Botanical Candles

[ms-hecubus.livejournal.com]

There was a recent post asking about mixing dried herbs in with candle wax. When I was replying to that post it occured to me that some people in this community might like directions for making botanical candles. Just mixing herbs or flowers into the wax creates a fire hazard. This is a safe way to get that look.

Supplies
Candle Wax
Scent
Wick
Herbs or dried flowers
Two candle molds*
this works best with uncolored wax. If you color do so lightly

*The molds you choose should be approximately the same height. You should choose one mold that will make a candle that will fit in the second, larger mold with room for flowers/herbs around it.

1. Melt and scent enough wax to make a candle that will fit in the larger mold.

2. Use the wax to make the smaller candle first. Let it set. Don't trim the wick yet.

3. Put the smaller candle inside the larger mold. Pack herbs around the small candle (try to keep them no more than half way to the top). Pour in wax to fill the larger mold. Skim off any herbs that float to the top.

4. Let cool, filling in any valleys as needed. When you remove the candle from the mold you'll have the look of fresh herbs without the fire hazard.

If the herbs and flowers aren't showing up as much as you'd like, you can melt the wax a little with a blow dryer or heat gun. Use a pair of panty hose to buff out the rough spots after melting.

When burning it you'll want to make sure it doesn't burn too long. You want it to burn down the center, leaving the wax with the herb untouched. Once it's burned all the way down you can use tea lights in it.

I hope this makes sense. I don't recommend this for your first candle making venture, but once you know how to make a candle this is pretty easy.