Supplies

• Equal parts of bacon grease (warmed up so that it is liquefied and filtered), soy wax, and organic beeswax.
• Optional: Colorants like candle coloring blocks, micas, etc.
• A wick and vessel for containing the finished candle.

Tools

• A pot filled half way with water, on a low boil
• A 1-cup measuring cup
• Something to filter your bacon grease if you haven’t done so already (coffee filters and a mesh strainer)
• 2 pyrex (or heat-safe) measuring containers that have at least a 4 cup capacity.
• Something to stir with – I like using disposable chopsticks.

Directions:

1. Prep your candle jar(s). Make sure they are clean and have a wick already placed in the center. I use a dab of high-temp hot glue to secure the wick to the base of the jar that way it doesn’t go squirming around.
2. Make sure that your bacon grease is filtered and completely liquefied. I warm my grease up by submerging half the container in some simmering water for about 30 minutes and that seems to do the trick. Keep the bacon grease in a separate container while we’re doing the next step.
3. Before your water starts to boil, set your Pyrex dish along the edge with the handle hanging over the side of your pot (This also requires you to have a not-so-high pot you’re boiling water in). This is my version of a double boiler and it works pretty well. If you’re just doing a small batch (i.e. enough candle for a lb of bacon) you can get away with doing this in a small sauce pan.
4. Once your water starts to have a nice low boil, go ahead and add in your beeswax and let that melt completely. It will take about 5 minutes or more depending on how many candles you’re making.
5. When your beeswax is melted completely add in any colorants if you’re wanting colored candles. If you don’t add this your candles will be a yellowish cream color. Stir till homogeneous. Pro Tip: When adding colorants to candles, keep in mind that the color will lighten up as it solidifies. If you want to test your color – grab some wax paper and put a little dot on it to cool. Once it has finished cooling that will be your candles final color.
6. Add in your soy wax flakes and wait for them to melt.
7. After everything has melted carefully remove your vessel from the water and pour the melted waxes into the container with the grease. It should not splatter or anything but since both are melted liquids – they will be hot!
8. Mix completely and then pour into your candle jars. Pro Tip: If your wicks are being stupid and bending all over the place, use some tape to secure them so that they stand upright while the wax solidifies.
9. Let your candles cool for at least 5 hours.