You can easily make your own diy aromatherapy candles for aromatherapy, or just emergencies!
We usually order a full cow every 12-15 months, and when we do, we order “everything but the moo”. If I could figure out how to fix “moo”, I would get that as well. The butchers are awesome enough to allow us to get all of the fat off the cow, turning into a years worth of tallow for frying, cooking, and soap making.
However, there are many other uses for tallow, especially for emergency situations.
During the storm seasons, in the Spring and in the Winter, we are likely to lose power. Not my favorite scenario, but one that I need to be prepared for. What if we lost power and didn’t have batteries in the flashlights, or we had lost them?
I got tired of buying batteries and having them go into remotes or other items, and the flashlights being used outside and left out in the rain by my kids. I know, I know…but I had to make adjustments to reduce the stress of items being lost. I tried out some candles to see what I could do with them.
By making tallow candles, you are able to use up all the fat of the cow, the beef tallow, like our prairie dwelling ancestors did.
You can also add essential oils to the candles to make aromatherapy candles, or mosquito reducing candles. These particular homemade candles are in 1/2 pint jars. You can use old jelly jars, recycled jars, or mason jars.
The solid fat burns about 8-10 hour for each candle, making them a long lasting item in our storm preps. They are also rather romantic, as they give off a soft glow.
To begin making your own scented tallow candles
- First, render the fat down. You can use any animal fat with this, from beef tallow to deer tallow. Lard will also work to make these.
- Then, take your wicking and cut it about an inch taller than your desired candle holder.
- Wrap the wicking around a stainless steel straw or a pencil so the wick stays in the middle.
- Carefully, filter the melted tallow to reduce as much sediment as possible.
- Pour the hot oil into the candle holder.
- As the oil begins to cool, you can add essential oils to it as desired.
- You want to add the essential oils to the cooling tallow oil and stir gently to mix them in. Essential oils are highly volatile and can burn quickly or start a huge fire if they are not stirred in well.
- Allow the tallow to cool completely and cut the wick about 1 inch above the tallow.
Try some DIY Aromatherapy Candles
Bug off candle:
For a soothing aromatherapy candle
For a memory boosting candle
Enjoy your scented candles!
They store nicely on a shelf, and I haven’t had any melt in the summer heat just on the shelf or get moldy. If you are concerned that they may get moldy, you can store them in the fridge or freezer.
Have you ever made tallow candles before? Will you try these? Be sure to pin this for later!
Heather’s homesteading journey started in 2006, with baby steps: first, she got a few raised beds, some chickens, and rabbits. Over the years, she amassed a wealth of homesteading knowledge, knowledge that you can find in the articles of this blog.
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[email protected] Talk says
That is pretty ingenuous. I was wondering if they smelled.
Amber DePixi says
I’ve always wondered about this…I wonder if they’d burn longer with something like beeswax added in? Quite nice!
Elise says
Awesome! I just rendered a bunch of deer tallow last week, and was thinking about trying candle making with it too. 🙂
Kathy says
Thanks so much, what a great idea!
Reesa Lewandowski says
How interesting!
Kimberly says
I’ve always been fascinated by candle making. Great pics!
Alicia Owen says
This is so easy! Now I’m curious where to get tallow since we don’t have any cows. 😀 I’d love to make some of these.
heather says
try your local butcher…they usually sell it really cheap 🙂
Christie says
Who knew? Great idea for emergencies
Roxanne says
What a great post! I had no idea what “tallow” was, but I’ve made candles from various fats in the past! I love the way you use everything but the moo! lol
Maryanne says
I do this also – but add about 10 drops of lemon essential oil in bottom of candle jar prior to pouring in the tallow — I like the smell!
Heather says
thats a great idea 😉
Megan says
So resourceful! I love it!
Stephanie @ Naturally Mindful says
I’m so excited about farmers market season to be open soon because I’ll be able to get tallow so I can make candles, this is so cool!
Sarah McLain says
This is AWESOME! I always have “leftover” tallow when I make my beauty cream… totally making these next time too! I think I’ll try adding some essential oils to enhance the experience 🙂 Thanks for the great tutorial!
Kristin Bruner Shriver says
You are amazing! You find a way to use everything….Love it! <3
Heather Harris says
thank you, my friend!
Debbie says
Those are nice.
Di says
Tried this last week . Added a few different essential oils and they seem to have held the scent just fine. Haven’t tried burning them yet they have stayed soft about as solid as crisco or lard , shouldn’t they be harder. Did I miss some step ? Thanks
Heather Harris says
no, that’s about how hard mine are. Crisco type soft. They still work very well, though.
arena jacob says
thank you for sharing, can not wait to try myself ….
hosa says
When the wiick is gone can u reuse the fat again for a new candle?