How to Make a Dough Bowl Candle

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If you like dough bowls and candles, this post is for you. We are sharing how to make a dough bowl candle for your home or as a gift.

You may remember that a few months ago I scored a small vintage dough bowl for just $5.00! I knew then what I was going to make. Today I’m sharing how to make a dough bowl candle.

Dough bowl candles are very pricey. Even for the smaller varieties. Recently a friend purchased a small dough bowl candle for $68.00! Admittedly, I was tempted to purchase one too. After much debate and self-talk, my thrifty spirit talked me out of it.

Good things come to those that wait

When out thrifting or antiquing, I always keep a running list of items to look for. On this particular day, my patience was rewarded when I found this vintage wooden dough bowl. It is small and absolutely perfect for candle making.

I realize that you may not have a little dough bowl, so let’s talk about what you could use instead. This candle making methods works for all of these.

Candle Container Ideas

wooden salad bowl
teacup – we made lots of THESE for Jenn’s bridal shower
copper mug – like I used HERE
soup bowl – I used a metal bowl for an orange candle
old candle vessel – thoroughly cleaned for re-use

You Will Need These Supplies

Wooden dough bowl, or other container
Wicks and glue gun
Soy wax pellets
Double boiler – large pot for stovetop heat and a heat-safe container for melting was.
Fragrance oil/Essential oils/Spices

Fragrance

Expect to use about 15–20 drops of essential oil per 1 pound of melted wax. There are also oils created especially for candle making. These can be found online or in craft stores. Natural sources of scent such as cinnamon, clove, citrus zest, rosemary or lavender may be added as well. Never use cooking extracts for candle making. They burn off quickly and are not safe for this project.

How To Make a Dough Bowl Candle

Pro Tip

When you pour the melted wax into your container, do NOT move it. Before you pour the melted wax, make sure that the vessel is in a place where it can be untouched until the next day. We had to move our candle and it dried with a few ripples on the top.

Be sure to follow the directions of your wax product. Each producer has a different melting point. They also offer different temperatures as when to add fragrance.

Why use soy wax

Soy wax is much healthier for us and the environment. This planet-friendly wax doesn’t emit any yucky stuff into our atmosphere. Soy wax has a lower melting point than paraffin wax. This means that soy wax burns cooler and will last longer than paraffin candles.