, eggshells can be sterilized by boiling them in water for at least 5 minutes.)
Key Tip: It’s generally recommended to sterilize eggshells before using them for candle making. Because the shells may contain bacteria or pathogens that could contaminate the wax or wick. This could affect the quality and safety of the finished candle.
Step Two – Prepare Your Eggshells for Wax
Such a simple process, but makes a big difference to do the small prep work before the beeswax is ready to pour. This makes the process much more smooth.
You need your wicks, eggshells, your clothes pins, scissors, and a carton to sit your eggshells in.
- First, place your eggshells in a carton, egg cup, or another stabilizer.
- Then cut your wicks to the tip of the eggshell. We will be pouring our wax pretty near the edge. For whole eggs, wait until the candle is done curing to cut them.
- Then place your wick through the center of the metal spring mechanism of the clothespins.
- At this point, sit the wick into the centre of each eggshell just touching the bottom.
- And also, sit the clothespin as evenly as possible resting on the top of the eggshell or egg carton.
Key Tips: If you use hot glue to adhere the cotton wicks to the bottom of the eggshell then you will not need the clothes pins.
You can also use the cut parts of the cotton wick without the wick tab for less waste.
Step Three – Determine the Total Volume
Before you start melting any wax you will first need to determine how much each eggshell will hold.
To do this quickly just fill each eggshell up with water, then empty all your eggs into a measuring cup. This will tell you the total volume of liquid wax you will need, beeswax + coconut oil.
My half eggshells held about .4 oz of liquid. So, that would be .2 oz beeswax and .2 oz coconut oil to fill them for a 1:1 ratio.
My whole eggs held a total of 1.8 oz of liquid each. So, that would be .9 oz of beeswax and .9 oz of coconut oil for each whole large egg.
Key Tip: Using a Kitchen Scale to measure the precise volume is an awesome tool to have, but in a pinch, a measuring cup works for larger batches. It won’t be really helpful for 1 or 2 eggs where the volume isn’t even 1/4 cup.
Step Four – Melting the Beeswax + Coconut Oil
Be sure to use a wax base that is natural, such as beeswax or soy wax, to avoid any avoidable toxins. You can also use olive oil in place of coconut oil.
Adding oil to the beeswax makes the wax smoother and easier to work with. It also makes the burning time longer and allows you to use less wax, which saves you money.
Melting Your Beeswax with the Double Boiler Method (Preferred Method)
Melting beeswax in a double boiler is a safe and effective way to melt beeswax without overheating it.
Start with your beeswax pellets.- Melt your beeswax pellets fully before moving on.
- Then add your coconut oil.
Having an actual double boiler is awesome, but you can create one with a bowl on top of a saucepan full of water. Here are the steps to melt beeswax in a double boiler:
- First, fill a saucepan with approximately half-full of water. Also, I like to add a pinch of salt to quickly bring it to a boil.
- Then place a heat-safe glass or metal bowl over the saucepan, making sure that the bottom of the bowl does not touch the water. This creates a double boiler setup if you don’t have an actual double boiler (pictured above).
- At this point add the beeswax to the bowl, making sure that the pieces are small enough to melt easily.
- Stir the beeswax occasionally with a heat-resistant spatula or spoon, as it melts.
- Once the beeswax is thoroughly melted turn off the heat and add your coconut oil.
- Continue to stir the mixture until the coconut oil is completely melted.
Take Note: It’s important to use caution when melting beeswax in a double boiler, as the steam and water can be hot. Always use a heat-resistant bowl and handle the bowl with oven mitts or a towel to prevent burns. It’s also important to monitor the wax closely while melting to prevent overheating.
Melting Your Wax Using the Microwave Method
- First pour the beeswax pellets into a microwave-safe container, a glass measuring cup, or a microwave-safe bowl works well.
- Then microwave the wax on medium or low heat for short intervals. Start with 30-second intervals and stir the wax after each interval. Repeat this process until the wax is completely melted. But be very careful not to overheat the wax, as it can cause the wax to burn or become too hot to handle.
- Once the wax is melted, add in your coconut oil. Continue to stir until the coconut oil is completely melted.
Take Note: It’s important to use caution when melting beeswax in a microwave, as overheating the wax can cause it to catch fire. Always use a microwave-safe container and monitor the wax closely while melting.
Once the wax is melted, you can add some essential oils, fragrance oils, or natural dyes to create your desired scent and color. You can also mix and match different essential oil blends to create your own unique scent.
Step Five – Adding Dyes or Fragrances
Once the beeswax and coconut oil has completely melted, you can add any desired scents or colorants to the wax, if desired.
Beeswax is notoriously difficult to dye and scent because it is much thicker than other waxes. Also, always remember to stir the mixture thoroughly to ensure that the additives are well incorporated.
Guidelines for Adding Fragrances
Many recipes for beeswax candles will tell you to add small amounts of fragrance, but that may have you disappointed in your results. I have found you need quite a few drops to be able to really smell it once the candle is burning.
Key Tip: Therefore I recommend as a general guideline, a safe range for candle-making is 0.5 to 1 ounce of essential oil per pound of wax. Or about 30 to 60 drops of essential oil per 16 ounces (1 pound) of wax.
Guidelines for Adding Natural Dyes
There are several natural dyes that work well with beeswax, here are a few examples:
- Turmeric – produces a bright yellow color when added to beeswax.
- Beetroot powder – produces a rich pink or red color when added to beeswax.
- Spirulina powder – produces a light green color when added to beeswax.
- Cinnamon powder – produces a warm brown color when added to beeswax.
- Annatto seeds – produces a warm orange color when added to beeswax.
- Paprika – produces a warm red or orange color when added to beeswax.
- Indigo – produces a range of blue shades when added to beeswax.
When using natural dyes, it’s important to keep in mind that the color may vary depending on the amount of dye used, the type of wax, and the temperature at which the wax is melted.
It’s a good idea to test a small amount of wax with the dye before making a larger batch to ensure that the color is at the desired level.
Key Tip: As a general guideline, a safe starting point for adding natural dye to beeswax is to use about 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon of dye per ounce of wax.
For example, if you are using beetroot powder as a natural dye, you could start by adding 1/8 teaspoon of the powder per ounce of wax, and adjust the amount up or down based on the desired level of color.
Step Six – Filling Your Eggshells with Wax
This is a very simple process, but I do have a few tips from personal experience.
- Take your time. Carefully pour the melted wax into your eggshells, filling it to just below the top.
- Get creative: You can also add some colorful wax in layers to create an ombre effect.
- Allow the wax to cool and solidify before using.
Your DIY Eggshell Beeswax Candles are now ready to use! They make a great Easter centerpiece, or you can place them in candle holders on your dinner table.
Be careful not to spill the wax outside of the eggshell because it will adhere your eggshell beeswax candles to the container you’re using to stabilize them.
This could potentially cause issues getting it out! If this happens, move the candles to a clean container. If it happens and you don’t notice until it’s cured break the carton apart or use a toothpick to scrape the wax away.
In Conclusion
In conclusion, making your own candles is a great way to add a personal touch to your home decor while avoiding harmful chemicals. DIY Eggshell Beeswax Candles are not only eco-friendly but also a fun way to get creative with your DIY projects.
So, next time you’re in the habit of washing out eggshells, why not give this fun and easy candle-making project a try?
Thanks for stopping by!
Julie
Meet the Author
Hi, I’m Julie! Mother to five beautiful kids, Homeschool Educator, Writer, Handicraft & DIY Enthusiast, Photographer, Thrifter, and Furniture Restorer. Follow along for fun DIY projects creating a handmade home on a budget! Read more about me here→
