DIY Aromatherapy Candles Made With Essential Oils
DIY aromatherapy candles for stress relief. These essential oil candles for aromatherapy are made with natural ingredients to calm anxiety and promote mindfulness.
Everyone experiences stress and anxiety sometimes. And there are many approaches to stress relief. DIY aromatherapy candles are one of the simplest tools to reduce stress.
The warm glow and soft flicker of candlelight can be relaxing all on their own. But when you include essential oils used in other aromatherapy techniques, you can quickly create a calming atmosphere to promote mindfulness.
And just one aromatherapy candle can provide hours of relaxation.
This essential oil candle tutorial teaches you how to make natural candles you can feel good about. You can skip paraben, phthalates, lead, synthetic dyes, and other bad ingredients when you make your own aromatherapy candles.
Because each candle is made with 100% natural soy wax and cotton wicks for a healthier, cleaner burn. Our unique essential oil candle blend for aromatherapy is added and hand-poured into simple terracotta trays.
They truly are a wonderful way to unwind and calm the mind after a stressful experience. Once you’ve made one, you’ll want to make another!
This article contains some affiliate links for your convenience; read the full disclosure policy.
What do aromatherapy candles do?
As the creamy wax melts, essential oils pillow into the air. The scent is utterly relaxing. But, when it comes to aromatherapy, it isn’t just about a great scent. Aromatherapy candles can provide many benefits from the essential oils included in the candle blend recipe.
So, you can select essential oils known to support, sleep, reduce stress, or energize, for example.
Related To: Spa Essential Oil Blends Chart
Do aromatherapy candles actually work?
In short, aromatherapy candles created with essential oils versus synthetic fragrances do work. Plants are incredible, more than we give them credit for. Essential oils come from plant roots, flowers, stems, and leaves. They contain the essence of the plant in the tiniest drop of highly concentrated oil.
Many essential oils have remarkable therapeutic properties. Take lavender, native to the Mediterranean, it is a member of the mint family and has a soothing tranquil aroma that is considered the panacea of aromatherapy, Studies have shown lavender, among others, has a calming effect on nervousness and anxiety when inhaled.
DIY aromatherapy candles are a wonderful way to reap the benefits of each essential oil. Making them the perfect addition to your self-care routine!
How Much Essential Oil Do I Need To Make A Candle?
Great question! Because not using the right amount of essential oils in a candle is one of the biggest candle mistakes. Add too little, and you won’t have a noticeable scent or benefits of aromatherapy. Add too much, and your candle won’t stay lit, among other issues.
So, how do you measure essential oils for candles?
No matter if you’re trying to measure essential oils for candles or trying to calculate how much essential oil you should buy for a DIY – you need an essential oil conversion chart. And the good news is, we’ve got one for you!
How much essential oils are in a bottle:
5ml bottle = 100 drops = 1 tsp
15 ml bottle = 300 drops = 1/2 oz
30 ml bottle = 600 drops = 1 oz
Print our easy essential oil candle conversion chart from the Oily Chic Library. It’s the easiest answer to how much essential oil you need to make a candle.
Related To: Candle Essential Oil Blends Chart
How Do You Make An Aromatherapy Candle For Stress Relief With Essential Oils?
If you haven’t made DIY aromatherapy candles for stress relief before, you must! Not only are they utterly relaxing, but they are also fairly easy to make. All you need is wax, wicks, essential oils, and a container.
This essential oil candle recipe is handcrafted with natural soy wax, cotton, wicks, our best aromatherapy blend, and delicate dried herbs for a calming effect.
Candle Supplies:
3 glue dots (optional)
6 ounces soy wax
3 terracotta pot trays 4 inches wide
5 ml = 1 tsp lavender essential oil
5 ml = 1 tsp chamomile essential oil
2.5ml = ½ tsp sage essential oil
1.5 teaspoons dried chamomile flowers
1.5 teaspoons dried lavender flowers
Instructions For DIY Aromatherapy Candles:
1. Prepare Terracotta Trays:
First, check each 4-inch wide terracotta pot tray for visible cracks. (If it has a crack, don’t use it for candle making!) Then wipe out any dust or debris with a damp cloth from each tray. To make terracotta candle safe apply two heavy coats of 100% waterproof sealant with 30 minutes of drying time in between each coating.
2. Measure Wax and Place Wicks
While the terracotta trays are drying, use a digital scale to measure six ounces of soy wax flakes. (Using a different size candle container? Use a candle calculator to figure out how much wax you’ll need.)
Then when the trays are dry, adhere the metal tab of a cotton wick to a glue dot to secure it in the center of each terracotta tray. Alternately, dip the metal tab of the cotton wick into the melted wax later to secure it without a glue dot.
3. Melt Wax
Pour the soy wax into a candle melting pitcher to safely melt the wax. Place the pitcher filled with wax inside a large saucepan filled with about 2 inches of water. Use the double boiler method to heat on medium to low heat. Slowly stir often with a heat-resistant silicone spatula.
4. Cool & Add Essential Oils
Remove the pitcher from the heat after melting. Then clip a candle thermometer inside of the pitcher.
Allow the temperature of the wax to cool to 125°F before adding 5 ml of lavender essential oil, 5 ml of chamomile essential oil, and 2.5 ml of sage essential oil. After, slowly stir the essential oils into the wax for a constant 1 to 2 minutes to thoroughly incorporate.
5. Pour Wax & Add Herbs
Gently pour the scented wax into each prepared terracotta tray. Add one whole sage leaf to each tray, then allow the wax to begin to solidify before sprinkling half a teaspoon of chamomile flowers and half a teaspoon of lavender flowers around the whole sage leaf in each tray.
Make sure to keep the dried herbs away from the candle wicks. Place an optional centering device over each wick to help keep them straight during the curing process.
Allow the candle wax to cure for a minimum of 24 hours, and trim the wick to ¼ of an inch before lighting. If you want a stronger-smelling candle, wait for 3 to 7 days before the 1st light.
To Use
The easy way to use an aromatherapy candle is to light the wick and then sit down or lean back and close your eyes. Slowly relax each part of your body from your head to your toes. Then, with deep, slow breaths, inhale the essential oils.
You can also use the flame meditation, also known as the candle gazing meditation. This open-eye meditation requires you to focus your complete attention on the candle flame. And in turn, improving your mindfulness and concentration.
Whichever method you choose for meditating with an aromatherapy candle, I know you’ll be happy you did! Get started with a DIY aromatherapy candle and gift one to a friend for the ultimate relaxation gift.
MORE ESSENTIAL OIL DIYS:
- DIY Body Shimmer Spray
- How to Make Foaming Hand Soap
- Essential Oil Roller Bottle Recipes
- Eucalyptus Diffuser Blends
- DIY Crystal Candle Bowl
Pin this DIY aromatherapy candle tutorial now to your Pinterest candle board, and while there, follow Oily Chic for more inspired ideas. And don’t forget to print your conversion chart!
P.S. Did you know you can tag #oilychic on Instagram to share your essential oil DIYs with us?