Peony Candle – How To Make Peony Petals Candle

Learn how to make peony candles! DIY peony candles are super easy to create with soy wax and fragrance oil, and you only need a few simple supplies. Fragrant and gorgeous, they make perfect gifts. This beginner-friendly candle-making tutorial includes free printable labels for packaging and gift-giving.

DIY peony candle

I absolutely love the scent of peonies. Come late spring/early summer, I bring in ponies from my garden and create fragrant bouquets that I display throughout my house. The smell is heavenly, and they look exquisite.

Because peony season is short, I decided to create DIY peony candles to enjoy the lovely scent long after the last petal has fallen. Not only do peony soy candles smell amazing, but they also look so beautiful on a table or dresser. I love to watch the candlelight of a burning candle.

The great thing about making homemade candles is that you can customize scent and color to your heart’s content. Plus, they make wonderful gifts – for yourself or someone special!

I hope you love these peony petals candle as much as Cyna and I do. And for more peony-inspired projects, check out our homemade peony hand soap and peony body wash recipe.

What does peony smell like?

Peonies are famous for their intoxicating fragrance. The peony scent is hard to describe if you’ve never smelled it before, but I’ll try my best.

The peony smell is a strong floral scent, with a light citrusy note and a hint of spices. To me, peonies smell like a mix of old English garden roses and jasmine, very calming, romantic, and feminine.

Nothing beats the aroma of sun-kissed peonies in full bloom. But we can create homemade peony scented candles that almost capture the delights of fresh flowers and imbue your home with elegant floral notes.

Materials for peony blossom candle

Let’s go over the supplies and tools you’ll need to make pink peony candles:

• Soy wax flakes: I used my favorite soy wax, Golden Brand 464 soy wax. This wax is ideal for container candles and can hold up to 10% fragrance, which will give you highly scented candles.
• Peony fragrance oil: I talk more about peony fragrance oil below.
• Pink candle dye (optional): A small chunk is enough to give your DIY peony candle a soft pink hue.
• Candle container: Select a heat-resistant, non-porous vessel as a candle container. I used a ceramic planter. My friend Kristy of Life-n-Reflection has a fantastic article on how to select safe containers for candles. Give her post a read if you’re unsure about your container choice.
• Candlewick: Choose a wick that’s appropriate for the size of your container. I used a 6 in / 15 cm pre-tapped cotton wick suitable for a 3 in / 8 cm diameter vessel.
• Wick holder: A wick centering device ensures that the wick is perfectly centered when pouring the wax.
• Melting pot or large glass measuring cup: You need a wax melting pot or a large, heat-resistant glass measuring cup to melt the wax. Ideally, something with a spout so you can pour the wax easily.
• Infrared thermometer: A thermometer isn’t absolutely necessary, but I find it very helpful to get the melting and pouring temperatures right.

Finally, you’ll also need a spoon to stir the wax and scissors to trim the wick. I also recommend you cover your work area with old newspaper. But don’t worry if you spill melted wax on a surface or your clothes. Soy wax comes off easily with warm water and a little soap.

Is there peony essential oil?

Sadly, peony essential oil doesn’t exist. As a regular reader of CHC, you might be wondering why I said fragrance oil instead of essential oil in the supply list. Let me explain.

The difference between essential oils and fragrance oils is that essential oils are made from plants, whereas fragrance oils are created synthetically.

Essential oils are obtained from plant materials through distillation (steam or water) or mechanical methods (like cold pressing). The oils contain highly concentrated plant compounds that carry the scent of the plant.

This process works well for lavender, roses, and other flowers, but unfortunately not peonies. Their aroma is too delicate and fleeting to be captured as an essential oil. It just evaporates.

I’ve unsuccessfully tried to create a peony enfleurage in the past, but the scent didn’t stay. Enfleurage is a method where a carrier oil is infused with fresh flowers.

Some companies, like L’Occitane, create their own peony extract from fresh peonies, but this ingredient isn’t available to buy. I’ve also seen peony absolute, which is extremely rare and very expensive.

The “peony essential oils” you see advertised on Amazon and Etsy aren’t really essential oils but fragrance oils. Essential oils aren’t overseen by any governing body, so companies can refer to their products as they please.

Reputable sellers that follow best practices will label peony oil as “peony fragrance oils.”

