When it comes to setting a soothing, calming mood, candles are one of the best tools. With flickering candlelight in the background, any activity suddenly becomes more romantic and idyllic. A warm bath, a cozy dinner, a classic novel, or a favorite movie are all more enjoyable with the help of a candle. At Willow and Sage, we love how simple making candles at home can be — and we love sharing that knowledge with our readers. There are so many different scents, sizes, and types of candles to make, and each one has its own purpose. Here, we share a few of our favorite candle-related articles from previous issues. Be sure to check out the latest edition of The Candle Issue, hitting newsstands on December 1st. And remember, never leave a lit candle unattended!

A Touch of Tissue Candleholders

by Christen Hammons from Willow and Sage Summer 2022

You Will Need

• • Scissors
• • Tissue paper
• • Candleholder
• • Glue/Tape
• • Twine
• • Fabric scrap
• • Dried baby’s breath

To Make

Cut the tissue paper to the appropriate size, and wrap it around the candleholder, securing it in place with glue or tape. When the candle is lit, a beautiful glow will shine through the tissue paper. For a nice finishing touch, wrap a bit of twine around the candleholder, securing a fabric scrap and dried baby’s breath in place.

Naturally Simple: Ways to Reuse Candle Containers

by Kristy Doubet Haare from Willow and Sage Spring 2022

1. 1.Reuse Candle Jars as Tealight Holders

If homemade tealights weren’t practical enough, you can reuse a candle jar as a tealight holder. Yep, remove the wax, clean out the jar, pop in a tealight, and it’s back to being a candle.

2. 2. Reuse Candle Jars for Bath Salts

A great way to reuse a candle jar with a lid is to store homemade bath salts. I love to experiment with combining botanicals, salts, herbs, and essential oils into bath soaks, and this recipe is for all wine lovers.

Seasonal Acorn Candles

by Cat Seixas from Willow and Sage Autumn 2021

You Will Need

• • Beeswax/Vegan alternative
• • Double boiler
• • Acorn caps: wide & deep
• • Bowl w/ sand
• • Wick

To Make

Melt the beeswax in a double boiler. While it’s melting, place the acorn caps facing up in a bowl of sand; this will help them stay in place as the wax hardens. Trim the wick into tiny pieces, a little longer than the height of the caps. Carefully pour the melted wax into each cap one at a time, and quickly place a wick piece in the middle, holding for a little bit until secure. Let them harden and cool before removing from the sand, and you’re done!

These candles have a very short lifespan: 10–15 minutes depending on the depth of the acorn cap you’re using. Even though I recommend you use them floating in a bowl of water, remember to keep an eye out as they burn, and never leave them unattended. To turn these little candles into part of your own ritual on a Samhain’s eve, make a warm cup of herbal tea and slowly light some candles, letting them wander on the water’s surface, as you reflect upon what’s passed and set to rest.

Discover a treasure trove of candle recipes in The Candle Issue Volume 3.

Danielle Williams is the managing editor for Willow and Sage, The Natural Home Issue, Mingle, and Art Quilting Studio. She lives with her growing family in Orange County, California.