Bayberry Candle
A warmly resinous candle made with clarified bayberry wax, blended with beeswax or soy for a smoother, longer burn. Fix the wick, melt and mix the waxes, pour, cool, and trim.
Equipment
- Heatproof pouring jug or double boiler setup
- Saucepan for water bath
- Heatproof jars or candle molds
- Cotton wicks with sustainers (pre-tabbed)
- Wick stickers or a dab of hot glue
- Wick centering tool or chopsticks
- Kitchen thermometer (recommended)
- Funnel or steady pouring spout
- Scissors
Ingredients
- Collected clarified bayberry wax
- Neutral wax beeswax or soy, amount per desired blend
- Cotton wick sized for your vessel diameter
- Mixing Ratios guidelines
- 100% bayberry wax strong resinous scent greenish-gray color, but a brittle, shorter burn
- part bayberry : 2 parts neutral wax pronounced scent and traditionally noted insect-repelling character steadier burn
- part bayberry : 3–4 parts neutral wax milder scent very even, longer burn
Instructions
- Prepare vessels: Attach wick sustainers centered on the jar or mold base. Secure the wick top with a centering tool. Pre-warm glass vessels slightly so wax cools evenly.
- Melt waxes: In a water bath, melt the higher-melting wax first (beeswax ≈ 62–66 °C; many soy blends ≈ 50–55 °C). Add bayberry wax (≈ 42–50 °C melt) and stir gently until uniform.
- Set pour temperature: Aim for a unified blend around 55–65 °C. Avoid overheating.
- Pour in a thin, steady stream to minimize bubbles, leaving a little headspace. Tap the vessel gently to release trapped air.
- Level and top off (if needed)
- If a sinkhole forms as the candle sets, re-melt a small amount of blend and top off the surface.
- Cure: Let stand undisturbed 24–48 hours at room temperature.
- Trim wick to 0.5–1 cm before the first burn.
Notes
- Wick choice: Bayberry blends can be denser; start one wick size larger than you’d use for pure soy in the same jar, then test-burn.
- Pour temps: For container candles, a slightly cooler pour (≈ 55–60 °C) reduces frosting and sinkholes. For rigid molds, pour a bit cooler to minimize cracks.
- Scent profile: Naturally balsamic, resinous, woodsy; additional fragrance is usually unnecessary. If used, keep any additives candle-safe and low dose.
- Finish Slow, even cooling and pre-warmed vessels help prevent surface cracking.
- Storage: Cool, dark place. Bayberry blends harden further over a few days and often burn more evenly after curing.
- Safety
- Always burn on a heat-safe, level surface, away from drafts, children, pets, and flammables.
- Keep wick trimmed to 0.5–1 cm and allow a full melt pool on the first burn to prevent tunneling.
- Never leave a burning candle unattended.