Divine Scents - DIY Lavender & Rosemary Candles

A thoughtful and creative wedding favour made with your own hands is the perfect way to show your appreciation and gratitude for your friends and family on your wedding day.

And they don’t need to be complicated or expensive – these DIY lavender candles are easy and cheap to make, and a lovely way to say thank you. The perfect memento of your celebration that guests can take home and enjoy long after the big day is over. Penny Newton from craftyparty.co.nz shows us how.

Here’s what you’ll need:

• Dried lavender 

• A small saucepan

• A glass bowl that fits inside the saucepan 

• Lavender essential oil 

• A jar

• 2 candles, around the same height as your jar, but 2 cm smaller in diameter.

First, place your candle inside your jar. In the gap between the candle and the jar, place heads of lavender. Try to pack in as much as possible so the shape of the leaves press up against the glass. 

Break up the other candle into smaller pieces. Remove the wick. Place in a heat-resistant glass bowl, over a saucepan of gently simmering (not boiling) water. Safety first – never heat wax on a direct heat source such as a stove. Always melt in a water bath. Keep a close eye on it and do not leave unattended! Once the candle wax has melted, add 5 drops of lavender essential oil. 

Gently pour the wax into the gap between the glass and the candle, over the lavender until the jar is full. Tap the jar a few times to get rid of any air bubbles trapped.

If you’d like to decorate your candles, wrap with twine and decorate with a few sprigs of lavender and bunny tails.

Tips & Tricks

• While it may be tempting to use fresh lavender, within a week or two it will start to decompose and go mouldy in the wax, so it’s always best to use dried lavender. 

• On a budget? You can find dozens of second-hand jars at op shops (just clean them well beforehand). You can often find dried lavender online, or ask a friend that has a few shrubs if you can harvest some, then simply dry them out in the oven on low heat for 10 minutes, or hang them upside down in a warm space for a week or two. No need to buy expensive candles, order in bulk online or visit $2 shops to find a huge range. 

• No lavender in season? No problem! You can use all kinds of herbs for this project, including dried rosemary, dried rose petals and just about any other herb you can dry out. 

• Never leave candles unattended! There is always the risk that herbs can catch fire if they get too close to the flame, so don’t burn the candle all the way to the bottom.