Eight Clean Burning DIY Candles to Make This Winter

In the winter, there’s nothing more relaxing than burning a candle and curling up under a warm blanket. But did you know that candles can actually be harmful if you’re not purchasing the right ones? That’s where these non-toxic DIY candles come in.

Research from the EPA shows that candles with lead core wicks can lead to higher levels of lead in the air and may also emit chemicals like formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and acrolein far above acceptable EPA-recommended levels. To keep the air clean when burning candles, it’s best to use candles with beeswax or soy wax, 100% cotton wicks, and high quality essential oils.

While it’s not always easy to find 100% clean candles, it is easy to make them yourself. These DIY candles are the perfect winter activity—when you’re not busy shredding the slopes or scouting the perfect sledding hill. Plus, they’re easy to make—all you need are wax, wicks, a container, and some essential oils.

Photo via Live Simply

1. Lavender-Rosemary Candles
via Live Simply

Soy flakes, lavender, and rosemary essential oils are used to make these fragrant candles. Once the wax has been poured into the jars, it’s helpful to wrap the candles in dish towels or wash clothes to prevent the wax from cooling too fast and cracking.

Photo via A Cultivated Nest

2. Pumpkin Spice Candle
via A Cultivated Nest

Everyone’s favorite fall scent comes to life in this pumpkin spice candle, made of common spices like nutmeg, cinnamon, and pumpkin pie spice. If you want to add color to the candle, you can use an orange crayon, but avoid food colorings because they won’t mix well with the wax.

Photo via The Homespun Hydrangea

3. Eucalyptus Candle
via The Homespun Hydrangea

This eucalyptus candle will fill your house with an earthy, almost minty, smell. Be careful not to move or shake the candle until after four hours of cooling. Even if it looks hardened, the middle of the candle might still be soft.

Photo via Capper’s Farmer

4. Coffee Candle
via Capper’s Farmer

Coffee provides a fresh, invigorating scent and is great at reducing odors. Ground coffee is used in the candle itself, while whole coffee beans are sprinkled on top to give it an elegant look. You can use a mold or jar of your choice, but you’ll need to adjust the amount of wax accordingly.

Photo via Ann’s Entitled Life

5. Sinus Relief Candle
via Ann’s Entitled Life

The essential oils used in this candle—rosemary, peppermint, lemon, and eucalyptus—may help open airways and provide some relief for stuffy noses. This recipe uses paraffin wax, but if you’re trying to stick to clean candles, we’d recommend using soy or beeswax.

Photo via The Happier Homemaker

6. Cinnamon Spice Candle
via The Happier Homemaker

If you love the smell of homemade cinnamon buns, this candle is the ideal scent. To simplify the candle making process, you can use your microwave to melt the wax. If you plan on making a lot of candles, buy the wax in bulk to save money.

Photo via Jojotastic

7. Eggnog Soy Wax Candle
via Jojotastic

Vanilla essential oil, cinnamon essential oil, and nutmeg essential oil give this candle its holiday scent. To make the candles look extra unique, try using a variety of glassware as the molds, such as martini glasses, wine glasses, and other vintage glassware.

Photo via Garden Therapy

8. Rosemary Pressed Herb Candles
via Garden Therapy

As far as DIY candles go, this one is a true beauty, and you’ll revel in the fact that you did it yourself. Real rosemary sprigs are pressed against the side of these candles for an elegant look. You will need to prep the sprigs beforehand and press them and any other herbs you want to use in some books at least a week in advance. You can use whatever essential oils you want for the scent—lime, mint, and lavender are all good options.