Making natural candles from beef tallow is a simple, old-fashioned project that turns rendered fat into a useful source of light. Beef tallow candles are made with rendered beef fat, cotton wicks, and heat-safe jars or molds, making them a traditional alternative to store-bought candles with artificial colors or synthetic fragrances.
Before making homemade tallow candles, you will need clean rendered fat. If you have never done that before, start with my How to Render Fat to Make Homemade Beef Tallow tutorial. Once you have a batch ready, you can also use it for other traditional projects like Homemade Whipped Tallow Balm or Homemade Tallow Soap.
I like making beef tallow candles because they are simple, practical, and useful to keep on hand. They have a mild, natural scent when the tallow is properly rendered, and they make a good addition to a homestead pantry, emergency lighting supplies, or handmade gift basket.
You can leave these candles plain or add a small amount of essential oil for a light natural scent. Either way, this is one of those projects that helps use more of what you already have.
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What Are Beef Tallow Candles?
Beef tallow candles are candles made from rendered beef fat instead of wax. Before modern candles became common, animal fats like tallow were often used to make candles for the home.
Tallow melts easily, pours well, and sets into a firm candle once cooled. When the tallow is rendered properly, the candle should have a mild, neutral scent.
These natural candles are a good way to use rendered tallow in a practical household project. They are simple, traditional, and do not require a long list of candle-making supplies.
Can beef tallow candles be used as survival food?
Plain rendered beef tallow is food when it is made, handled, and stored for that purpose. But I would not recommend eating a finished candle.
Once tallow has been poured into a jar with a wick, wick tab, essential oils, or other candle supplies, I would treat it as a candle, not food. Essential oils are not always meant to be eaten, and candle-making supplies are not food-safe ingredients.
That being said, this still makes me laugh because a couple of years ago I made plain beef tallow pillar candles with no essential oils. I set them on candle holders on the hearth and was so proud of them. Later, I noticed one had fallen off the holder, so I put it back. The next morning, both candles were completely gone and the candle holders were still standing.
My Great Pyrenees had eaten them while I was outside doing chores.
So, while I do not recommend eating tallow candles, I do recommend keeping them away from hungry dogs!
Quick Look at This Recipe
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cure time: 24–48 hours
Total time: About 1–2 days (including curing)
Yield: 1–3 candles depending on jar size
Burn type: Clean-burning natural candle
Best used for: Emergency lighting, natural home décor, and traditional candle making
Why I Like Making Beef Tallow Candles
Beef tallow candles are one of those old-fashioned projects that remind me how useful simple ingredients can be.
I like that they use rendered beef fat, which means less waste when we are already rendering tallow for other household projects. Once the fat is cleaned and rendered, it can be used for candles, soap, balm, and other traditional recipes.
I also like how simple these homemade tallow candles are. You do not need complicated equipment, artificial fragrance, or special wax blends. You only need tallow, a wick, a heat-safe container, and a little time for the candle to set and cure.
They are useful for emergency lighting, handmade gifts, power outages, and quiet evenings at home.
Ingredients & Supplies for Toxin-Free Candles
- 1 to 2 cups rendered beef tallow, depending on jar size
- Cotton candle wicks, pre-waxed or plain
- Heat-safe glass jars, candle jars, metal tins, or candle molds
- Wick tabs
- Popsicle sticks, pencils, or clothespins to hold the wick in place
- Optional: Essential oils (like lavender, cedarwood, or orange)
Essential oils are optional. When I link to essential oils, I’m linking to the brand I personally use and trust. Young Living offers a 10% share discount on orders of 50 PV or more with code SHAREYL, if you’d like to take advantage of it
Instructions for Homemade Tallow Candles
STEP 1: In a double boiler, slowly melt your rendered tallow until liquid. Once melted and slightly cooled (around 120–130°F / 49–54°C), stir in 10–20 drops of essential oil per cup of tallow.
STEP 2: Fasten the wick in place with a wick tab.
STEP 3: Place the wick in the center of your container. Tape the wick tab or use hot glue to attach it to the bottom of the jar.
STEP 4: Use a popsicle stick to hold the wick in place.
STEP 5: Carefully pour the melted tallow into the container, leaving about ½ inch at the top. Let it cool undisturbed.
STEP 6: Once the candle is fully set (a few hours), trim the wick to about ¼ inch.
STEP 7: Let the candle cure for 24–48 hours for best burn quality.
Tips for Making Natural Candles
- Use clean, well-rendered tallow for the mildest scent.
- If your tallow has a stronger smell, essential oils can help soften it, but they will not completely cover poorly rendered tallow.
- Use a heat-safe container that is meant to handle candle heat.
- Trim the wick to about ¼ inch before each burn.
- Store tallow candles in a cool place because tallow has a lower melting point than many waxes.
- If the jar is wide, you may need a larger wick or more than one wick so the candle burns evenly.
- If the wick is too small, the candle may tunnel down the middle.
- If the wick is too large, the flame may be too big or smoky.
- Never leave a burning candle unattended.
