How to Make DIY Terracotta Flower Pot Candles
Not just for decorative planters, you can make can make a lovely flower pot candle for less than five dollars with just basic supplies.
I’ll be honest, I got the idea for these candles from watching a very old episode of Martha Stewart Living.
No shade to Martha, but she left much to be desired in her explanation of how to make these candles.
I’ve taken the time to make several of these candles and I have all the information you need to make these perfect the first time!
What TerraCotta Pots to Use?
I personally like the 3.5 inch candles for this. They are small enough you can use just one wick. A large terracotta pot would require two wicks or more for the wax to melt properly.
You can certainly use smaller ones for more of a tea light look.
Terra cotta pots can be purchased at most box stores during the spring but might need to be ordered during the off season. I recommend buying these in person if possible, as they are easily breakable.
Thrift stores are also a great place to pick up some pots in the spring!
Please make sure you are using an actual terracotta/ clay pot. Do not use plastic pots.
Choosing Your Wax: Soy Wax or Beeswax
Both beeswax and soy wax are good options for these candles. I do recommend if you are newer to candle making or just want to make a quick and easy project, to go with the soy. More on that below.
Soy Wax
A benefit of soy wax is it is a little cheaper than beeswax. It also easily takes on fragrance and has a beautiful clean white color.
I also like that soy candle wax is water soluble, meaning you can pop your candle making supplies right in the dishwasher and easily clean spills from your countertops.
Beeswax will not break down easily in water and will need to be scraped off things carefully.
Beeswax
Easily the best choice for any candle ever, beeswax burns clean with a lovely scent. The wax is very hard and burns for a long time.
It will be more expensive. It doesn’t clean up as easily so make sure you prep a workspace before making your candles.
It also takes longer to cure (meaning it has to sit for one to two weeks before you burn it) than soy wax.
Adding Scent to Candles
Fragrance Oils
I’m a fan of the Clean Scents line from Candle Science. For these in particular I like the tomato plant, lilac, English Garden, Basil, Rose, Garden Mint, etc. Anything with a garden vibe.
Essential Oils
They also have essential oils available if that is your preference!
I often do not use essential oils in candles because we have cats and a dog. Animals can have sensitivities to essential oils in the air that humans do not.
They also tend to be much more expensive. I also find that the scent of an essential oil doesn’t stay as well as a fragrance oils.
Choosing a Candle Wick
My preference for these candles is to use wood wicks. They are a little more expensive but I think worth it. They burn well, make a nice little crackle sound, and don’t require much extra work.
If you want a fabric/woven style wick, I recommend getting these. They are already primed (dipped in wax) and are basically stick and go. They also are the correct size for your a 3.5 inch pot. If you are interested in other wick options you can watch the YouTube video where I discuss different varieties.
How to Make Terracotta Candles
Prepping Your Pots
Take painter’s tape or masking tape and cover the holes on the bottom of the pot. I like to use two pieces and make an X. Repeat this over the hole on the OUTSIDE of the pot. That wax is sneaky and you don’t want it leaking all over your work space.
Next, place your wick inside the pot and adhere it to the bottom. Make sure it is centered.
Melt the Wax
To melt the wax you have two options. First, you can do a double boiler method. You must do this if you are melting beeswax as it is unsafe to heat in a microwave. It is very flammable!
If you are doing the soy wax you can heat it in 30 second burst in the microwave. I like to use a two cup measuring cup. It will take 176 grams of soy wax to fill a 3.5 inch pot.
For the wax I use, it must reach a temperature of 160 degrees F before pouring. Beeswax should be 180 degrees F before the melted wax is poured into the pot.
Add Fragrance Oil or Essential Oil
Follow the instructions on the bottle of your essential oil or fragrance oil. For the ones I use, they usually recommend between 3-10% of fragrance oil.
It really varies from fragrance to fragrance what percent is going to be the right amount. You don’t want a candle that is too strong or weak, so it will take some experimenting before you get it just right.
I personally start with 7% and go from there.
To figure out how much fragrance oil to put in, you need to do a simple equation. Take whatever percent you want, TIMES the total amount of wax. For mine, use 7%. So I take .07×176 grams of wax. This equals 12.32. I usually round down and so would gently stir 12 grams of fragrance oil into the melted wax.
Once you have the wax melted, pour the measured fragrance oil in, gently stir forty times up and down until it is well incorporated.
Pouring the Candles
If you use wood wicks you can simply pour the wax into the pot.
If you used a cloth wick you might need a wick holder to keep the wick upright and centered. You can also wrap it around a skewer, pencil, etc. After the wick is secured, pour the wax slowly and carefully into the pot.
I do recommend doing this process on a plate, lined cookie sheet, etc.
Cool and Cure
Allow the candles to cool to room temperature. You can remove the wick holder at this time, then trim it down to 1/4 inch.
Soy wax candles should cure (harden and set) ideally for one week.
Beeswax Candles should cure for at least one week but it is better if they cure for two.
Congrats! You have made your own candles, and aren’t they the sweetest?
Be sure when burning these candles you place them on a plate or something similar in case you get any wax leaks.
Fire Safety
Do keep in mind that these are wider on the top than on the bottom. This would make them a little more tippy than your standard wide based candle. If you do use them as part of a display or centerpiece keep them away from flammable things like dried plants, paper, etc.
Never leave a candle burning unattended.
How to Style and Share Your Candles
These terracotta candle pots are perfect for so many things! You can make a cute DIY candle planter centerpiece, add them to a potting bench or mantle. These also make such cute gifts for gardening friends, mother’s day, etc.
Shop This Post
Always shop locally when you can and support your community. For things you can’t get locally, here are some links for ordering online.
This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. See my full disclosure here.
- Soy Wax
- Pots- I HIGHY recommend you buy pots locally as they often break during shipping.
- Scent Oils
- Cloth Wicks – These exact ones will work well for a 3.5 inch pot. If you change your pot size you will need a different wick.
- Wick Stickers & Holders
- Wood Wicks– Again, these will work for 3.5 inch pots.
