DIY No Wax Candles
Who is with me here? For years I have been unable to use candles. As soon as I light them, my head feels like it could explode and my allergies totally start to flare.
Could this be an allergy to something in the candle? You bet it is! Candles on the market today are loaded with toxic ingredients.
That is why today, I would just love to share with you all this all natural DIY no wax candles recipe that is so easy that you will have one burning in less than 2 minutes with only 2 ingredients! I know WOW, right?
The Power of YouTube
So y’all…I was so excited about this awesome candle, that I just had to shoot a quick (about 1 minute long) video showing you how cool this candle really is!
If you haven’t had a chance to catch us on our YouTube channel, you can follow us here: WLN YouTube Channel. Learn tips on how to cut open a pomegranate in less then one minute, or learn how to make your own pure and liquid stevia, how about learn how to season a stainless steel pan so that it is nonstick. Lots of neat videos to see!
And for all you bloggers out there reading this, be sure to check out why YouTube videos could be the missing piece to your blog’s success!
Step by Step Approach To Make DIY No Wax Candles
Step 1 ~ Pick a Grapefruit or Orange
I recently just moved to Florida! You guys, I am in love with this great state and let me tell you, I am not missing the snowy & cold weather right now in Wisconsin! 🙂
So right out my back door is an orange tree and in my neighbors yard is a grapefruit tree. So here is the grapefruit tree right out my backdoor.
If you don’t have a citrus tree, you can just purchase one from the store and that will work just as good!
Step 2 ~ Slice Fruit Around Circumference
Slice the grapefruit around the circumference of the fruit as shown in the picture below. Do not puncture the fruit, just cut through the peel to the flesh.
This is what your fruit will look like once you have cut fully around it.
Step 3 ~ Gently Run Your Finger Around Circumference
Gently put your finger into the fruit and pull back slightly to separate the flesh from the peel.
Work your way all the way down to the base and around the circumference of the fruit.
When complete your fruit will look like this and move somewhat if twisted.
Step 4 ~ Gently Twist Top Off
Gently twist the top of the peel off of the flesh and remove it.
Step 5 ~ Gently Remove Flesh From Bottom
Now here is the tricky part. Gently, and I mean gently…twist the flesh out of the peel and remove the flesh with the center still in tact. If it doesn’t stay in tact, don’t worry…I have a fix for it.
Step 6 ~ Fill Base With Olive Oil
Now fill the base with olive oil as pictured below. Pour the olive oil right over the wick.
Leave the tip exposed to the air so that you can light it.
Trouble Shooting
If the center of the fruit did NOT stay in tact, gently cut the fruit open like pictured below and remove the fruit center (or in our case, the wick).
Take 2 sections of the fruit and place the fruit wick in the center, using the fruit segments to help stand it up.
Add the olive oil and fill almost to the top of the wick, leaving about 1/2 inch exposed. Now light the candle and enjoy.
Safety note: The base of this candle can get hot. Do not set on a wood surface or a surface that is sensitive to heat. I like to set mine on a slate coaster. As always, do not leave this or any candle unattended.
If you really want to add some more fragrance, try adding 5-6 drops of orange essential oil, grapefruit essential oil or even lemon essential oil.
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Aubrey says
November 28, 2014 at 4:20 pmDoes it work with the little cutie oranges? I did it but I cant seem to get it lit
Halle Cottis says
December 4, 2014 at 8:22 pmI haven’t tired it with them, I can’t see why it wouldn’t work. Give it a try!
Lclax says
December 18, 2014 at 2:17 pmThis did not work for me. Did you let it dry out before you lit it? Or did it take a long time for the stem to light?
Halle Cottis says
December 21, 2014 at 7:54 amIt took about 45 seconds to light and no I did not let it dry before I lit it. Pour a little olive oil on the wick to help it along.
Bix says
January 3, 2019 at 4:46 pmUm, olive oil on its OWN with a cotton or hemp wick will burn right fine. Adding citrus really does not do much, except add scent and substitute for a container and a wick. I would not add any scent oils, as the oil from the fruit should be plenty. A lime would make a good tea candle. ONE PROBLEM – DANGEROUS: After the oil burns, the citrus will begin the sputter, flame and the peel WILL burn. So, um expect some danger at the end of the party.
I use tea candles (for my tea) and good ones are darn difficult to find. Odd.
Evan says
December 27, 2014 at 6:01 pmI tried this and it worked perfectly! Also, fun fact, it floats!!! I did it with an orange and the only way it lit was when I poured olive oil on the wick. I didn’t let it dry at all. It’s beautiful and I can’t wait to do it in college when I’m broke and looking for some elegance.
Ravindra Chavan says
October 24, 2018 at 11:51 amIts works very nice & remove negative energy from room
Benjamin Franklin says
January 29, 2015 at 6:53 pmThis worked pretty good, but i have plenty of candles that i need to use up, so i don’t think i am gonna do it again, but thanks for sharing.
fggcvctmjv says
April 26, 2015 at 4:58 pmi tried it! i i like it but then it started to reeeeeeeek.
Santo Roy says
August 14, 2015 at 3:14 amWorked just perfectly for me.
A tip from me- If your citron doesn’t get lighted up put little tissue paper and light it, it will surely come!!.
Thank you☺
Candace says
December 31, 2015 at 9:32 pmWhat a unique idea! I’m excited to try this, and I love the idea of floating them in water somehow.
Brittney says
February 12, 2016 at 4:01 pmCould i use vegetable oil or coconut oil instead?
Halle Cottis says
February 12, 2016 at 4:44 pmI’ve never tried. I just made one last night and used olive oil and it worked beautifully. Give it a whirl and let us know how it works.
Kris says
March 15, 2016 at 11:03 pmCan you use essential oils in with the olive oil?
Halle Cottis says
March 16, 2016 at 4:58 pmSure can!
mary jo says
April 1, 2016 at 11:30 amhow cool !!
Bri says
January 9, 2017 at 3:27 amI had to try this and It has worked beautifully!
First, I ate 1/2 my grapefruit 🙂 then scooped out as much of the residue as possible. I’m too impatient to wait for it to dry so used paper towel to dry the ‘wick’ as much as possible.
I used coconut oil and also poured a little sesame oil over the ‘wick’ to help it to light. The coconut oil is semi-solid right now as it’s winter here and the sesame oil is the only other oil I have on hand.
It took 4 matches to get it to light but it’s burning away as I type this, with a bit of crackling which is nice 🙂
Thank you for this unique, non-toxic candle idea! I’ll make this again for sure.
I recently found your website and I’m really enjoying it!
Halle Cottis says
January 9, 2017 at 8:31 amHi Bri!
So happy you liked these candles and welcome! 🙂
Ashley says
January 29, 2017 at 2:51 pmHow long does it burn?
Halle Cottis says
January 31, 2017 at 1:53 pmUp to 8 hours, depending on the size of your fruit.
Sandhya says
October 2, 2017 at 10:48 amDoes this works with lemon too.
Halle Cottis says
October 2, 2017 at 2:25 pmI haven’t tried it with a lemon, but I don’t see why it wouldn’t work. Give it a try.
Neda Wiley says
March 3, 2019 at 7:35 pmI tried this, well to start with, I cut the orange wrong. It was really hard to get the inside out, but I atleast keep the steam in the orange, LOL. Then filled it with Olive Oil, and it took us about 30 minutes to get it to light. It is lite, but only has a teeny tiny flame on it . Not enough of flame to keep it burning but it is. Next time I will try to cut it right, and maybe that will work better. Thank you for the post