The answer is yes, essential oils can be used in candle making, but there are a few things to consider first. It is known that essential oils do not mix well with wax due to their low flash points, which causes them to evaporate when added to hot wax. We have conducted several tests with essential oils in candles and found that they are not compatible. Our tests showed that the scent of essential oils is strong when the candle is cold, but once lit, the scent is significantly diminished.
In some cases, a fuel-like smell may be present. Despite this, we still encourage experimentation to see what works best. If you decide to use essential oils, we recommend using 1 ounce of oil for every pound of wax. Essential oils can be used in diffusers, topical applications, and candles.
However, if you're looking for a candle made exclusively with essential oils, your options are limited. There are some benefits to using essential oils for candles; they provide a cleaner burnt fragrance that won't release chemicals into your home. The best way to melt wax and pure essential oils together is with a double boiler. If you are making DIY scented candles with essential oils, you will need to use quite a bit of oil as the scent is significantly dimmed when poured into wax.
Many people give up on making candles with essential oils when they don't work as expected and don't understand why. Generally speaking, candles made with essential oils have a decent cold draft, but they struggle with hot draft, regardless of wax. Aromatic oils have a bad reputation because they are not “natural”; however, the good ones are extensively tested and scientifically approved for use in candles, bath products such as soaps and lotions, and diffusers. When using an aroma diffuser, you'll need to mix water with essential oils and then put them in the diffuser. Lavender essential oil is one of the most popular essential oils for candles due to its interesting properties.
Every essential oil is extremely complicated chemically speaking. When buying essential oils for candle making, it's important to check the guidelines which will include whether or not the oil is safe for use in bath and body products as well as in candles or diffusers. If you are making essential oil candles as a gift, you may want to buy a set of containers for uniforms such as the one shown below from Amazon. I understand that some essential oils, when burned (even in a candle), are toxic and should not be used to make candles. Grapefruit essential oil has a light citrus scent that does not have a strong and overpowering fragrance. Unfortunately, essential oils are not designed for the wide range of temperatures present in a candle because they are extracted from plants for various uses.
