How to Make Massage Candles
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A natural massage candle recipe plus easy DIY instructions. Light them like ordinary candles, and use the melted oils as a warm massage oil. The ingredients include low-temperature burning wax, nourishing oils, and beautifully scented essential oils.
If you’ve not used massage oil candles before, you’re in for a treat. Though they look like traditional candles, they’re actually solid massage oil that melts once heated. Once you light the wick, the oil at the top melts into a pool that you can pour directly into your hand for a massage. It can be a thrilling experience! The melted oils are warm, not hot, and feel silky and relaxing on the skin.
You make massage candles by melting a mixture of hard oils, pouring it into a container with a wick, and letting it cool. Some of the most common oils to use in them are shea butter, cocoa butter, coconut oil, and vegetable wax. You typically use soy wax, which burns at a low temperature.
The liquid oil in this recipe helps lower the melting temperature further and speeds up the massage oil’s melt time. That means the oil pool that forms when the candle is lit will be warm, not hot, and safe for skin contact. You may hesitate to pour the melted oil into your hand the first time, but you’ll be pleasantly surprised at its comfortable temperature.
Massage Candle Recipe
Massage candles are very easy to make, and the recipe below is suitable for beginners. It’s also relatively quick, and once all your ingredients are assembled, it’s just minutes before each massage candle is poured and cooling. Making them is a matter of gently melting the main oils, preparing the wick, pouring the mixture, cooling, and then lighting them for use. You can use massage candles the day after you make them if you wish!
Massage candles make great gifts, but you could save them for Valentine’s Day, your anniversary, or use them immediately. You could even make them into a product or, as a massage therapist, use them to give your clients a spa-like experience.
Bear in mind that while massage candles can look like ordinary candles, they’re completely different. When making them, avoid using beeswax or paraffin wax, as both melt at high temperatures and their melted wax will be very hot. Stick with the listed low melting point ingredients, and if you use food-grade ingredients, the homemade massage candle wax can also be edible. Just in case you want to make them as romantic candles…
Massage Candle Wicks
When sourcing materials for making massage candles, make sure you choose raw wick. It should be 100% natural fiber and not coated or primed in any way. You can buy raw wick by the foot or meter and cut it down to size, depending on the height of the containers you use. There’s a photo of the wick I use for massage candles below. It’s a spool of Wedo VRL 22, and suitable for my candles’ diameter.
Wicks are often the most challenging material to source for massage candles, and you should choose yours with care. Check out a candle-making supply shop and order a product suitable for natural waxes and the diameter of the container you’re using. Some wicks are meant for burning skinny candles and others for wide ones in containers. If in doubt about the wick, check with a candle ingredients supplier.
Containers for Massage Candles
Two types of containers are shown in the photos for this massage candle recipe. The first is standard stainless-steel candle tins, which are easy to find online in different sizes. You can find them in silver, black, and other colors, as well as square or round tins. You can also use glass candle containers or ceramic pourers.
Whatever you choose, just ensure that they’re non-toxic, suitable for skincare, and heat-proof. Even though massage candles burn at lower temperatures, the container can get overly warm if you leave the candle burning for too long. When the candles are finished, you can even reuse the containers—massage candle residue will wash out easily with hot, soapy water.
How to Use Massage Candles
To use the candle, light it and let it burn for 5-15 minutes, or until a sizable pool of warm wax has formed. During this time, you’ll be able to smell the essential oils if you used them. Now blow out the flame, pour the warm oil directly into your hand, and immediately massage it into the skin with your fingertips. The first time you do this, you’ll be surprised at how pleasant the oil temperature is.
One thing to remember is that candles used to scent the home are different from massage candles. As skincare products, you need to ensure that all the ingredients you use are skin-safe. Be especially careful with fragrance oil—most are not natural, and many are not safe for skin. To make a massage candle with an oil that’s safe to eat, choose food-grade oils and omit essential oils. Instead, flavor the massage candle with cosmetic flavor oil such as vanilla, strawberry, or coconut.
Massage candles can be purely therapeutic, but they can also be a sensual experience. If you plan to use massage candles as a personal lubricant, avoid using essential oils, as they can compromise latex and should not be used internally. Oil and condoms are not a recipe for safe play, either.
