How to Make Beautiful Beeswax Eggshell Candles
If you’re looking for a simple, beautiful craft that connects children to nature, beeswax candle making is perfect. These handmade candles are naturally scented, golden in colour, and surprisingly easy to make with just a few simple ingredients.
Over the last few weeks, my 10 year old son has really enjoyed experimenting with melted beeswax and making his own little candles.
We recently rediscovered some old beeswax letters we had made years ago using beeswax pellets and silicone moulds. He played with those letters constantly when he was younger, but they had long been forgotten in a drawer.
One day he asked if he could melt them down over an essential oil burner and turn them into candles. Since he is usually very sensible with things like knives, matches, and hot glue guns, I let him experiment a little. I gave him a small bag of wicks and soon he was happily making all sorts of miniature candles, even a few floating candles.
Later, I suggested making beeswax eggshell candles together, and he thought it was a good idea. It was such an easy fun project. Beeswax egg candles are simple, calming to make, and beautiful enough to use on a seasonal table or summer supper table.
Today I wanted to share how we made them.
Why We Loved This Craft
These beeswax eggshell candles are:
- simple and inexpensive to make
- naturally beautiful
- lightly scented with honey
- perfect for spring and summer
- suitable for a wide range of ages
They also make lovely little gifts.
Materials
You will need:
- empty eggshell halves (we had to watch a youtube video to learn how to crack them more cleanly)
- beeswax pastilles, pellets or chunks
- candle wick
- a heat-safe jar or bowl
- a saucepan for melting the wax
- scissors
- optional dried flowers or lavender
We also used an egg carton to hold the egg shells upright while the wax cooled.
Preparing the Eggshells
Carefully crack the eggs near the top so the shell stays mostly intact. Rinse the shells gently and allow them to dry fully before using them.
You can save the eggs for baking or cooking afterwards. We made pancakes!
Melting the Beeswax
Place the beeswax into a heat-safe jar or bowl and melt it slowly at medium heat over a saucepan of simmering water. You could also use a double boiler pot. Or we used an old essential oil burner, but it might ruin it because it’s quite difficult to get the beeswax off afterwards.
This part definitely needs adult supervision.
The beeswax melts surprisingly quickly and smells wonderful while warming.
Making the Candles
- Place eggshells into an empty egg carton.
- Cut small lengths of wick and place one inside each eggshell.
- Pour the melted beeswax carefully into the shells.
- Hold the wick upright for a few moments until the wax begins to set. You can also use two wooden skewers to keep the wick in place.
- Leave the candles to cool completely.
- Trim wick before lighting.
If the wax sinks slightly in the middle as it cools, simply add a little more melted wax on top.
Optional Variations
You can also:
- add tiny dried flower petals
- use naturally coloured beeswax
- place the finished candles in a bowl of moss or flowers
- make floating candles
- make candle holders from clay for them
Safety Notes
- Always supervise children around hot wax.
- Never leave melting wax unattended.
- Burn finished candles on a heat-safe surface.
I think one of the reasons we enjoyed this craft so much is because it felt both creative and useful at the same time. The finished beeswax eggshell candles were simple but beautiful, and the process itself was calm and absorbing.
We’ll definitely be making more over the summer.
How to Make Beautiful Beeswax Eggshell Candles
Small, delicate candles poured into halved eggshells. Simple and beautiful, especially for spring or as handmade gifts.
Materials
- Empty eggshells, cleaned and halved
- Beeswax pellets or chunks
- Cotton wick
- Optional: dried flowers or herbs
Tools
- A double boiler or heat-safe jar
- Wooden skewers (to hold the wick in place, optional)
- Egg carton (for drying)
Instructions
- Crack your eggs carefully and rinse the shells. You want to keep each half as intact as possible. Let them dry fully.
- Set your eggshells into an egg carton so they sit steady. Place a small length of wick into the centre of each one. Two crossed skewers resting across the top of the shell will hold the wick upright while the wax sets.
- Melt your beeswax slowly using a double boiler over medium heat. Don't rush it. Once melted, pour carefully into each shell.
- If you want to add dried flowers or herbs, now is the moment. Press them gently into the surface before the wax sets.
- Leave the candles to cool completely before trimming the wicks.
Notes
- They look beautiful displayed in an egg carton, or in small clay holders if you want to make a little set of them. They're also a very lovely gift, wrapped in tissue and tied with twine.
- A note: if the wax sinks slightly as it cools, just top it up with a little more melted wax.
- Adult supervision needed when melting wax. Never leave candles burning unattended. Place on a heat-safe surface before lighting.
Next time I’ll share another great way to make beeswax candles (two ways actually!):
- our egg-shaped beeswax candles
- rolled beeswax candles made from beeswax sheets
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