- Keep candles away from children, pets, curtains, paper, and anything that can catch fire.
Can You Use Candle Molds Instead of Jars?
Yes, candle molds can be used for beef tallow candles.
Silicone molds work well, but tallow candles are softer than many wax candles, so they need to be handled gently. Let the candle cure fully before removing it from the mold.
If your home is warm, jar candles may be easier to use and store than molded tallow candles.
Do Beef Tallow Candles Smell?
Beef tallow candles usually have a mild scent if the tallow has been rendered well.
Poorly rendered tallow may have a stronger beef smell, which can carry into the finished candle. For the cleanest scent, render the tallow slowly, strain it well, and remove as many impurities as possible.
If you want a light scent, add essential oils such as lavender, cedarwood, or orange. Just remember that essential oils in tallow candles usually give a soft scent, not a strong commercial candle fragrance.
How to Store Beef Tallow Candles
Store finished tallow candles in a cool, dry place.
Keep them away from direct sunlight, heat, and warm windowsills.
Because tallow softens more easily than many candle waxes, do not store the candles in a hot car, near a stove, or anywhere they may melt.
If you made molded tallow candles, store them in a container or wrap them lightly to keep dust away.
Frequently Asked Questions About Beef Tallow Candles
How long do beef tallow candles burn?
The burn time depends on the size of the candle, the jar, and the wick. Beef tallow candles can burn slowly when the wick is properly sized and trimmed. A larger jar candle will burn longer than a small tin or molded candle.
Are beef tallow candles safe to burn indoors?
Beef tallow candles can be burned indoors when they are made with clean rendered tallow, a proper wick, and a heat-safe container. As with any candle, burn them carefully, keep the wick trimmed, and never leave them unattended.
Do beef tallow candles smell like beef?
They can have a slight natural scent, but properly rendered tallow should smell mild. If the tallow smells strongly before making the candle, the finished candle will likely smell stronger too.
Can I add essential oils to tallow candles?
Yes, essential oils can be added to tallow candles for a light scent. Let the melted tallow cool slightly before stirring them in. Use about 10 to 20 drops per cup of tallow.
What wick should I use for beef tallow candles?
A cotton candle wick works well. The right size depends on the width of your jar or mold. If the wick is too small, the candle may tunnel. If it is too large, the flame may be too big.
Can I make tallow candles in mason jars?
Yes, you can make tallow candles in mason jars as long as the jars are heat-safe and in good condition. Do not use cracked or chipped jars.
Why is my tallow candle tunneling?
Tunneling usually means the wick is too small for the container or the candle was not burned long enough during the first burn. Use a properly sized wick and let the melted pool reach close to the edges of the jar when burning.
Why is my tallow candle smoky?
A smoky candle can happen if the wick is too long or too large. Trim the wick to about ¼ inch before lighting.
Can beef tallow candles melt in storage?
Yes, tallow has a lower melting point than many candle waxes, so tallow candles should be stored in a cool place.
Can I use store-bought beef tallow for candles?
Yes, store-bought beef tallow can be used, but choose the cleanest, highest-quality tallow you can find. Grass-fed beef tallow is a good option if you are purchasing it.
Tried this recipe?
I would love to see it! Tag me on Instagram @idiesfarm and #idiesfarm so I can share your beautiful creation!
How to Make Natural Candles From Beef Tallow
Materials
- 1 to 2 cups rendered beef tallow
- Cotton candle wicks
- Heat-safe glass jars candle jars, metal tins, or candle molds
- Wick tabs
- Popsicle sticks pencils, or clothespins
- Optional: 10 to 20 drops essential oil per cup of tallow
Instructions
- In a double boiler, slowly melt your rendered tallow until liquid.
- Once melted and slightly cooled (around 120–130°F / 49–54°C), stir in 10–20 drops of essential oil per cup of tallow.
- Place the wick in the center of your container. Tape the wick tab or use hot glue to attach it to the bottom of the jar.
- Use a popsicle stick to hold the wick in place.
- Carefully pour the melted tallow into the container, leaving about ½ inch at the top. Let it cool undisturbed.
- Once the candle is fully set (a few hours), trim the wick to about ¼ inch.
- Let the candle cure for 24–48 hours for best burn quality.
Notes
Tips for Making Natural Candles
Use clean, well-rendered tallow for the mildest scent. If your tallow has a stronger smell, essential oils can help soften it, but they will not completely cover poorly rendered tallow. Use a heat-safe container that is meant to handle candle heat. Trim the wick to about ¼ inch before each burn. Store tallow candles in a cool place because tallow has a lower melting point than many waxes. If the jar is wide, you may need a larger wick or more than one wick so the candle burns evenly. If the wick is too small, the candle may tunnel down the middle. If the wick is too large, the flame may be too big or smoky. Never leave a burning candle unattended. Keep candles away from children, pets, curtains, paper, and anything that can catch fire.
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Hi! I’m Stephanie, also known as Idie. Follow me as I tap into the methods of the past and learn how to make my world a little smaller.
