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Quick and easy way to create a deliciously fragrant candle at home
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If you love the smell of coffee, then you might like coffee-scented candles. While you can always buy a coffee-scented candle from a store, you will get a much nicer (and more realistic!) scent if you make one at home with fresh coffee grounds. In this article, we’ll walk you through all the steps to make your own coffee candle.

Making a Candle with Coffee Grounds

  1. Melt soy wax flakes in a double-boiler over medium heat.
  2. Add 1 tbsp of coffee grounds per 12 oz of wax and stir.
  3. Place a wick in the center of a coffee mug and hold it straight.
  4. Pour the melted wax into the coffee mug.
  5. Let the wax cool, then trim your wick.
1

Pick a coffee mug or metal container for your candle.

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  1. Since you’re making a coffee scented candle, choosing a metal or tin coffee mug to hold your candle will add a nice, aesthetic touch, but other items like tin cans, mason jars, or glass candle votives will also work. Once you have chosen your candle holder, scrub and rinse it well with warm, soapy water, then dry it off with a towel.[1]
    • Avoid using containers made of plastic or wood, as these are highly flammable.
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2

Insert a tabbed wick into your candle holder.

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  1. Choose a wick that’s taller than your candle holder; the exact height depends on the size of your candle, so use this chart to find the appropriate size. Make sure to align the wick with the center of the mug or candle holder and press down firmly with your finger.[2] Let the glue dry completely to ensure the wick stays in place.
    • If you don’t have superglue, use a piece of double-sided tape to hold the wick in place. It probably won’t be as secure as the superglue, however.
    • Or, wait until your wax has melted, then pour it over the wick’s tab and let it harden to hold the wick in place.
    • A tabbed wick is a pre-cut candle wick with a metal disk attached to the bottom. You can find it in the candle-making section of a craft store.
    • For a rustic touch, super-glue a natural/wooden wick into the candle holder instead.
3

Use a pencil to hold the wick straight.

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4

Melt the wax on the stove over medium-high heat.

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Coffee Candle
    Fill the pan with enough water to reach halfway up the measuring cup (or a metal can or bowl). Add enough soy wax flakes to the measuring cup to fill your candle holder 1.5 times. Heat the water on medium-high until the wax is completely melted (usually 10-15 minutes).[4]
    • You can also use a metal beaker made specifically for melting candle wax; find one in the candle-making section of a craft store.
    • Do not let the wax get hotter than 200 °F (93 °C), or it may catch on fire. Use a candy-making thermometer to monitor the temperature, and do not leave the wax unattended.
    • If you use a wax other than soy, check the label for the flash point. If you can’t find it, research it online.
5

Add coffee grounds to the melted wax.

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Coffee Candle
    Use a wooden spoon, skewer, or craft stick to stir and cook the wax for 2 to 3 more minutes, giving the coffee time to infuse the wax with its fragrance and color.[5] Mix thoroughly so the grounds dissolve into the wax, as they’ll float to the top otherwise. Do not let the temperature get higher than 200 °F (93 °C) for soy wax, or whatever the flash point for your wax is.
    • If you want to make a candle with coffee beans instead of ground coffee, skip this step; you’ll add the beans when you pour the wax into the candle holder.
    • If you don’t have real coffee, stir in 1.5 ounces (44.4 mL) of coffee-scented candle-making fragrance oil for every 1 pound (453.6 g) of wax to create the coffee smell. Check the oil’s label to find the flash point, and let the coffee cool to the right temperature, if needed.
    • To deepen the color of your wax, add a bit of brown candle-making dye. Shave off a thin sliver with a knife and stir the wax until the color is consistent. Add more dye as needed until you get the color you want.
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6

Pour the melted wax into the mug.

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Coffee Candle
    Let the wax to cool to about 100 °F (38 °C) before pouring it into the container, then sprinkle some coffee grounds around the edge of the container. Use a funnel to pour the rest of the wax. If you want, sprinkle more coffee around the top of the candle for decoration, but don’t get the grounds too close to the wick, as they will burn when lit.[6]
    • To prevent craters from forming, pour ¾ of the wax into the candle holder and let it cool completely before adding the rest. This can take anywhere from a couple of hours to a full day depending on the size of the candle. Reheat the remaining wax when you’re ready to add it to the candle. It’s okay to pour all of the wax if you’re in a hurry, however, or if you don’t care about wells forming in the center.[7]
    • If you're using whole beans instead of grounds, follow the same process. Pour a light layer of wax and sprinkle in the beans before pouring the rest of the wax. Add more beans to the top of the candle before the wax hardens for a rustic touch. Like the grounds, don’t let them touch the wick, as they will burn.
7

Allow the candle to dry, then trim the wick.

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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    How do I make a candle mold release?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    You can just put some toothpaste on there, then it will be released in approximately a minute.
  • Question
    Can I use wax paper to line my mold? Can I use super-saturated coffee, or even un-perked coffee or instant coffee to give the candle an aroma?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Yes, but secure the bottom and the line opening. For an example, use tape or hot glue to close the bottom of the wax paper and close the corners of the paper you put together that forms the mold with tape or hot glue. I would recommend using the coffee-scented oils as suggested, as coffee grounds could burn and create smoke.
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Tips

  • You can melt the wax in the microwave in 1-minute increments, as well.
  • Or, try adding a few drops of additional fragrance oils (like caramel or vanilla) to make your candle smell like flavored coffee.
  • Recycle old candles to create your candle; simply break them up and melt down the wax instead of using wax flakes. Unscented ones will work the best, but cinnamon, vanilla, and cookie scents can give your coffee candle a bit of extra fragrance.
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About This Article

Raven Minyard, BA
Co-authored by:
wikiHow Staff Writer
This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Raven Minyard, BA. Raven Minyard received her BA in English and Creative Writing from Sweet Briar College in 2020. While in college, she served as the Coeditor-in-Chief of Sweet Briar's literary magazine Red Clay and has since gone on to write for publications such as The Zillennial Zine and Halloween Every Night. Raven recalls reading articles from wikiHow's early days during her childhood and is thrilled to now write for their content team. She enjoys learning about new interests and topics with each article she writes and hopes to help audiences of all backgrounds continue to learn new and exciting things. This article has been viewed 132,670 times.
2 votes - 100%
Co-authors: 11
Updated: November 18, 2024
Views: 132,670
Categories: Candle Making
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 132,670 times.

Reader Success Stories

  • Denise Quartararo

    Denise Quartararo

    Apr 25, 2019

    "Now I know everything about making a homemade coffee candle!"
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