DIY Pine Candle

Looking to make your own pine candle? This tutorial shows how to make pine-scented candles with soy wax and fragrant essential oils. These homemade candles have a clean and festive forest scent that will make your home feel extra cozy. The candles come with printable labels and make lovely holiday gifts!

DIY pine tree candle

When I was a kid, my favorite holiday job was to shop for a Christmas tree with my Dad. I always got to pick out a tree at our local Christmas tree farm and was rewarded with a cup of hot chocolate afterward.

The thing I remember most (aside from the warm cocoa) was the wonderful smell of the evergreen trees. And since I’m a candle lover, I thought it was about time to create homemade pine tree candles. And let me tell you, these winter pine candles smell like Christmas in a jar.

Honestly, the candle smells so good, like a breath of cool mountain air and pine needles. Every time I light it, I feel smack in the middle of a snowy forest. If you like outdoorsy scents, you’ll love the brisk, crisp, and clean aroma.

If you’re into homemade candles, like this one, be sure to check out our cinnamon candles, gingerbread wax melts, pumpkin spice candles, and these frosted cranberry candles.

Pine candle benefits

It’s pine’s time to shine! This soy candle recipe might be easy to create, but it’s anything but basic. Let me count down all the reasons why you need pine candles in your life!

• Fresh forest scent: Pine oil has a strong aroma, reminiscent of a woodsy forest, and reminds me of a Christmas tree. The oil is an excellent air freshener and deodorizer that can purify the air and banish unpleasant odors.
• Aromatherapeutic: Pine is more than just a lovely scent. The oil provides aromatherapy benefits, too. The oil is used in aromatherapy to create an uplifting, relaxing atmosphere. Pine is a natural energizer and can help you improve focus and alertness while studying or exercising.
• Supports respiratory health: Pine oil is touted to support a healthy respiratory system. The essential oil is said to eliminate bacteria in the air and soothe a sore throat and congestion.
• All-natural candle: Conventional scented candles are notorious for containing all sorts of problematic chemicals, such as synthetic fragrances, emulsifiers, or phthalates. Creating your own candles puts you in control of what goes into them.
• Great craft: Candle making is a useful and relaxing craft. It’s so much fun to pour candles and create unique fragrance blends. Doing this project with children is also an excellent way to show them how candles are made and a great opportunity to teach them fire safety.
• Lovely holiday gift: Handmade candles are a thoughtful holiday gift for your friends and family. The great thing about making candles for gifts is that you can double or triple the batch if you need inexpensive holiday gifts for a group of people.

Materials & tools

DIY pine-scented candles come together quickly with the usuals like soy wax, essential oil, cotton wicks, and candle jars.You need the following materials and supplies:

• Pine essential oil, also known as Scots pine, is made from pine needles. The oil features a refreshing scent that lends these DIY soy candles a wonderful forest fragrance.
• 646 soy wax from Golden Brand is my preferred wax for container candles. It holds a lot of fragrance, has an excellent hot and cold scent throw, and cures to a beautiful, creamy finish.
• Candle jar: I poured my candles into 4-oz amber glass jars. I bought mine locally, but these brown glass jars look similar and have the same size.
• Wick: These natural, pre-waxed cotton wicks offer a clean burn and consistent flame. They come pre-tapped and have the correct size to fit the candle container.

Tools

• Measuring: You need a digital scale or measuring cups to measure the wax. If you don’t have either of those, simply fill your candle container with wax and then double that amount.
• Wicking: A hot glue gun is needed to adhere the wick to the jar. A wick centering tool ensures that the wick remains centered.
• Melting: A wax melting pot, saucepan, or double boiler is ideal for melting wax. You also need a metal spoon for stirring.
• Pouring: An infrared thermometer helps to take the wax’s temperature and find the ideal pouring temperature.
• Burning: Before burning your pine candle for the first time, use scissors to trim the wick.

