DIY Eco-Friendly Favors
We’re this close to our final DIY wedding favor project, but fret not. We have another great project in store for you today, and it’s so timely with Earth Day coming up next week. These soy wax candle favors were made using recycled materials, natural ingredients, and it’s also very budget-friendly. Sounds like an all around winner, non?
What you’ll need:
- Soy wax flakes (can be purchased in bulk in places like here…or at your local candle supply shop since we’re talking green)
- Wick (here + here)
- Containers. They can be vintage teacups, recycled jars, old tumblers, Depression glass goblets …
- Pitcher with spout
- Fragrance oil (I recommend this Etsy store if you’re making them in several different scents for your guests to choose from)
- Popsicle sticks, chopsticks, or something to hold the wick (we drilled a hole in the middle of Popsicle sticks, but you can also find readymade ones at candle supply stores)
- Candle dye, optional
Melt soy wax flakes in a double boiler, add in your favorite scents and dye. Once flakes have completely melted, set your pot away to cool down for a few seconds. In the meantime, warm up your glass containers using a blow-dryer for a minute. This will help the wax cool more evenly! Pour wax into containers, thread wick with Popsicle stick and let it cool for a few hours until solid. Cut wick about 1/4 inch long.
For the packaging, we used recycled handmade gift wrap and watercolor tags. To make these tags, paint sheets of watercolor paper in different hues. Great stress reliever! Cut tags with a paper punch and tie your wedding favors using twine or other eco-friendly ribbon.
We added a label on the lids of the jars for guests to easily find their favorite scents. One tip to avoid mislabeling scents when packaging is to add tiny color coding labels on the bottom of the jars before you begin pouring the wax.
You can use the leftover unscented wax to make tea lights for your reception tables! One pound of soy wax flakes makes two wedding favors using a 11oz jars and it costs well under a dollar each not including the containers.
View all step-by-step photos
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Such a simple and pretty gift. I love the print used to top the candle. Thanks for the DIY, I’d love to try this myself.
Incredible, such a sweet and great idea!!!! Your blog is so inspiring!!! Every time a new idea!!!
How far out from the wedding would you recommend making these? Does the wax get funky or anything over time? I guess the biggest concern would be them getting dusty so I wouldn’t want to do them too early but at the same time, I’m really worried about having too much to do in the month before the wedding…
wow this is a GREAT one!!
@Steph you can start making them now! Just kidding, but they can be made months ahead. If you make them in containers with lids, they should be ok. If get dusty, I’m sure you could probably rinse them off and let them air dry?
We’re no candle makers, and boy are they easy to make!
love this DIY! especially, the tie-dye tags.
Such a great idea! TFS!
How many candles will one 50lb bag of wax make? Obviously it depends on what size containers are used but a rough estimate would be great!
@Ashley, using 11oz jars I was making 2 candles per pound. So if you would use the same jar size using about 7-8 ounces in each candle, 50lbs would make 100 wedding favors.
Hope this helps!
great ideas guys!!!
What were the proportions of fragrance to wax? A couple of drops, or more? Thanks for the great idea; I might have to make my bridesmaids a few of these candles as thank yous!
@Dana I think I must have used about tablespoons per pound. They need more fragrance than soap, for example. So add more than you think you will need. HTH!
This sounds like a lot of work, but look great. I love the idea of having non-toxic candles. The commercial ones are not so good for the environment or for people to breath. Thanks, Karen
Thank you so much for this post!! I’ve been looking and looking for DIY favors for months and I finally found what I’m going to do! Thank you :-)
I love this idea! Super cute!
we love the idea of DIY party gifts – and we love them even more when they don’t take a week to make! this is a perfect gift for anyone who loves the simplicity of a good candle
love,
arizona weddings magazine
I adore this project!
What did you use to use to “stamp” the letters on the tie-dyed tag? I was assuming maybe it was a stamp set of some sort.
Mind pointing me in the right direction, so I could find something to do the same? Thanks!!
@Brittany
I used a stamp kit that I bought at Staples, but you can find it at any office supply store.
Hope this helps!
OMG this looks awesome (and super easy). I always preferred homemade gifts and this one looks like a winner.
I came accross this diy through pinterest (gotta love that site). This is amazing! Such a great little gift
I’m getting married Oct 1st of this year and I had planned to purchase candles done by someone else but now after seeing yours I’m doing them myself. MUCH more personal and way better priced! Thanks for your sharing your talents.
how many tablespoons of fragrance per lb of wax?
Thanks so much for posting!!
I came across your site via Pinterest too and so glad I did. Thanks for this fantastic tutorial and off to explore the rest of your wonders now…;-)
Just saw this on Pinterest and can’t wait to try it out! I live on a small island so I’ll have to have things shipped, but I’m still so excited to create my own soy candles instead of purchasing the commercial junk at the store. Thank you!
just found this site, and what a great idea!! question, though…i followed the etsy link for eyespider, and it’s been shut down. is there another place you would recommend for getting fragrance? thanks! i can’t wait to try this!!
If using essential oils how much would you need to use per lb?? Thanks so much!
i’m so glad i came across your tutorial. yesterday i’ve made my first soy candle and i’m testing it right now. after some hours of burning i realize that wax doesn’t burn down evenly. on the one side it’s all melted, on the other side nothing really burnt down. could it be that my wick is not 100% centered? other than that it’s really beautiful and i since the melting temperature isn’t that high i used some drops of the soy as a “hand cream” today. it makes the skin super soft.
it’ll be great if you new why it burns down so uneven.
thanx alot!
These are so very sweet! I’ve got this linked to my blog today – I posted about candles. Have a lovely day!
Oh dear it seems the person you’ve recommended on Etsy has since closed their account.
Do you have any other recommendations on where to buy the fragrance from?
I’ve tried my hand at these before and finding a good quality oil as well as knowing the right quantity to use has always been a struggle for me. I’d love any suggestions you have to offer.
I have been making soy candles for about 9 years now, and I love them!
I always use a pencil to hold up the wick- wrap it around the pencil until the wax dries. After it’s dry you trim it, and the wick now has a cute little candle at the top that adds a little extra sweetness when it is gifted. (trim before lighting, of course)
The first time I made a candle was helping my daughter for a school project, and now I have found a passion for finding out as much information, and helping others by providing information about candle making.Coz,i’ve found out that burning candle can ease all the stress in mind and it is more relaxing if it scented one.
Soy Wax Candles
I love this idea!!!! Came across it on Pinterest. I will be making these as Christmas gifts for all the teachers/helpers at my children’s schools! The kids can even help a little bit! Thank you!!!
Love this idea! Found it on Pinterest and plan on linking back to this post. Thanks for sharing!
These are such cute DIY gifts!
Love this idea, but can you send the Esty link, it did not work when I clicked on it. Thanks
I just searched on etsy and found a shop that looks great for fragrance oils. I haven’t tried them yet, but here is the shop name: Candle Lynn Supplies
Wonderful tutorial, thank you! I added it to my pins.
I was wondering if you new if the oil fragrance you used says essential oil on it. I am trying to find out if I can make soy candles with 100% pure essential oil’s/scent like Patchouli and Bergamot. Thank you for your help and great website.
I love this idea! Where did you get your jars?
This is a fantastic idea! Using small jars meant for candies can be a perfect size, especially if you want to give one out to everyone and stay within your budget! Plus, DIY Favors are a perfect way to show your guests you are truly greatful that they are there.
I absolutely love the photos and the gradient tags are lovely. How did you get the ink on there without bleeding onto the color?
I love it!