Rolled Beeswax Candles are fun and easy to make. Beeswax smells great and burns longer than paraffin. You can make these candles in almost any size that suits you, from 16” candlesticks to 4” pillars, and more, using this simple rolling technique. For rolling tapered beeswax candles, creating beeswax applique, and more beeswax candle techniques, see our other tutorials on beeswax candle making.

What You Will Need – Supplies

· Honeycomb Beeswax Sheets

· 1/0 Square Raw Wick or 1/0 Square Waxed Wick

· Scissors

· Craft Knife

· Wax Paper (optional)

· Steamer Pot (optional)

· Pie Tin (optional)

Rolling the Candle

Before you begin rolling your candle, be sure your beeswax sheet is soft and pliable. If it is too cool, it will be brittle and crack while you are rolling it. If it is brittle, use a hair dryer to warm it up, or pass it back and forth over a pot of boiling water, allowing the steam to warm it up. Take care not to melt the beeswax sheet. Be sure to roll your candle in a warm room.

To keep the visible surface of the candle unmarred, it is a good idea to place a clean sheet of wax paper on your rolling surface (table or countertop).

Place a length of wick along one end of the beeswax sheet.

You can set one end to be flush with the base end of the candle. I like to drape mine over both sides, as sometimes what I thought would be the base looks better as the top.

Fold the end of the beeswax sheet over the wick. Tuck it around the wick to achieve a round basis for rolling the rest of your candle.

Gently, working from one end of the wick to the other, roll the beeswax sheet just fractions of an inch to begin with. Work carefully and slowly at this early stage to prevent cracking or breaking of the beeswax sheet.

As the beeswax sheet is rolled around the wick and builds a larger diameter, you can roll more quickly. Continue to work from one end of the wick to the other, and back again.

The diameter of the candle grows with each roll you make.

When you reach the end of your sheet, press the edge gently into the body of the candle. The properties of warm beeswax are such that if you press it into a shape, it will stay that way. No adhesives are required to fix the end of the beeswax sheet in place.

Trim the wick at the base to be flush with the bottom of the candle. Trim the wick at the top of the candle to 1/4” before burning.

Priming the Wick

If you are using raw wick for your rolled beeswax candles, this next step will be both useful and decorative. If you are using waxed wick for your rolled beeswax candles, this next step will still add a special finished look to your candle.

Before you begin rolling your candle, use your craft knife to cut off a thin strip of the beeswax sheet. Save this strip for use when you are finished rolling your candle.

After you have rolled your candle, use the beeswax strip to prime your wick.

Add two inches of water to your steamer pot and set it to boil.

When the water has begun to boil, set a pie tin on the top of the steamer pot.

Place the strip of beeswax sheet in the pie tin. The steam from the boiling water in the steamer pot will heat the pie tin, and in turn melt the beeswax.

When the beeswax is liquid, you can use it to prime the wick on your beeswax rolled candle.

Dip the wick into the liquid beeswax in your pie tin. Be careful not to touch the candle to the hot pie tin, as this will mar the outer surface of your candle.

The wick primed in the same color as your candle also adds an especially finished look to your candle. Do this even if you are using waxed wick to roll your candle, for a special touch.

Short Wide Pillar

To make a short wide pillar out of one beeswax sheet, cut the beeswax sheet in half the long way, to create two long, skinny beeswax sheets.

Set the ends together, and roll your candle. When the first beeswax sheet ends, continue rolling with the second beeswax sheet.