During my research of beekeeping-related Christmas topics, I learned and found both funny and exciting things and came across many activities for beekeepers and non-beekeepers alike. But as Christmas is just around the corner and the days are becoming shorter and darker in Berlin, my friends and I figured that a few candles would fit the theme, so we came up with our new favorite activity for the holiday season: Making Beeswax Candles! 🐝
Along the way, I learned two different ways of creating your own beeswax candles; the more straightforward path and the more challenging one.
In general, beeswax should always be pure and natural, without fragrances, and free from additives or preservatives. The ones I found were 100% beeswax with the unique yellow color we all know so well and, of course – a long burning time.
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🕯 The more straightforward way is simply purchasing a complete (Rolling) Beeswax Candle Kit.
My candle kit contained:
6 medium-sized beeswax sheets with a typical honeycomb pattern
An adjustable cotton wick
Instructions for three different kinds of candles
I also used:
A sharp knife or scissors
A wooden cutting board
Containers for the finished candles
This was enough to make about 10 different candles, varying in type and size. Detailed illustrated instructions for making different candle shapes are usually included with sets like these, but I did further research on YouTube. 🎥
The sheets can be quickly processed at room temperature. Follow the enclosed instructions or let your creativity run wild. I simply cut the sheets into stripes and continued rolling the candles into the shapes I wanted.
The rolled Beeswax candles have great honey-yellow color, exude a great scent, and are characterized by a long burning time.
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Photo 1: German beekeepers
Right before we tackled this project, my friend Frauke told me that she knows beekeepers from the North-Eastern German village Prignitz near Gumtow in the state of Brandenburg. They have been working with bees for a few years now and were so friendly to provide us with this beautiful beeswax cake made by their very own bees.
Photo 2: German Beeswax Cake
Half of my friends asked me if I started to work in the cheese business – And I can't be mad with them of the look of it.
First, the three of us stood around the beeswax cake and didn't really know where to start. But soon, we figured out our way around it.
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🕯 So here goes the more challenging way (using the Beeswax cake):
What you'll need
Beeswax Cake (or parts of it)
Containers for the candles
Candlewicks
A pot (that might not be used for food after ever again – but hey, no pressure)
Some friend who helps and might or might not make fun of your candles
You need to take the beeswax cake apart, melt the parts in a big pot and then fill up the mason jars with wax AFTER you put the candle wicks inside.
Photo 3: Selfmade Candle
Striking about both of the ways and the candles, in general, is that they are a great light honey-scented gift:
You can give either a complete set (maybe even customized by you?) or your very own homemade candles. And especially in the colder and darker season, they are a great gift for Christmas or any other holiday (for the non-Christmas-celebrating communities). I gave mine to my friend Ida who shared them (and their scent) with her roommates. 🎄
Happy holidays and enjoy your Beeswax Candles! 🕯❄️
Love
Emma
Photo 4: Ida and her gifted beeswax candles
