Learn how to make coffee candles with vanilla beans and whole coffee beans. You'll get the perfect French vanilla flavor without the headache—and the scent is so good you kind of want to eat it.
Candle-making is one of those deceptively easy crafts. All you do is melt and pour! So it's fun to mix things up by adding texture (like with ice) or using a fun container (like a wine bottle).
I find the smell of most candles overwhelming—does anyone else get a headache just walking into a Yankee Candle store? I loved the smell of these, very warm and homey but not cloying.
Coffee Candle Supplies
For a stronger scent, you can add a few drops of French vanilla fragrance oil or use a combination of coffee (my new favorite scent!) and vanilla essential oils.
- 4 ounces soy wax chips
- 1 candle wick
- Whole coffee beans
- Whole vanilla beans, chopped
- French vanilla fragrance oil
- 100 drops coffee essential oil
- 100 drops vanilla essential oil
- Candle containers
French Vanilla Candle Instructions
Step 1 | Melt wax
Using a double boiler or a microwave-safe bowl, melt the wax. The easiest way to melt the wax is to fill up a clean tin can and set it into a saucepan with an inch or so of water over medium heat but you can also melt the wax in the oven or a crockpot.
As the wax melts, add more chips if they didn't all fit initially.
Step 2 | Attach wick
Glue the wick in place at the bottom of the candle container or just hold it in place with your hand (at the top, of course).
Step 3 | Add fragrance
When the wax is melted, add the fragrance or essential oil. For essential oil candles, use 200 drops of EO for every 4 ounces of candle wax to get a noticeable scent.
Step 3 | Add coffee and vanilla beans
Add a few whole coffee beans and chop up 1–2 vanilla beans for a natural coffee scent. Pour in a small layer of wax and add a layer of coffee beans and vanilla beans.
Step 4 | Add remaining wax
Fill the rest of the cup with wax. Stir the wax with a chopstick to distribute the bean pieces, if desired.
Step 5 | Let wax harden + trim wick
Add a few coffee beans on top, then let the wax harden and trim the wick.
Substitutions
Wax — I love chopping up an old unscented candle and reusing the wax, but that's challenging here because you don't want to mix a bunch of different scents. Soy wax chips are probably the easiest to use because they have no smell, but beeswax would also work.
Scent — For a different coffee house flavor, try chai candles or experiment with different fall essential oil blends.
Wicks — You can also use wooden wicks.
Candle containers — You can raid your kitchen to find pretty bowls or cups. We filled up several of the tinted glass cups that were hanging around. They make lovely table decorations!
Photos by Ana Stanciu
French Vanilla Coffee Candles
Equipment
- Double boiler or microwave-safe bowl
- Small bowl or tin
Materials
Instructions
- Using a double boiler or a microwave-safe bowl, melt the wax. Glue the wick in place at the bottom of the cup or just hold it in place with your hand (at the top, of course).
- Pour in a small layer of wax and add a layer of coffee beans and vanilla beans. Then fill the rest of the cup with wax. You can stir the wax with a chopstick to distribute the bean pieces if desired.
- Drop a few coffee beans on top and let the wax fully harden, then trim the wick.
Erica | Autoimmune Rebel says
Oh yes, this is exactly the kind of candle I want to smell. I mean, can everything just smell like coffee all the time? Such a great idea and what an awesome gift this would make!
Doc says
Great! Do you have any other wonderful ideas of ways I can start unsafe fires inside my house?!
mobdro apk says
Whoaa! these look adorable! Thank you for share awesome.
mobdro says
With the holidays approaching and pumpkin spice season in full swing, I decided to share some of my favorite DIY ways to make your house smell good. From warm vanilla coffee bean to a holiday simmering potpourri recipe.
Angela says
Question ~
This post was made in November of 2015, but you have comments/questions from as far back as September of 2013. How can that be? Was it reposted st a further date?
Next question~there have been numerous attempts by others to get you attention to answer the questions they have. Why...over the course of almost 5 years, have you not responded to ANY of them? You've just left us hear scratching our heads! These are legitimate questions!?!?
I just don't get it. Nor do I follow anyone that posts something and never, ever checks back in to see if anyone has any comments or questions or even suggestions...
Shame...I was just beginning to like this site ?☹️?
Leilany says
Can you use vanilla extract instead of the bean
Lisa says
Goodwill is a great source for pretty teacups and other containers to make candles in. You can also pick up a bowl to melt the wax in so you don't have to worry about messing up one of your own.
Lizzie says
The coffee beans catch fire!!! Do not use make this candle! I made this candle the night before Mother's Day, and now I have no decent gift because it catches on fire!!!
Lizzie says
Sorry for the typo.
Tabassum says
Can we use vanilla extract instead? Vanilla beans aren't available where I live. Thanks.
Adam says
Was wondering if you know how long they last before molding or going bad? Would love to use as a decoration.
Marlene says
Can we use coffee grinds because coffee beans may burn??
Scendy Candece says
Great ideas Stephanie !!! I will try these candles.
Thanks !!
ali grace | cookies and grace says
I've been wanting to try making candles. I had no idea it was so easy!
Sydney says
I cannot wait to try this out! It looks like a craft I can actually do!!
Kat says
Great idea!! Thank you
sandy says
I was wondering if you could use lavender instead of coffee beans...also could you grind up the coffee beans so they don't catch on fire?
Evelyn says
They look pretty! But I've made candle with coffee beans and the beans would catch on fire, leaving it less than safe. So just a warning to be careful to those who try this!
Lerie says
Won't the beans catch fire or create a lot of smoke?
Christine says
This is exactly the page I was looking for! Thanks for posting. Do you have any idea how long a certain size burns for?
destiny singh says
Me too:-)
Christine says
I'm definitely going to make this candle! But I was wondering, could vanilla extract be used instead of vanilla bean?
Mandi says
I was wondering this same thing, and my husband says it should be fine as the vodka is only 80 proof and should not catch fire.
denise stine says
a nice gift idea also !!
VeAnn says
Do you chop the vanilla bean whole? Or scoop out the inside, then chop the 'shell'?
wendy says
I bet these smell amazing - Coffee and Vanilla have to be two of my favourite smells... and as for vanilla coffee to drink, yum!
danielle says
I love this! I wanted to let you know that I featured this today in my "What I Bookmarked This Week" post - stop by and see!
gerbermom says
Thanks Danielle! I'll definitely stop by & check it out!
Lana | Sweet As Lime says
Such a great idea. Perfect scent for fall!
gerbermom says
Thanks Lana! There's something so cozy about the smell of coffee, right?
Angie@Angie's Recipes says
What a fantastic idea Stephanie! Love the aroma of coffee!
Claire @ Claire K Creations says
What a great idea Stephanie! I made some candles a while ago and thought it was a great easy craft idea. Now I'll have to look out for some cute little containers for them.
Kiersten @ Oh My Veggies says
The smell of vanilla beans is the best smell ever, but you're right, the store-bought vanilla candles can be so cloying. I think I'd like these much better!
Erica says
These are beautiful! I love the texture the beans add to the candles. I bet they smell yummy!
Miss @ Miss in the Kitchen says
Showing this to my mom, she loves making candles and you make it look so easy!
Annabel says
Cute! I love making candles; I'm definitely going to try making some with coffee beans!
Laicie / A Thousand Threads says
Oh yum my favorite scent!!
Meg @ Beard and Bonnet says
I love this idea!! Thanks so much for sharing. French vanilla is my favorite.