
Nearly everyone loves scented candles, they are a cornerstone of the holiday season bringing sweet scents and alluring fragrances to our homes during the holidays. Some of the most popular scented candles are made with essential oils. Essential oils are popular for candle making because they are all-natural.
What are essential oils? Essential Oils are plant-based compounds that contain high concentrations of volatile compounds. These chemicals give off an aroma when heated. A great thing about essential oils is they don’t contain as many synthetics as their fragrance oil counterparts, making them a healthy alternative.
A lot of people are true believers when it comes to essential oils and their benefits. Some of those benefits are related to the aromatherapy of scented candles. One reason they are so popular is that the oils come from actual plants.
How are essential oils made? Essential oils are made by extracting them from natural plants, flowers, or seeds using solvents such as alcohols, water, steam distillation, supercritical CO2 extraction, or sublimation. After this step, the solvent has been removed leaving behind pure essential oils.
The final product will look like liquid gold.
Essential Oils For Candle Making
Best Essential Oils For Making Candles
What are some of the best essential oils for candle making? Lavender, eucalyptus, lemon, frankincense, cedarwood, cinnamon, and rosemary are considered to be some of the best essential oils for candle making. In addition, these essential oils can be mixed and blended to create even more fragrances.
There are many different types of essential oils available on the market today. Some people prefer citrus-scented oils while others enjoy lavender. There are even some blends that combine several different aromas into one scent. Here are my favorite five:
1. Lavender Essential Oil
Lavender is known for its calming properties. It helps relieve stress and anxiety, which makes it perfect for relaxation time at home. You’ll find lavender essential oil in almost every type of bath soap because it smells amazing. I love adding a few drops to my shampoo bar before applying it to my hair.
2. Frankincense Essential Oil
Frankincense is another wonderful addition to any room. This oil is often found in incense sticks and diffusers. It’s warm, spicy smell fills up the air around me whenever I light a stick. If you’re looking for something more relaxing, try mixing frankincense with sandalwood essential oil. Sandalwood is very similar to cedarwood but without all the sharp edges.
3. Cedarwood Essential Oil
Cedarwood is probably the best smelling tree out there. When burned, it creates a clean, fresh scent that reminds me of Christmas morning. Add a drop or two to your next batch of homemade body lotion and watch how quickly everyone wants to rub themselves down after bathing.
4. Cinnamon Essential Oil
This spicy scent adds warmth and comfort to any space. A little cinnamon goes a long way; just add a couple of drops to your next batch of sugar cookies and see what happens. My kids always ask if we’re baking again.
5. Rosemary Essential Oil
Rosemary is a beautiful herb that grows wild throughout Europe. It’s not only delicious, but it’s also extremely versatile. Try rubbing rosemary onto your skin before going to bed to ease aches and pains. Or mix it with lemon balm to make a soothing tea blend.
If you want to see what essential oil options are available in your area check out our candle making supplies page.
Essential Oil Fragrance Throw
Essential Oil Hot Throw
Do essential oils have a good hot throw? Essential oils have a fairly decent hot throw. However, essential oils can generate a hotter flame as the candle burns than some fragrance oil alternatives. Initially, this will create a pleasant throw, but as the candle burns the oil will burn off, reducing the throw.
Essential Oil Cold Throw
Do essential oils have a good cold throw? Essential oils do have a good cold throw. However, the type of wax being used can have a greater impact on the throw of a candle than the oil itself. For example, a paraffin wax blend candle using essential oils will have a better scent throw than a blend including beeswax.
Cost Of Essential Oils For Candle Making
You might think that buying essential oils would cost a fortune, but you’d be surprised.
Are essential oils for candle-making expensive? Essential oils for candle making are more expensive than fragrance oil. However, you can buy essential oils from wholesale suppliers and get big discounts in the process. Buying essential oils in bulk will help lower your price per unit and bring down the cost of your candles.
Essential oils come from plants such as jasmine, orange blossom, etc. Fragrance oils are usually synthetic blends created by chemists who take advantage of their chemical makeup.
Are essential oils better than fragrance oils? Essential oils can be better than Fragrance oils, depending on your objective. Some essential oils have a better scent throw, they contain fewer chemicals and harmful additives and they are all-natural. However, fragrance oils offer more variety at a lower cost.
