How to Make Candles with Dried Fruit

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Making candles with dried fruit is a creative and beautiful way to bring warmth, color, and a natural aesthetic into your home. These candles are perfect for seasonal decor, special events, or handmade gifts. With dried oranges, apples, lemons, and even spices like cinnamon or star anise, you can create stunning and fragrant candles that look as good as they smell.

In this guide, you’ll learn everything you need to know about how to make candles with dried fruit—step by step. From choosing your materials to ensuring they burn safely and evenly, we’ll cover it all.

Why Make Candles with Dried Fruit?

Dried fruit candles combine form and function. They serve as both decor and a scent experience. Here are a few reasons why you might want to make them:

• Aesthetic Appeal: The natural colors and textures of dried fruit give your candles a rustic, elegant look.

• Fragrance Layering: Combine dried fruit with matching essential oils (like orange or cinnamon) for a custom scent.

• Eco-Friendly and Handmade: A great way to reduce waste and reuse leftover or overripe fruits.

• Perfect for Gifting: Personalized, homemade gifts that look professional.

However, it’s important to prioritize safety. Dried fruits are flammable. So, it’s crucial to position them away from the wick or use a container that prevents the flame from reaching them directly.

Tools and Ingredients You’ll Need

Basic Candle Supplies

• Wax: Soy wax is most common, but you can use beeswax or coconut wax

• Wicks: Cotton or wood, sized according to your container’s width

• Candle containers: Glass jars, tins, or ceramic holders

• Double boiler or melting pitcher

• Thermometer (for checking wax temperature)

• Stirring stick or skewer

• Fragrance oils or essential oils (optional)

• Candle dye chips (optional)

• Wick stickers or hot glue gun

For the Dried Fruit Design

• Dried citrus slices: Orange, lemon, grapefruit

• Dried apples or pears

• Star anise, cinnamon sticks, or cloves (optional)

• Tweezers for precise placement

• Mica powder or gold leaf (optional, for extra flair)

Step 1: Prepare Your Dried Fruit

You can either buy pre-dried fruit or make your own at home. Here's how to do it from scratch.

Drying Fruit in the Oven

1. Slice the fruit thinly (about 1/8 inch)

2. Arrange slices on a baking rack over a tray to allow airflow

3. Bake at 175–200°F (80–93°C) for 3–5 hours, flipping every hour

4. Allow them to cool and store in a dry place until use

✅ Tip: The drier the fruit, the safer it will be in the candle.

Step 2: Melt Your Wax

1. Measure how much wax you need by filling your container with wax flakes, then double it (wax shrinks when melted)

2. Use a double boiler to melt the wax slowly over medium heat

3. Stir occasionally and heat until fully melted (around 170–185°F or 77–85°C, depending on wax type)

4. Once melted, remove from heat and allow it to cool slightly before adding fragrance (around 135–145°F is ideal for fragrance binding)

Step 3: Add Fragrance and Dye (Optional)

• Add essential oils or fragrance oils based on the wax-to-oil ratio (usually 6–10% of the wax weight)

• Stir for 1–2 minutes to make sure the scent is evenly distributed

• Add dye chips or a drop of liquid dye if you want colored wax

Recommended pairings:

• Dried oranges + orange, clove, or cinnamon oil

• Dried apples + vanilla or spice oil

• Lemons + eucalyptus or herbal oils

Step 4: Set Up Your Container and Wick

1. Use a wick sticker or hot glue to secure your wick to the center bottom of the container

2. Use a wick holder or chopsticks to hold the wick upright

3. Warm the container slightly to prevent sinkholes (place on a heating pad or warm oven for a minute)

Step 5: Decorate with Dried Fruit

Two Main Techniques

A. Attach to Container Wall (Most Popular & Safest)

• Use tweezers to place thin slices of dried fruit against the inner walls of the container before pouring the wax

• Stick the slices using a dab of melted wax to hold them in place

This creates a “framed” look where the dried fruits are visible but don’t interfere with the burn.

B. Embed in the Wax (Decorative Top Only)

• Pour the wax and let it cool partially (until it forms a light skin on top)

• Then gently press dried fruit pieces into the surface

• Only decorate the outer edges and away from the wick

⚠️ Safety Note: Never place dried fruit near the wick where it can ignite.

Step 6: Pour the Wax

1. Allow wax to cool to 130–140°F (54–60°C) before pouring to avoid discoloring fruit or causing cracks

2. Pour slowly to avoid bubbles

3. Fill to just below the container’s rim

4. Tap the container lightly to release any trapped air

Step 7: Finishing Touches

• Let the candle set undisturbed for 24 hours

• Trim the wick to ¼ inch before lighting

• Decorate the container with ribbons, tags, or twine for gifting

Optional add-ons:

• Gold mica dust around the fruit edges for a festive shine

• Clear labels with ingredients and scent profile

Best Dried Fruits and Spice Pairings

Tips for Safe Burning

Because dried fruit is flammable, follow these safety rules:

• Never place fruit too close to the wick

• Avoid using large or thick slices inside the wax

• Use heat-resistant containers

• Burn in a well-ventilated space, away from flammable objects

• Trim wick regularly to reduce soot and overheating

For extra safety, these types of candles can also be used as decorative only—not for burning—especially when heavily decorated.

Creative Ideas and Customizations

• Holiday-Themed Candles: Use cranberries, dried oranges, and pine sprigs for a Christmas blend

• Spring/Summer Scents: Pair lemons and limes with mint leaves and floral oils

• Romantic Gifts: Heart-shaped apple slices, rose petals, and soft vanilla scent

You can also:

• Create layered candles with different fruits in each layer

• Use molds instead of jars for unique shapes (be extra cautious if using dried items inside)

• Make tea light versions with tiny fruit accents on the edges

Where to Get Supplies

• Dried fruit: Homemade, farmers markets, or craft stores

• Wax and wicks: Candle-making suppliers online like CandleScience, Makesy, or Amazon

• Containers: Thrift stores, mason jars, or candle tins

• Fragrance oils: Essential oil brands or candle supply stores

In Conclusion

Learning how to make candles with dried fruit is a beautiful blend of art, fragrance, and natural elegance. With the right precautions and creativity, you can create stunning pieces that are perfect for your home or to give as gifts. Whether you're using oranges and cinnamon for a holiday vibe or lemon and mint for summer, these candles are a feast for the eyes and the nose.

As long as you follow safety guidelines—especially keeping flammable items away from the wick—you can enjoy both the glow and the gorgeous design of your fruit-filled candle creations.

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