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DIY Pumpkin Spice Candle in a Real Pumpkin

Without a doubt, pumpkin spice has taken the fall world by storm. I love the way it smells, instantly making me feel cozy and ready for the sweater weather season. This pumpkin spice candle is the embodiment of the seasonal favourite, filling your home with the signature scent in the cutest DIY pumpkin container.

DIY pumpkin spice candle

Just about everywhere you turn in autumn, you will find pumpkin spice everything. I’m not just talking about coffee, either. From lip balm to car diffusers, to yes, candles, pumpkin spice is in the air! You can easily make your own DIY pumpkin spice candle using a signature blend of oils and a tiny pumpkin itself.

A candle burning is much more up my alley when it comes to pumpkin spice. The warm notes of cinnamon, ginger, clove, cardamom, and orange are perfect for the fall. They fill the house with coziness and allow you to settle into shorter days and longer nights.

It’s a scent combination that doesn’t feel as comfortable in the spring and summer, so enjoy it while you can. This pumpkin spice candle is a celebration that is meant to be enjoyed before the season passes.

This pumpkin candle is one of many fun and unique candle projects that come from my book, Make & Give Home Candle Making. All of the 12 artisan-inspired projects are designed to help you learn your own candle-making techniques so you can make your own beautiful creations.

Thank you to Leisure Arts for providing these photos of the pumpkin spice candles from the book.

pumpkin spice candles

What is in Pumpkin Spice?

When making the best smelling pumpkin spice candle out there, the best way to achieve enough fragrance is by using essential oils (no, not the actual pumpkin spice mixture you get at the grocery store!). For my pumpkin candles, I use an essential oil blend of cardamom, orange, cinnamon bark, clove, and ginger.

Can You Use Essential Oils in Candles?

Candle scent is differentiated by hot throw (the scent that a candle gives off when burned) and cold throw (the scent that an unlit candle gives off). Both essential oils and fragrance oils can be used to scent your candles, however, I prefer essential oils.

Essential oils are natural scents extracted from plants and they are sometimes better tolerated by people with scent sensitivities or allergies. Used in aromatherapy, they have different healing effects (such as relaxation or focus) being ascribed to the aromatic diffusion.

Essential oils typically have expected cold throw but can be inconsistent with hot throw as each oil type and oil manufacturer will produce oils with differing qualities.

This is because some essential oils will evaporate at the high temperatures needed for binding the scent with the wax. When the candle cools, the scent could evaporate and leave the candle with very little scent. So when purchasing your essential oils, look for ones of high quality or designed specifically for use with candles.

DIY pumpkin spice candle

How to Make Pumpkin Spice Scented Candles

Now that you have the pumpkin spice candle fragrance all figured out, the next part is coming up with the cutest container. I love to use actual tiny pumpkins to make my candles.

These pumpkin candles are ideal for entertaining or give as gifts, as they last as long as the pumpkin. Since pumpkin spice is such a short-lived scent for the fall, it works out well!

When using perishables as a candle container, it’s best to choose the fruits before they completely ripen, so they last the longest time possible after pouring the candle.

Make the candle just before you give it as a gift or use it at a party. The wax will seal the open flesh and prevent some decomposition. Use a wood slice or a plate under the candle to protect the surface below and never leave a burning candle unattended.

There are a whole host of wonderful natural containers like citrus rinds, apples, gourds (like these festive tealight candles), and pumpkins that can be used to make a container candle. So let your imagination go wild!

3 gourds that have candles burning in the middle of them

 

DIY Pumpkin Spice Candle

Makes one 8 oz (225g) candle

Usher in autumn with the signature pumpkin spice scent. This pumpkin candle project is meant to be used soon after it is made because the container is a real pumpkin, and therefore perishable.

Materials

For exact measurements, see the instruction card below.

3 pumpkin candles on wood slices

Equipment

Make It!

Prepare the pumpkin as if you were making a small jack-o-lantern: use a paring knife to cut into the pumpkin and remove the top; then use a tablespoon or melon baller to scrape out the seeds and fibers.

scooping out pumpkin guts

Weigh the soy wax and add it to a double boiler on medium heat.

When the melted wax has reached the specified temperature for adding essential oil (e.g. 160°F – see the instructions that came with your wax), add the essential oils. Stir well to bind.

Cool the wax to 140°F and pour it into the pumpkin.

pumpkin candle with hot wax

When the candle wax starts to turn opaque, insert the wick. Use the chopsticks to hold the wick in place as the cancel cools. Wrap the candle in a towel and place it in a warm room to slowly set.

pumpkin candle cooling

Allow the candle to cure for 24 hours undisturbed. Once cured, trim the wick with scissors to ¼ inch above the surface of the wax.

mini pumpkin with candle in the middle of it

Make this pumpkin candle the day before you intend to gift it and with the understanding that the recipient will use it soon after receiving it. Place the pumpkin on a wood slice or a pretty ceramic plate and wrap it with a linen bow. Attach a little tag with coordinating baker’s twine.

pumpkin spice candle

More Ways to Add Scent to Your Home:

pumpkin spice candle
Print Pin

DIY Pumpkin Spice Candle

This recipe makes one 8 oz pumpkin spice candle in a miniature pumpkin container.
Cost $18

Equipment

Supplies

Instructions

  • Carve out the inside of the pumpkin like you would a jack-o-lantern. Use the paring knife to cut open into the pumpkin and then use the melon baller to scrape out the guts.
  • Use the kitchen scale to weigh your soy wax. On medium heat, add it to the double boiler.
  • Wait until the wax has reached the required melting temperature to add the essential oils (it should say on the package). Add in the essential oils and stir well.
  • Let the wax cool to 140°F and then pour it inside the pumpkin.
  • When the candle wax turns opaque in color, insider the wick and use the chopsticks to hold it in place. To slowly set the candle, wrap the candle in a towel and place it in a warm room.
  • Let the candle sit for 24 hours. Trim the wick to 1/4 inch above the wax.
  • Gift right away as the pumpkin is perishable. To protect the surface, place a decorative wood slice or ceramic plate below the candle while burning.

Comments

  1. This says to see the instruction card for exact measurements, but there is no instruction card. This craft is hard to follow and execute without any measurements.

    Reply
    • Hi! We have done a website update and there are a few glitches. Working on it to be restored soon! Thank you for letting me know.

      Reply
  2. Thank you so much! Can’t afford to buy candles anymore. Bless you and Happy Fall, 100 degrees here tomorrow, lol, not!

    Reply

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