Pros and Cons Of Essential Oils For Candles
Pros and Cons of Essential Oils For Making Candles
Pros of Essential Oils | Cons of Essential Oils |
All-Natural | Limited Fragrances |
Sustainable | Expensive |
100% Vegan and Organic | Can be overwhelming |
Considered Healthy |
Advantages and Disadvantages of Essential Oils For Candle Making
Advantages of Essential Oils For Candle Making
- Essential oils are all-natural which makes them perfect for aromatherapy.
- They are eco-friendly being derived from plants and 100% organic.
- Essential oils offer minimal health risks compared to their alternatives.
- They have strong and long lasting fragrances giving you great value.
Disadvantages of Essential Oils For Candle Making
- You cannot control what scent comes out of your candle once it has been burned.
- They can be pricey if you decide to purchase more than one type at a time.
- Some essential oils are very strong smelling.
- Limited fragrance options.
Essential Oil Environmental and Sustainability Concerns

Are essential oils environmentally friendly? Essential oils are environmentally friendly. Unlike conventional fragrance oil candles, essential oil-based ones produce minimal amounts of smoke during combustion. Additionally, they emit virtually none of the toxic fumes associated with paraffin wax candles.
Finally, they also generate far fewer carbon emissions when compared to paraffin wax candles, thus reducing greenhouse gas production significantly.
Are essential oils vegan? Essential oils are 100% vegan and cruelty-free. The oils are extracted directly from the plants, bark, leaves, seeds, and flowers. The process does not involve any animal products or byproducts as long as you are not using beeswax for your candles.
Essential Oil Health Concerns
Is it safe to use essential oils in candles? Absolutely! Essential oils are safe and completely non-toxic. In fact, some people say they even help fight bacteria and viruses. So, you won’t find any dangerous substances lurking within them. Since essential oils are derived from nature, they offer an alternative to synthetics.
Synthetic products often contain harsh chemicals that could potentially harm our bodies.
Are essential oils bad for your health? Not necessarily. However, certain types of essential oils may irritate sensitive skin. For example, peppermint oil contains menthol, which causes burning sensations. Likewise, cinnamon oil contains cinnamaldehyde, which can cause redness and irritation.
In fact, essential oils are known for having certain health benefits.
Essential Oil Health Benefits
Health Benefits of Essential Oil Candles
- Improve Mood
- Reduce Stress
- Reduce Nausea
- Relieve Headaches
- Improve Sleep
- Reduce Anciety
If you look into this subject further, you will find that essential oils are said to include even more benefits than what we’ve listed.

Essential oils being all-natural means that they react a little bit differently than other fragrance oils that have been specifically designed for making candles. This leaves you some things to consider when making essential oil candles.
Essential Oil Flashpoint
Some essential oils have flashpoints well below that of their fragrance oil counterparts. These essential oils should be handled, shipped, and stored with care. Including giving them special attention during the candle-making process.
Essential Oil Skin Contact
Avoid getting the essential oils directly on your skin. While essential oils have many benefits and are marketed to be used on the skin, many essential oils used directly on the skin have been diluted with another type of oil. Pure essential oils can be irritating to the skin in some circumstances.
Essential Oil Inhalation Risk
Directly breathing in essential oils can trigger breathing issues in some people. This includes people with asthma and respiratory disorders. Take care not to inhale directly from the essential oil container.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can use essential oils in candle making. Not only that, but essential oils are a great option when making candles. They provide an all-natural and sustainable option for making scented candles.
Essential oils are not flammable in candles if mixed and bonded to the wax properly. However, if the oil is not properly mixed with the wax it can create wet spots that can more easily become flammable. This is why essential oils and wax must be mixed thoroughly.
Essential oils are good for candle making. Essential oils provide an all-natural, organic fragrance option to scented candle lovers. They also reduce the need to use synthetic fragrance and other candle products that are petroleum byproducts.
If your number one priority is an all-natural, organic, and sustainable candle then essential oil candles are probably worth it. However, if you just want some affordable candles that smell as good, with more fragrance options, then essential oils are probably not worth it.
Conclusion
In conclusion, essential oils come with a lot of advantages over fragrance oils but they also have their own share of disadvantages. It is important to consider every point when making the decision on using essential oils or fragrance oils.
If you are just looking for some all-natural, organic, and sustainable aromatherapy candles, then essential oil candles are probably the right choice for you. However, if you are looking to create a batch of fun holiday-scented candles for the holidays then fragrance oils might be the right choice for you.
Look at the situation from each side and consider your goals, budget, and of course your fragrance preferences and you will find out what is the best fit for you.