Cedarwood is a popular essential oil that derives from the plant Cedrus. Its Latin name is Cedrus atlantica and what makes Cedarwood so special is its anti-fumitory properties and ability to relieve tension, which could be heightened around the time of Halloween with all the spooky costumes people wear!

A good way to set the scene this Halloween is to try your hand at candle making. This special two-part recipe will guide you on how to make Cedarwood essential oil candles, perfect for creating a cosy atmosphere and keeping the ghouls and ghosts at bay!

@cosyowl

How magical does this candle look using our Orla container? 🧙‍♂️ #halloweencandlemaking #essentialoilcandles #starcandle

♬ Halloween ・ cute horror song – PeriTune

Ingredients:

Making the wax stars:

Step 1:

Add 75g of the wax to a bain marie or double boiler on a medium heat and melt until clear and smooth. Occasionally stir the wax slowly. 

 

Step 2:

At around 60°c add a pinch of Yellow Bekro dye and stir until fully blended.

 

Step 3:

Pour the wax into each star of the clamshell mould. Try to keep all the wax within each star as they will need to be popped out of the mould individually once set later on. Container wax is not made for wax melt moulds as it is softer, however it works well for adding elements to embed in container candles as a decoration.

 

Step 4:

Leave the wax to set for at least 2 hours before carefully releasing the stars. When popping them out of the mould be mindful that the wax is softer so some small parts may stick to the mould. 

Making the candle:

Step 1:

Melt 300g of wax in a bain marie or double boiler on medium heat until clear and smooth. Occasionally stir the wax slowly. 

 

Step 2:

While the wax is melting, clean the metal container and make sure it’s completely dry. Warming the container slightly before adding the wick will help slow the cooling process of the wax. This will reduce frosting and help with adhesion. The container can be warmed by using a hairdryer or heat gun. 

Step 3:

Once the wax is a clear liquid, add a pinch of purple dye at around 60°c. Mix this slowly but thoroughly until blended into the wax. All the dye chips should be fully melted.

 

Step 4:

Measure the essential oil to the correct amount. We recommend using a maximum of 3% essential oil load for candles. This means 3% of the amount of wax being used.

 

Step 5:

Check your essential oil flash temperature point before adding to the wax as every scent has a different temperature to which it will need to be added. The flash point of a fragrance is the temperature at which the oil will start to evaporate. To keep a good scent you will need to add the oil to the wax under its flash point number. In this case, Cedarwood oil has a flashpoint of 65°c. Add the essential oil to the coloured wax and mix until fully blended.

 

Step 6:

Now the container can be prepared for pouring the wax into. Peel one side of the glue dot and place it on the metal end of the wick. Peel the other side of the glue dot and place it in the centre of the container. Use a wick centring tool to keep the wick upright and central.

 

Step 7:

Pour the purple wax at around 55°c into the metal container and leave about a 3 cm gap from the top. Keep any leftover wax for embedding the stars later on. 

Step 8:

Leave for 2-3 hours and carefully remove the wick centring tool. This will allow you to have space to carefully place the star wax shapes on top of the purple wax. Once placed in position carefully pour the reheated leftover wax at 55°c. Avoid getting wax directly on the stars and pour until they are embedded. Be sure to leave the 1cm gap from the top of the tin. 

 

Step 9:

Leave to set for at least 24 hours and trim the wick to half a centimetre. Light up your candle to release the Cedarwood scent with its mystical design.