DIY Real Pumpkin Candle

You can tell I love Fall around here. My last several posts, which you can find here, here, here, and here, have centered around the sights and smells of Fall. Today, I am still enjoying Fall, because I decided to turn a pumpkin into a lovely smelling homemade candle. 

I love store bought candles. My favorite candle of all time is apple strudel by Circle E Candles. However, this version is a natural alternative that is a great gift idea for your Fall-loving friends, or as a part of a beautiful table centerpiece at Thanksgiving.

*This post contains affiliate links. For more information, please see my disclosures here. 

For the homemade pumpkin candle you will need:

Pumpkin. The smaller, the better. The less ripe, the longer the candle will last.

Knife

NOT PICTURED. Recycled glass container to melt the wax in. I used an old pickle jar that I cleaned out thoroughly.

2 cups natural beeswax pellets.

Candle wick with a metal bottom.

Melon scooper. To remove the pumpkin guts.

Straw or wooden skewer to hold the candle wick in place.

1/2 Tbsp ground or whole cloves

1 Tbsp ground cinnamon

1 Tbsp pure vanilla extract

NOT PICTURED. Plastic spoon to stir the hot wax and spices.

NOT PICTURED. Painter's tape to secure the straw to the pumpkin.

Some housekeeping before we start: 

• Dependent on the ripeness of the pumpkin its shelf life is 1-2 weeks.

• A pumpkin can catch on fire. Never burn the candle unattended.

• The candle making process is very messy and dangerous. The wax is VERY hot and should not be done with children in attendance.

Step 1: Cut the pumpkin 1/3 of the way down. Keep the stem for future use to close the pumpkin with, or throw the stem away. 

Step 2: Remove the pumpkin guts with your hand. Save the pumpkin seeds for later to roast and place in your yogurt, or to eat alone for snack time. 

Step 3: Once the majority of the guts are removed, take the melon scraper and continue to remove the guts from the inside sides of the pumpkin. 

Step 4: Once the inside of the pumpkin is clean, nestle the metal part of the wick at the bottom and center of the pumpkin.  Wrap the wick around the straw, and then let the straw sit on top of the pumpkin in preparation for the melted wax. Keep the straw in place by securing it to the pumpkin with painter's tape. 

Set the hollow pumpkin aside. Now it is time to make the scented wax. 

For the candle I followed The Happier Homemaker's DIY Autumn Cinnamon Spiced Candle recipe. 

Step 5: For this project you will use 2 cups of beeswax pellets. However, we will melt 1 cup of wax at a time.

The wax is very hard to remove, so use a glass jar specifically for candle making, or use a recycled glass jar (like I did). 

Take 1 cup of wax pellets and place in the glass jar. Place the jar with pellets in the microwave. IMPORTANT: Place a paper towel over the jar to keep your microwave clean. Microwave for 2 minutes. Then microwave at 1 minute intervals. Once the first cup has melted, place another cup of wax pellets into the jar and continue to microwave in 1 minute increments. Like the tutorial, my wax melted after 5 total minutes in the microwave. 

Step 6: While the wax is melting mix the cloves, cinnamon and vanilla extract together. You can do any dry spices you like to add fragrance to the candle. 

Step 7: Once the wax is fully melted pour the spices in. Use a disposable spoon or the wooden skewer to mix the spices into the wax. CAREFUL: This process is very hot. Keep children away. 

Step 8: After the wax and spices are fully mixed, use an oven mitt and pour the wax mixture into the pumpkin. Ensure the wick stays in the center of the pumpkin. 

Step 9: Let the candle sit for 5 hours. Once the wax is dry, trim the wick to about 1/2 inch from the top of the candle. 

Step 10: Enjoy!

I hope you enjoy your own homemade version of the Fall season's favorite scents.