How to Make Seashell Beeswax Candles

Learn how to make seashell beeswax candles to add to your Waldorf-inspired nature table or as an ode to your summer tablescape or nature table. Seashell beeswax candles make wonderful gifts, perfect for birthdays or holidays, brimming with handmade thoughtfulness.

Why Make Seashell Beeswax Candles

I was introduced to candle-making when my youngest was attending a Waldorf Kindergarten. I love creating hand-poured candles in unique vessels like antique teacups, mason jars, or found objects, like these shell candles!

These hand-poured seashell candles have so much charm to them, and I love the process of selecting the perfect shell and filling them to the brim with melted beeswax. To transform raw materials like beeswax and seashells into something practical and useful, as well as beautiful, is such a wonderful experience.

Unlike typical paraffin or soy wax candles, these offer a warm yellow color, are non-toxic to burn, and give off a subtle, yet delightful scent.

We dream of one day adding a beehive to our little farm homestead. They provide such essential work as they pollinate all the flowers and vegetable plants in our gardens. Plus, collecting our own honey would be an added sweet bonus.

Until then, we will continue to purchase our beeswax from ethical and local sources (we love this local store, however, research which stores in your area sell bulk beeswax).

Tips For Making Seashell Beeswax Candles:

• Use clean clam shells or any other wide shell that can sit flat on a table surface.
• Use a clothespin to hold the wick in place while pouring the wax.
• After the wax has set, and you’re ready to light the candles, trim the wicks so they are 1/4 inch tall.
• Pour left-over wax into a silicone baking mold to harden and save for future projects, like more candles or lotion bars.
• Arrange the shells in a small dish with sand or even shallow water for a charming seascape scene.

Supplies to Make Seashell Beeswax Candles:

• 6 ounces of beeswax pellets, or wax from a local beekeeper cut into larger pieces.
• 10-20 clean clam or other wide seashell
• Braided cotton candle wick – 90-100″
• Metal Candlemaking pitcher with a handle to melt the wax for use for easy pouring. You can also use a wide-mouth mason jar.
• Large pot
• Wooden clothepins
• Foil
• Scissors

How To Make Hand Poured Seashell Beeswax Candles:

Place the beeswax pellets into a tall metal tin, or another tall, heat-safe container like a wide-mouthed mason jar. Make sure whatever container you choose is narrow, deep, and safe for cooking.

Fill the large pot with about 3-4” of water. 

Place over medium heat until it starts to simmer. 

Carefully add the jar of wax into the simmering water. As the wax begins to melt down, you may want to add more pellets so your jar is at least 1/4″ full of melted wax.

Cut 10-12 wicks (or whatever amount of candles you want to make) to 1” in length. Clip a clothespin to the top of the wick, so the wick doesn’t fall over while you pour the wax.

Set the wick with the clothespin on top of a seashell so the wick touches the base of the shell but doesn’t fall over. Balance the clothespn on opposite sides of the seashell.

When the wax in the jars has completely melted, it’s time to start candlemaking. 

Make sure you’re working on a covered work surface. I like to cover mine with aluminum foil for easy clean up and protection from the hot wax.

Slowly pour the melted wax into a seashell and stop pouring just before the wax touches the clothespin. Some wax may spill out of the seashells and that is okay. Just correct the she seashell and set it evenly on your work surface again.

Continue pouring the wax into your prepared seashells until you have filled your desired amount. You can add more beeswax pellets to your already melted wax if you begin to run out during the process.

Allow the candles to harden for a few hours by leaving them on your work surface.

Trim the wicks and enjoy your beautiful candles.

Find More Handmade Projects For Your Home:

Make a DIY Curtain from a Vintage Linen Tablecloth