A rolled beeswax candle needs no melting, no moulds and no stove. You take a honeycomb sheet of beeswax, lay a wick along the edge and roll it up. It takes a few minutes, and the result burns like any beeswax candle. This guide shows how to do it and what shapes you can make.
What is a honeycomb beeswax sheet?
It is a thin sheet of beeswax pressed with the hexagon pattern of a honeycomb. Beekeepers use the same sheets as a base for bees to build on. At room temperature the sheet is soft enough to roll by hand, so you can shape a candle without heating the wax. Our sheets are 100% beeswax and keep the natural honey scent.
What you need
- Honeycomb beeswax sheets
- Cotton candle wick
- Scissors and a ruler
- A clean, flat table at room temperature
Our DIY Beeswax Candle Kit has six sheets of 25 × 20 cm, 200 cm of cotton wick, lace, burlap and jute for decoration, and printed instructions. You only add the scissors and the ruler.
How to roll a beeswax candle, step by step
- Cut the sheet. Decide how tall the candle will be and cut the sheet to that height. A straight cut gives a pillar. A diagonal cut gives a cone or a spiral taper.
- Cut the wick. Make it a little longer than the candle, so some wick stands above the top.
- Lay the wick along one edge. Fold the edge of the wax over the wick and press it gently, so the wick is held tight from the first turn.
- Roll evenly. Roll slowly and keep the bottom edge straight. Tight, even turns give a candle that stands straight and burns evenly.
- Close the seam. Press the last edge softly into the candle with your fingers. The warmth of your hands is enough to make it hold.
What shapes can you make from one sheet?
- One tall candle: roll the whole sheet for a slim dinner candle.
- Two short candles: cut the sheet in half across and roll each half.
- Two thin candles: cut the sheet in half along the length for two narrow tapers.
- Cones and spirals: cut the sheet on the diagonal and roll from the long straight edge.
- A thick pillar: when one sheet is rolled, press the start of a second sheet to it and keep rolling.
How many candles you get from a kit depends on the shapes you choose. Tall candles, short ones or a mix: the choice is yours.
Tips for a neat candle
- If a sheet feels stiff or cracks, hold it in your hands for a minute. Do not use a hair dryer or a stove.
- Work at normal room temperature. In a cold room the wax cracks, in a hot room it gets sticky.
- Check the bottom edge after every few turns. A crooked start gives a leaning candle.
- Use the cotton wick only. Jute cord and ribbons are decoration and must never be used as a wick.
How to decorate rolled candles
Wrap a strip of lace, burlap or jute around the lower part of the candle. Keep the decoration well below the flame and remove it before the candle burns down to it. Lace, burlap and jute are flammable.
How to burn a rolled beeswax candle safely
- Trim the wick to about 1 cm before lighting.
- Put the candle in a stable, heat-resistant holder, away from curtains, books and anything that can catch fire.
- Keep candles away from children, pets and draughts.
- Never leave a burning candle unattended.
Where to start
The DIY Beeswax Candle Kit has everything in one kraft box and makes a ready gift. If you prefer to pour rather than roll, see our candle sand. Both are in our DIY candle kits collection. DCandles has made beeswax candles since 1995.