Pine candle scents

While the crisp evergreen scent of pine is a wonderful scent on its own, it also pairs well with other oils. Here are a few winning combinations for you to try:

• Pure Pine: 200 drops Scots pine
• Pine Needle Dew: 120 drops Scots pine + 50 drops tangerine + 30 drops peppermint
• Balsam Forest: 85 drops Scots pine + 65 drops balsam fir + 45 drops cedarwood + 15 drops frankincense
• Peppermint Pine: 120 drops Scots pine + 80 drops peppermint
• Holiday Tree: 100 drops Scots pine + 65 drops balsam fir + 35 drops cinnamon cassia + 20 drops sweet orange
• Winter Woods: 120 drops Scots pine + 60 drops black spruce + 40 drops wintergreen

Substitute for pine essential oil

In case you don’t have pine essential oil, you can experience a similar scent and benefits with other members of the conifer family. Possible substitutes could be fir needle, Douglas fir, balsam fir, or black spruce.

How to make pine candles

Step 1: Set up candle wicks

• Apply hot glue to the wick tap and adhere to the center of your candle container. Make sure the tap lays flat against the bottom.
• Then use a wick centering tool to keep the wick upright and in place.

Step 2: Melt wax

• Measure out the wax and transfer it into a saucepan or melting pot.
• Warm the wax over medium heat until melted, stirring occasionally.
• Heat until the wax reaches 185°F / 85°C.

Step 3: Add pine oil

• Once fully melted, remove the soy wax from the stove.
• Add the pine essential oil and give the mixture a good stir to make sure it’s well combined.
• Let cool to 140°F / 60°C.

Step 4: Pour candle

• Slowly pour the wax into the container.
• Ideally, set up your candle containers in a location where they can sit undisturbed for a few hours and aren’t exposed to drafts of cold air.

Step 5: Let wax solidify

• Allow 4 to 6 hours for the wax to cool and the candles to solidify.
• It’s best to let them sit at room temperature so they cool gradually. Cooling candles too rapidly can lead to cracks.

Step 6: Cure candles (optional)

• For the best scent throw, let your candles cure at room temperature for 1 to 2 days.
• Trim the wick to 1/2 in / 1 cm before lighting the candle and see below for more safety tips.

Tips for the best pine-scented candles

Before you break out your wax melting pot, read through this list of helpful tips and tricks for creating perfect pine tree candles every time.

• Get the correct wick size. Wicks can make or break your candle. If the wick is too small, the flame will be weak and drown out. And a too large wick will result in an overpowering flame and soot. The diameter of the candle container determines the size of the wick. The jars I chose are approx. 2.5 in diameter, and my wicks of choice have 2.5 in diameter melt – so that’ s a good match.
• Melt the wax slowly. Soy wax will degrade and lose its ability to hold fragrance if heated too hot. Melt the wax flakes of medium heat and take the pot off the stove when only a few wax flakes remain. The residual heat is enough to melt them.
• Keep the temperature in check. Soy wax should be heated until it reaches 185°F / 85°C. Then wait until the temperature drops to 140°F / 60°C before pouring it.

FAQ

How many candles does this recipe make?

You will get four 4-oz candles or two 8-oz candles from this pine candle recipe.

Can I use clear candle containers?

Absolutely! Clear containers are a great way to showcase the wax. If opting for clear glass, consider coloring the candle in rich forest green.

Can I dye my pine candle green?

Of course! Christmas pine candles are often offered in beautiful shades of green, and I totally get that you might want a green pine candle too.

I recommend using these candle dye chips for the job. Melt the dye together with the wax and give the liquid mix a good stir to distribute the color evenly throughout the wax.

Can I swap out pine for another conifer essential oil?

Sure! Any conifer oil can replace pine. The quantities and directions remain the same. Just scroll up to the section on substituting pine oil for more info.

Can you put fresh pine in candles?

No, putting pine needles or pines cones into candles is a fire hazard because these items will catch fire.

How to store homemade pine candles

Keep pine forest candles that are not in use in a cool, dark location. Room temperature is usually fine. If you live in a hot environment, store your candles somewhere temperature controlled.

Essential oils and soy wax are sensitive to sunlight and heat. Amber glass protects your candles from UV light. Still, you want to keep them away from direct sunlight and any heat sources (e.g., air vents, radiators.)

How long will pine essential oil candles last?

Soy wax has a shelf life of about 2 years, and pine oil can last for 1 to 2 years. Therefore, I recommend burning your homemade tree-scented candle within 2 years.

Pine candle label

You download the printable candle label below. I recommend printing the label on sticker paper or self-adhesive paper. The printable fits letter size and 4A paper formats.