The best peony fragrance oil

Since essential oil isn’t an option, I used a peony fragrance oil from Nature’s Garden in my candle and absolutely adore the smell. This oil has an intense hot and cold throw, won’t discolor the wax, and you can use it in body products, too.

Their fragrance oil is also phthalate-free, doesn’t contain any Prop 65 reportable components, and has a high flashpoint.

Bulk Apothecary, The Flaming Candle, and Candle Shack (UK) offer peony fragrance oils, too. I haven’t tested these oils, but they have received rave reviews from other candle makers.

How to make peony candles

How do you make a peony candle? Homemade peony candles are a great way to enjoy the beautiful peony aroma when fresh blooms are out of season. Let me walk you through the simple steps on how to make a peony petals candle at home:

Step1: Prep the candle container

• Place the wick in the center of your candle container. Secure the wick with the wick centering clip by pushing the wick into the notch. Set aside.

Step 2: Melt the wax

• Measure out the soy wax flakes. Places the wax and pink candle dye (if using) in a pour pitcher or a large, heat-resistant glass measuring cup.
• If using a metal pitcher, melt the wax on the stovetop. If using a glass measuring cup, warm the soy wax in the microwave in 1-minute intervals.
• Heat the wax until it’s fully melted and reaches 185°F / 85°C.  185°F / 85°C is the ideal temperature for the wax to bind with the fragrance oil and will give you the best smelling peony candles.

Step3: Add the fragrance oil

• Once the wax reaches 185°F / 85°C, take it off the heat source and add the peony fragrance oil.
• Stir the wax 30 to 40 times with a spoon using slow, circular motions. Stirring is crucial, so the wax and oil combine properly.

Step 4: Pour the candle

• Let the wax cool to 140°F / 60°C, which is the best pouring temperature. Pour the wax into the container, filling it up 1/4 in / 6 mm below the rim.

Step 5: Cure

• Let the candle cure at room temperature overnight. 2 to 3 days is even better. The wax and fragrance bind together during the curing process, and you’ll achieve the best smelling candles.
• Optionally, wrap up the candle with our free printable candle wrapper, which you can download at the end of the post.

Step 6: Light

• When lighting the candle for the first time, trim the wick to 1/4 in / 6 mm, which gives the best burn and will cause the least amount of smoke.
• To prevent tunneling, let your candle burn until the entire surface of the wax has melted. Tunneling is when the wick burns a hole down the center of the candle.

Safety tips

• Put your candle on a heat-resistant surface, away from anything flammable.
• Never leave burning candles unattended.
• Always extinguish the candle if you leave the room.
• Take extra precautions if small children or pets are around.

Peony petals candle FAQ

Why is oil seeping out of my candle?

If you see droplets of oil accumulate on the surface of your candle, you either used too much fragrance oil or didn’t stir the melted wax enough after adding the fragrance.

My candle has craters. What did I do wrong?

Most likely, you poured the wax too hot. The cooler the wax is, the prettier the top will be. The ideal pouring temperature for Golden Brand’s 464 wax is 135°F to 140°F / 57°C to 60°C.

Why is the wax cracked?

Cracks indicate that the wax was poured too hot, or the candle cooled too fast. Always allow your candles to cool at room temperature. Never put them in the refrigerator or freezer.

Help! My sweet peony candle has no smell.

If your pink peony candle has no smell, the wax might have been too hot when you add the fragrance oil. Peony fragrance oil has a flashpoint of 200°F / 93°C, meaning at this point, the fragrance will begin to evaporate. Using a thermometer ensures that we get the temperature right.

My peony candle recipe has a fragrance load of 6%, which gives you a nicely scented candle. However, you can up the fragrance to 10% if you prefer an even stronger scent throw.

What can I do if the peony candle smells too strong?

Everyone has a unique sense of smell that varies from person to person. What smells fine to some, might be too much for others. If you find the peony smell overpowering, cut the amount of fragrance oil in have (to 3%).

Pink peony candle storage instructions

Store your sweet peony candle in a dark, cool place away from direct sunlight and any heat source. Close the container with a cap or wrap it tightly in plastic wrap/cling film to preserve the scent. The shelf life is 1 year.

More candle making tutorials

Enjoyed this peony soy candle recipe? Then you might like my other free candle making tutorials, too:

• pumpkin spice candles
• lavender candles
• citronella candles
• lemon candle DIY
• fresh linen candle
• eucalyptus candle
• holiday tealights
• handmade wax melts