Naturally Scented Candle Recipe: Lush Earth

When setting out to craft a new autumn scented candle this year, I truly didn’t know the direction I wanted to take. After a half of a dozen attempts to find the right vibe, I decided to do something I don’t often do. I opted to craft a single-oil candle. There are some aromas that can be the star of the show and need no further support, and one of these is oak moss! This simpler, yet aromatically perfect recipe was exactly what was beckoning to be made.

What is Oak Moss?

Oak Moss (Evernia prunastri) is a bit of a confusing name. Not only does it grow on many trees other than oak, but it’s also not a moss! Evernia prunastri is actually a lichen, and while it does grow on oak trees, it can often be found on other deciduous and coniferous trees as well.

It's mostly used in the fragrance industry for its sensuous aroma and fixative qualities. A fixative is an ingredient used to help a scent last a long time. This can be a specific oil itself, like in this case, or it can be an additive to help extend the fragrance of a blend. In candle making, this is a very desirable quality.

What Does Oak Moss Smell Like?

Oak moss smells earthy, woody, sweet, and amber-like. Many people also describe it as sensuous with some leathery and musky notes. It’s truly one that every natural fragrance creator should have in their toolkit.

Fun fact: French perfumery categorizes fragrances into 6 main families: Citrus, Floral, Amber, Chypre, Woody, and Fougère. Oak moss is a core part of two of them: Chypre and Fougère.

*Oak moss can cause skin sensitivity in certain individuals, so when trying it as a perfume, it’s recommended to use a small amount to see if you are a person with that sensitivity. In candles, this hasn’t been known to be an issue.

Why Use Oak Moss in a Candle?

As you may have gathered, the aromatics of this special oil are very grounding and sensuous. It’s also well-balanced enough that you don't need other ingredients and offers a long-lasting fragrance. 

How to Make Scented Candles: Lush Earth Scent

Makes one 7-8 oz. candle.

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup organic beeswax pastilles or grated beeswax
• 1/4 cup organic, refined coconut oil
• Approximately 1 1/2- 2 tsp. oak moss absolute (depending on how strong you prefer)
• 1/4 tsp. cinnamon powder (brown), anatto seed (orange), or alkanet root (red) (optional for color)

Directions

1. Pour water into double boiler base and put metal double boiler insert or glass measuring cup in. Bring water to a simmer.
2. Add beeswax and coconut oil to the double boiler insert and heat until melted.
3. Insert a candy or instant-read thermometer in the center of the mixture to monitor temperature. If you are working over an open flame, it's important to know the flashpoints in order to avoid dangerous combustion, particularly for beeswax. The flashpoint for beeswax is 200° F, coconut oil has a flashpoint near 350° F, and carnauba wax doesn't combust until about 570° F.
4. For beeswax candles, once melted, dip a wick end into the melted wax (this only works for beeswax) and place in the center of your jar or tin. Press to the bottom of the container (use a utensil for pressure if needed). The beeswax will solidify and hold your wick in place.
5. Center and suspend the wick in the middle of the container with chopsticks. 
6. While the melted wax blend is still on the heat source, right before you pour into your candle containers, add the oak moss absolute.
7. If you want to add colorful shapes to the top, follow these steps.  If not, skip to step 8.   If you would like to add some decorative wax shapes to the top, I would like to pour abotu 2 Tbsp. of mixture into some out in a separate container and add color additive of choice.  Let infuse for a few minutes and strain .Then pout into molds of choice and allow to cool fully. 
8. Stir well and pour into containers, leaving roughly 1/2 inch of room at the top.
9. Set aside to solidify.
10. Once the wax appears to be solid (this can take 30 to 60 minutes), you may notice that some candles have caved in slightly on the top. You can reheat any extra wax/oil mixture and top them off, leaving 1/4 inch of room at the top.
11. Once completely cooled (overnight is good), remove wick holders and snip wicks to 1/2 inch.
12. Light and enjoy!