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Massage Candle Recipe
Equipment
- hot glue gun (or wick stickers)
- 2 sets of wooden chopsticks (not broken apart)
Materials
- 45 g shea butter (refined) 1.6 oz
- 40 g cocoa butter 1.4 oz
- 40 g soy wax 1.4 oz (see notes for making a soy-free version)
- 40 g sweet almond oil 1.4 oz / or jojoba oil
- 1/8 tsp rose geranium essential oil 0.6 ml / 0.56 g / optional
- 1/4 tsp ylang ylang essential oil 1.2 ml / 1.1 g / optional
- 2 candle containers 3.4 oz (100 ml)*
- 2 raw cotton wicks ensure they're unwaxed and for the diameter and height of your chosen container
- 2 candle sustainers metal bits for the end of the wick
Instructions
Assemble the Wicks
- Cut lengths of wick that, when measured from the bottom of your candle container, will stick out by half an inch (1.25 cm).
- After the lengths are cut, feed the wick through the hole of a metal sustainer using a wooden skewer. The sustainer helps hold the wick in place, so you should choose a standard or slightly larger size for this project.
- Slide it all the way down to the end of the wick so that no wick is sticking out of its bottom. Using pliers, squeeze the metal feed at the top of the sustainer over the wick to hold it in place.
Melt the Oils
- Place the butters, sweet almond oil, and soy wax in a saucepan. Place the pan into another larger pan half-filled with simmering water. Float it on top and melt the oils on low heat until they're completely melted. Melting this way, using a double boiler, helps keep the oils from overheating and oxidizing.
- Place the prepared wicks into the oil as they melt. It's important that they absorb some of it before you pour the candles. They'll absorb some of the oil, which primes the wicks and helps them to burn cleaner.
- When the oils are fully melted, take the pan off the heat and set it aside to cool.
- Using the skewer, fish the wicks out of the oil and leave them on a piece of greaseproof paper to cool. Straighten them out as best you can on the paper and leave them there for about five minutes.
- Let the oils cool to about 130°F (54°C).
- While the oils are cooling, center the wicks inside the containers using a dab of hot glue or a wick sticker to secure them to the bottom. Use the unbroken chopsticks to hold the wick centered at the top. For easier cleanup, set the containers on a sheet of greaseproof paper.
Add the Essential Oil
- When the oils have cooled, add in the essential oils and stir well. The blend of rose-geranium and ylang-ylang is beautifully floral and relaxing.
- Gently pour the melted oil into the containers, using the spatula to scrape out every last drop. Fill the oil to 1/4" (6 mm) from the top of the container. Leave the candles to sit for at least 12 hours to harden and cool. The oils will solidify to a creamy tone.
Finishing up
- Trim the wick when the containers are no longer warm to the touch and the oils have hardened. Remove the chopsticks and use a pair of scissors or sharp nail clippers to cut the wick to about 1/4" (5-6 mm) from the candle surface.
- Clean the outside of the containers with a dry cloth, then seal the containers or cover them securely. Massage candles are skincare products, and you should protect the contents from contaminants. You can decorate it simply with a ribbon or use labels or tags of your choice.
- Once poured, use the massage candles within a year, or the closest best-by date of the ingredients you used. Once you begin lighting and using the candle, make sure to finish it within six months.
Love all.your recipes… thank you for sharing. Quick question about the soya wax, can this be replaced with bees wax? Thank you
Thanks so much :) to answer your question, no, that’s not advisable. Beeswax is much hotter when it melts so it could potentially burn your skin.
What would the equivalent amount of food flavoring oil you would use in this recipe? Instead of essential oil.
Hi Laura, not all food-grade flavor oil is skin-safe, so you’ll need to look into that first. Once you’ve found on that is, try using it at 6% of the entire recipe by weight – that’s 10 g (0.35 oz). It may be able to hold up to 9% but you’ll need to experiment.
I want to thank you for your assistance and this post. It’s been great.
Hi Tanya,
I have been using your recipe for some time now and I was going to print it with different quantities and I’ve noticed that it looks like you’ve changed the quantities.
Is this due to something you’ve noticed or is it just an adjustment?
I beleived to be able to print diferent quantities like 1x, 2x, 3x, 4, 5x and so one.
Now when I see 2x is double the recipe I’ve printed out.
Am I missing something?
Thank you in advance! I love your products! And all the info you provide! I’ve learned a lot with you and still do!
Regards, mj
Hi MJ, I’ve only ever had the option in the recipe card to do 1x, 2x, and 3x – it’s the functionality of the software I use. For larger batches, you’ll need to multiply amounts manually. Sorry about that! Best wishes, Tanya
Thank You Tanya!
