DIY Thyme Candles with the Crockpot Method
Creating your own scented candles at home is deeply satisfying. Not only can you customize subtle, inviting fragrances, but the reusable end result outshines any store-bought candle. If you’ve never tackled candle making before, the crockpot wax melting technique provides an easy introductory method perfect for beginners.
In this post on DIY thyme candles, I’ll be outlining a simple process for infusing soy wax candles with dried thyme essential oil and herb accents. We’ll cover the supplies you need, how to safely melt wax, additive options to boost botanical qualities, finishing touches, burn tips, and visual design details. Scented with earthy garden goodness like thyme, part of the joy of homemade candles is putting your spin for a lovely ambiance and gentle gifting any time of year.
Follow along with this DIY project as we transform natural ingredients into pretty, practical candles channeling everyone’s favorite tiny-leaved essential! Whether for yourself or sharing customizable creations await.
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Why You Will Love This Project
- Personalize earthy scents like thyme essential oil and get creative embellishing jars.
- Discover the joy of concocting custom creations using simple, natural ingredients.
- Make thoughtful, eco-friendly gifts supporting better indoor air quality by avoiding chemicals.
- Explore myriad fragrance options – tailor signature scents every time.
- Love the process and pride in gifting something special you crafted.
- Find health perks and happiness by making clean-burning lights not sold in stores.
- Preserve an abundance of garden-grown herbs in candles.
- Easily master mess-free crockpot wax melting for casual candlemaking.
Candle Ingredients
- Soy wax flakes (1-2 lb bags)
- Pre-tabbed candle wicks
- Mason jars (16 oz size)
- 15-20 drops thyme essential oil per 16 oz candle
- 5 drops lemon essential oil per 16 oz candle
- Dried thyme leaves (optional for decoration)
- Fresh thyme stems, twine (optional decor)
- Crockpot (6 quart) (I have this crockpot)
Crockpot Candle Making Method
- Fill jars to the very top with soy wax flakes. Leave no air gaps.
- Place jars in crockpot on Low setting. Carefully pour hot (not yet boiling) water into crockpot to reach about halfway up the jar sides.
- Replace crockpot lid and turn to High heat. Allow the wax to fully melt for 1 hour, keeping an eye on water level.
- If desired, add more wax flakes to fill jars higher after the initial melt. Re-cover and heat 1 more hour once refilled.
- When wax is liquid, remove jars using mitts and allow to slightly cool before adding essential oils.
- Place tab of the wick on the bottom of the jar and support the wick staying center using a clothespin or wrap a pencil.
Tip: To harvest fresh Thyme for this project visit my, How to Harvest and Cut Fresh Thyme – The Easy Way . If you prefer to dry your garden grown thyme visit, How to Dry Thyme: 4 Quick & Easy Methods.
Infusing Thyme Essence
Before adding oils, let the melted wax slightly cool so it’s warm rather than piping hot. This helps more fragrance get absorbed and disperse evenly.
For a 16 oz candle, add 15-20 drops of 100% pure thyme essential oil using a glass dropper.
Complement with 5 drops of lemon essential oil to brighten up the earthy tones.
Gently stir in oils fully and scrapped wax or oil droplets from the sides as needed before pouring jars.
Feel free to tweak amounts based on personal preference, but this essential oil duo makes an herbaceous candle that’s equal parts cozying and awakening. Add more of each oil for a stronger scent.
Botanical Accents
While the wax is still warm and liquid, gently press dried thyme leaves into the candle, suspending them visually. Let them randomness fall where they may for an organic look.
After pouring jars, sprinkle more dried leaves inside of the jar liberally across the cooling wax on the top of the candle. As the candle sets up, they will appear “frozen in time” along the surface.
Finishing Touches
Once the candle wax has fully hardened and cooled, wrap bundles of fresh thyme stems horizontally around each candle jar. Secure stems in place with twine or jute ribbon tied neatly into a bow.
Get creative with different height bundles and twine patterns across the glass. This natural green and brown color palette against the white wax creates an earthy candle appearance that feels straight from the garden.
Feel free to incorporate other dried flowers or herbs into the mix too! These wispy thyme stems just enhance the herbal theme subtly.
Burning Guide
Before lighting, always trim the wick to 1⁄4 inch height using scissors. This prevents excess sooting and giant flames.
Allow candles to cure for at least 48 hours untouched before the first burn. This ensures the wax has fully hardened and stabilized.
Never leave a burning candle unattended or near anything flammable. Place on a heat-safe plate away from young children and pets.
Popular Essential Oils for Candlemaking
| Essential Oil | Main Scent Profile |
|---|---|
| Lavender | Floral, herbaceous |
| Rosemary | Woodsy, pine |
| Cedarwood Warm, sweet wood | Warm, sweet wood |
| Eucalyptus | Cooling, minty |
| Peppermint | Minty, refreshing |
| Lemon | Bright, fruity citrus |
| Sweet Orange | Sweet, tangy citrus |
| Chamomile | Floral, apple, soothing |
| Ylang Ylang | Sweet, exotic floral |
| Vanilla | Rich, sweet, warm |
| Cinnamon Spicy, woody, sweet | Spicy, woody, sweet |
The oils included give a nice range of herbaceous, floral, citrus, minty, spicy, and sweet candle options to suit different moods or spaces. Popular single scents are great alone or you can blend complementary oils too for custom candle making.
Frequently Asked Questions About DIY Thyme Candles
Popular essential oils for homemade candles are rosemary leaves, lavender, peppermint, and eucalyptus oil for their strong, lingering herbaceous smell. Certain woodsy oils like cedarwood also suit soy wax well and give you an earthy scent. The best part is you get to mix and match different scents for custom blends!
Yes! Natural add-ins like dried rosemary or lavender buds add visual interest and accent the scent. Just be sure to suspend fully dried herbs in wax rather than fresh herbs to prevent mold risks. For more beautiful candles visit my lavender candles post and see how to do these add-ins.
Personalize herbal candles by layering different colored wax or affixing herbs/flowers artfully on top as the wax sets up. A glass jar also invites pretty decor touches like tying on twine, raffia, or embellishing further with paint, and more.
To make these DIY thyme candles you will need natural soy wax flakes and wicks can be found in craft store candle aisles or ordered online; thyme can be harvested fresh from your garden or purchased at the grocery store; essential oils and fragrance oils for your favorite scents are sold at craft stores and myriad online shops – with just these affordable simple ingredients gathered through local and internet sources, homemade candle creation magic happens conveniently right at home.
Soy wax is natural, renewable, and clean burning, making it better for home use. Paraffin is a byproduct of petroleum refining, not eco-friendly for our indoor air, and releases more smoke plus risk of releasing harmful substances.
Creating homemade soy candles using the crockpot wax melting technique allows incredible customization potential even for beginners. Simply set the Crockpot heat level appropriately, allow soy wax flakes to melt slowly fill jars, and then turn off heat for these DIY thyme candles. Make the scented candles uniquely yours by playing with essential oil mixes and dried herb accents, try this fragrant Lavender candle recipe! Finish with decorative touches like wrapped fresh stems and twine. Just be sure to take proper safety precautions regarding wick length and curing time before enjoying your handmade, herb-infused candle!
Happy candle-making!
