How to Make Beeswax Candles with Bottle Caps

I just love giving handmade gifts for Christmas!  This year is no exception.  I have been busy knitting scarves, painting signs, making hand creams, lip balms and pouring beeswax candles.  

The hand cream, lip balms and candles are particularly special to me because I make them using wax from our beehives, which I purify using a solar wax melter (and sometimes the oven on a very low setting.)

This year, I’m especially excited to add these adorable beeswax bottle cap candles to my list of gift items.  They are so simple to make and I love that I am giving new life to something that might otherwise be considered trash.  

Why beeswax?  Because it is said to actually purify the air as the candle burns, rather than polluting it with nasty fumes and artificial scents!

These Beeswax Candles are very easy to make.  Here are the steps:

How to make beeswax candles with recycled bottle caps:

• Collect bottle caps that were not too bent from being opened.  Then, set the caps on a paper plate or something that you don’t mind dripping wax on.

 

• Melt beeswax over a double boiler.  (I boil water in a medium-sized pot and set a wax melting pitcher *affiliate link* inside it.)  If you don’t have a ready source of beeswax, it can usually be found in the candle making section of hobby stores or of course Amazon has it right here in blocks or easy to measure pastilles. *affiliate links*

• Using a pre-made wick *affiliate link*, dip the metal end into the wax and then press it into the bottom of the bottle cap to “glue” it in place.  (Sorry the focus ended up on my hand rather than on the wick.  I really stink at taking pictures one handed!)

• Carefully, pour melted wax into the bottle caps and allow to cool.  

• Trim wicks to 1/4 inch and enjoy your new candle!

 

I just feel like these lend a festive air to any dinner.  A little package of these would make a very easy and inexpensive Christmas gift and you get to feel good about giving new life to these old bottle tops!  In my book that is win-win-win!

And because I know you will ask…  I timed it and one burned just over 20 minutes for me.  So, if you are decorating a tablescape with these, I would recommend lighting them just as you sit down.  (Oh, and they are photographed sitting in a dish of Epsom Salt  *affiliate link* for the snowy effect.)

If you like this project, you will probably also enjoy my “feeling crafty” board on Pinterest!  

And don’t forget to sign up for Beulah’s mooooooooosletter!  She’ll deliver all the farm news from the cow’s point of view!  

***This post contains affiliate links.  A small percentage of the purchase price of items bought through these links goes toward keeping this blog up and running and food in Beulah’s bowl, so thanks!***