This looks awesome but have you ever tried a recipe without soy wax? I’ve been trying to find one.
Coconut wax would be a good replacement.
I made this recipe today. It set up fairly quick in my home and I tested it in a clean uncontaminated wax warmer. Worked beautifully! I worked into my legs after a shower. I used small molds, and I was able to pop one out and set inside the warmer. I need wicks, so this idea worked.
Cool massage candle recipe !!
Thanks
Amazing and I’m using it as a hand moisturiser at my office
Hi, how long do you leave it to rest before using it? Is there some wait time like with other candles?
No rest time, aside from allowing the massage oil candles to cool and harden, is necessary for this recipe.
Hello, thanks for post. I noticed recipe said for hand salve , is it for massage candle or hand salve? Also what soy wax do you use that has no scent . The one I buy is all natural but still has a scent to it . Thank you !
It’s a massage candle recipe :)
Hello! What is the best skin-safe soy wax to use for someone who has very sensitive skin and is interested in using the massage candle as a form of skin care? I And is it possible to make a massage candle without using wax at all?
Hi Rin, without soy wax (or another low-temperature burning vegetable wax) I don’t think the candle would burn very well. For the safest soy wax for skincare, choose one that’s marketed for skincare from a skincare ingredients supplier. Which country do you live in?
Hi Tanya, thanks for sharing all this content. I would like to know which oil can you use instead of almond oil to make the recipe edible with a nice flavor?
Hi Karen, any oil that is liquid at room temperature will do! If you’re making an edible recipe, make sure to leave the essential oils out too.
I love candles and massage too! This is a great idea, love it :)
Thank you!
Hi can i use rapeseed wax instead of soy wax?
Technically yes, but I’ve not tried making the recipe in that way before. The final firmness may be the same, or it may be different. If you try, I’d love to hear how it came out!
Hi Tanya, thanks for your reply. When I try rapeseed wax I will let you know however I made the massage oil candle for a birthday present and one for me to try it out – with soy wax, shea butter, argan oil and skin safe fragrances (vanilla and cinnamon). It came really good and gets the skin soft the smell is also nice. I would like to use wooden wicks I believe that there might be wooden wicks good for soy wax and pouring. I hope to try and see which one works best. I am also struggling to find pouring jars with a handle and a lid.
Can I change the soy wax for beeswax? And if is possible , if the quantity is the same?
Changing the soy wax to beeswax could make this recipe dangerous. Soy wax melts at a much lower temperature than beeswax so isn’t hot on the skin. Beeswax melts at a much higher temperature (even mixed with other oils) and might burn if you use these as massage oil candles.
Wow! Thanks for answering that! I was about to make mine with beeswax!!😳😳
Hey!
Which form of shea butter is better, refined or unrefined?
Thanks
Up to you! Unrefined is darker in color and has a distinctive scent though. Not everyone’s favorite scent either, so see if you can smell it first before buying a large amount?
Hi I’d like to make hemp candles , I’d like you use hemp oil, soy wax and shear butter , would I need to use anything else please.??
Where do you get your Vitiman E oil?
From a cosmetic ingredients supplier.
Hi, I was wondering if I could use other essential oils instead of the geranium and Palmarosa? Did you use these because they smelled better with the cocoa and shea butter? Thank you :-)
You can use other essential oils but it’s difficult to explain how much of each you could use. There are so many variants, and each essential oil will have a different maximum usage rate for leave-on skincare products. Using too much can lead to skin irritation, which is why it’s very important to follow recipe amounts when making DIY skincare.
I was wondering, can I use different fragrance oils other than the essential oils listed? If so, would the measurements still be the same?
You could but you would need to use skin-safe fragrances — some are meant only for candles and infusers and will burn your skin. Each fragrance will have recommendations for quantity so check with the manufacturer.
can i use beeswax instead of soy? If so at what temperature shall i mix essential oils and vitamin E. I think beeswax suits to all types of skin. Thanks for your tutorial.
I have the same question..can you use beeswax?
Thank you!
You should not use beeswax in this recipe since it burns hot and can burn your skin. Stick with soy wax since it has a much lower melt temperature :)
You actually can do it with beeswax, but the quantities will be totally different, from soy wax, because you need the beeswax just to hard the candle, so you’ll increase the quantity of butters. I’m a specialist in massage candle in Brazil!
Hello!
Thank you for sharing this information! It is very helpful!
