by Cathy Spearmon

Making beeswax candles by hand-rolling beeswax is a project that can be done by kids, as well as adults. However, as an important rule, always remember that you should NEVER leave a burning candle unattended or  alone with children.

 One of the basic things to know about beeswax sheets is that they are best rolled at normal room temperature, 70° F to 80° F. If the wax is too cold, it may be difficult to roll, it may crack or not stick to itself. On the other hand, if the wax is too warm, it may be too soft to roll causing the pattern to flatten and leaving indentations in the wax your fingers.

 When starting off a rolled candle, it's important to make sure that the wick and the wax have made good contact by pressing the wax into the wick on all sides. This factor affects the burn time of the candle. A tighter roll means a longer and better burn since there's less air to speed up the burning process. So, the first wrap is the most important. Now, watch the shape as you begin to roll. It's much easier to maintain your desired shape, whether it be round , triangular or square, if you start off with that shape. To keep an even roll spread you fingers across the length of the candle. When rolling is complete, simply press the outer edge into the candle or slightly heat it to help blend the outer edge into the candle. This will keep the candle from unraveling.

Please take note that candles made from metallic honeycomb sheets are not pure beeswax, but have paraffin in each sheet. So, you can expect the burn time to be somewhat faster in comparison to candles made from pure beeswax. However, if you're really looking to make metallic beeswax candles, but want to maximize your burn time, use the metallic sheet only as the final wrap. This will allow the pure beeswax to burn in the center of the candle.