I already used your recipe and I got a really satisfying masaj candle. It feels really good on the skin and it leaves it smooth.
But I was wondering if I can use olive wax or coconut wax instead of soya?
Thank you! ?
Absolutely, though you may need to tinker with the recipe to get the right amount. You want the final candle firm when at room temperature.
Hello! I love this and will be trying my first massage oil candles very soon!
I would like to make something with a more sensual scent. I’ve heard ylang-ylang, patchouli, sweet orange, jasmine, etc, have an aphrodisiac effect. If I tinker around with those, is that OK…as long as the essential oil amount stays the same as you listed (I believe it was 1.8 ml)?
Thank you in advance!
Generally speaking, yes, aside from sensitizing essential oils. Keep it on the low side with citrus types at 1% of your recipe or under.
HI
I was wondering if these candles burn as long as a standard candle? I have been wanting to make candles with essential oils but I know the scent does not last long when burning.
These are not standard candles and are not meant to be burned as one. You blow out the flame as soon as a pool of wax is formed so that you can use it as warm massage oil.
Hi there, I hope you are well :)
I just wanted to ask a question with regards to the massage candle if thats ok. I really love this recipe and can’t wait to make it but was just wondering if the Shea butter is essential? can it be substituted with coconut oil or just extra cocoa butter?
Thank you so much for such lovely inspiration :)
Hi Emma, for my recipe it is essential. You’re welcome to tinker with it to try to omit the shea but I can’t guarantee the results. Best of luck!
You can try substituting mango butter for shea butter. It’ has a less greasy feeling on the skin than shea. Coconut oil is not a good substitute for shea butter as it melts at a much lower temperature than shea or mango butter. Cocoa butter isn’t of the same hardness / texture as she or mango butter either.
Why are coco, shea, and soy used? Can simply soy be used in lieu of all of them? Asking because I don’t want various partially used ingredients laying around
Soy wax is not absorbed into the skin whereas the others are. If you use too much soy then your skin will end up being covered by a thin layer of wax.
Hi I was wondering if there is something I can use other than soy wax and get the same results also if I wanted to use other essential oils for different scents would it be the same measurements?
I imagine that you could use other types of plant waxes including olive wax, hemp wax, and loads of others. If you end up trying one, please let us know how it goes.
Thank you! Another quick one I’m in the US and seem to only find soy wax I did find coconut but it’s GMO my Google searching skills aren’t the best could you offer some direction to where I can find other plant based waxes?
Can you use jojoba oil instead of sweet almond oil?
You could and it would be lovely, but it would be quite a bit more expensive. You could create a mix of the two though if you were interested. The almond oil in this recipe can be substituted for any other (relatively) light liquid oil such as sunflower or olive oils.
Why was the almond oil used along with the essential oils but in a different order? I think I know why but I want to clarify before I start my candle making progress.
I’m not sure what you’re asking? All of the ingredients are listed together.
If I add dye to the candles will if transfer onto the skin during the massage
Probably so I wouldn’t recommend it.
Hi there,
This is my first time making candles. I had gotten a massage candle and really liked it.
I made these with organic soy beads and shea butter, and measured carefully. I ended up using a “nature’s truth” essential oil “calming” blend that was a mix of orange, tangerine, ylang ylang and chamomile. I used “coated” wicks for candle making, beeswax. And when the candle was almost set I sprinkled some dried rose petals on top.
The finished product feels great, it’s not too hot and works into my skin beautifully.
But it does smell burnt. Do you think the oils were still too hot when I added the essential oil, or is it because of the rose petal sprinkles, maybe they are burning? Or the wick material?
Thanks for any advice, I’m super excited to continue learning how to make candles :)
Essential oils do have a characteristic scent when used in candles. It’s more prevalent in ordinary candles than massage candles, though. It could be the wick you’re using – get raw wick and hand-dip it so that it absorbs the skin-safe oils in the massage candle rather than the paraffin wax it’s probably coated with. Also, are the petals burning in the flame? If not, it’s unlikely to be the rose petals.
I had gotten an organic hemp wick that was coated in beeswax. I will try raw and oil it, though.
No none of the petals were burning.
Thanks!!
Good luck!
Massage oil provide all benefits of a massage, in the comfort of your home without having to visit a spa or massage parlor. Thus helps save time and money.
I’ve always wanted to make candles. Thanks so much for this post!
You’re very welcome Minnie :) Keep in mind that these are Massage Candles though — they’re like a hot oil massage rather than your standard candle.