Learn how to make fire starters from soy wax that are beautiful, eco-friendly and have a burn time of over 25 minutes.

There’s nothing more comforting in the winter than a warm fire crackling in the wood stove or fireplace with the musky smell of fire wood permeating throughout the room. I vividly remember standing right in front of our wood stove on those cold Midwest nights as the fire blazed inside with the back of my shirt lifted so the heat would warm my entire body.

Growing up it wasn’t my job to start a fire on a regular basis, but when I did have to, I always had the hardest time. We’d have kindling and old junk mail to get the fire started, but it would never burn long enough to get a roaring fire. So more often then not, I’d have to deal with the cold until my parents got home to help me. I wish that I would have had these fire starters to help me back then! Not only are they beautiful to look at, but they have a burn time of 25+ minutes, which is more than enough time to get a fire really going.

There are so many ways to make fire starters with many different things you probably have lying around the house. My version is super easy to make and because they’re so beautiful, they make great gifts. They look great sitting in a pretty jar near the fire or can be packaged up and gifted to your friends and family! And personally, you can have these ready to go in your emergency kit, just in case.

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FAQs

Why use a fire starter?

Using a homemade wax fire starter is a more eco-friendly way of starting a fire than using lighter fluid or petroleum based starters, which give off high levels of carbon dioxide when they burn.

What kind of wax can I use to make homemade fire starters?

You can use any type of wax you have. This is a great way to use up old candle wax from those mostly used candles you have laying around, but you can also use beeswax, soy wax, wax melts or even buy some cheap candles from places like the Dollar Tree to melt down and use. Be aware that most of the candles found at cheaper prices are usually made of paraffin wax, which is petroleum based and can be harmful when burned.

What else can I use to make fire starters?

There are many things you can add to these fire starters that are virtually free, including dryer lint, cotton balls dried wood shavings, et cetera. Many people will also use paper egg cartons instead of muffin cups to hold the wax and various other additions. You just want to make sure your starters have some sort of wick component so they can be lit.

Can I use fire starters to start any fire?

Wax fire starters CAN NOT be used in any gas powered stove or fireplace. It can however be used in wood burning fire places, wood stoves and even camp fires!

How do you use fire starters?

To use a fire starter, add it underneath stacked wood or kindling then light it with a lighter or long match and allow it to burn. It will start slow, but eventually burns strongly, which will help ignite the kindling.

Materials Needed

Wax: Any type of wax will work to make fire starters. This is a great project to recycle old candle wax. You can also use beeswax, soy wax or paraffin wax, if you’re okay with that. Paraffin wax is petroleum based though, so I prefer to stick to more natural forms of wax. I like to purchase soy wax in bulk, but you can find plain candles for cheap at the Dollar Tree and WalMart. You can also use scented or non-scented candles, whichever you prefer. Alternatively you can create your own scents with essential oils.

Aromatics: This is optional, but adding aromatics can enhance the experience of burning these wax fire starters. I like to add a cinnamon stick and dried orange, but you could add sprigs of pine, cranberries, cloves, et cetera.

Wood: For the wood component, I like to add small pine cones, but you could use wood shavings or sticks.

Wick: You’ll need a wick to be able to light. I like to cut up candle wicks I find on Amazon. However, you could use wood in place of the wick or even find wooden wicks.

How to Make Fire Starters

Tools You May Need:

Glass jar
Paper muffin liners
Muffin tin

Materials Needed:

Directions

Add soy wax to jar and melt it in the microwave. Alternatively, add old candle jars to a large pot, add water to the pot and turn to medium heat.

While the wax is melting, line a muffin tin with muffin liners and add half a dried orange and a cinnamon stick.

Cut a candle wick in half and add the wick to the muffin liner.

Add 30-40 drops of essential oil to the melted wax.

Carefully pour it into the muffin liners, filling them about 3/4 of the way full.

Allow the wax to cool slightly until lit starts to change colors, then add a small pinecone or wood shavings.

Let the wax fully harden, then store in a cool, dark place.

Notes

Only use these fire starters in a wood-burning stove, fireplace or campfire. Do not use them in any gas powered ovens or stoves.
You can make your own dried orange slices by cutting oranges thinly, placing them on a lined baking sheet and baking them at 170° for 4-6 hours.
If you don’t have a muffin tin, you can use paper egg cartons instead.
Use any type of wax that’s easiest to access, including old candle wax.

DIY Fire Starters

Yield: 6 fire starters

Active Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Difficulty: Easy

Learn how to make fire starters from soy wax that are beautiful, eco-friendly and have a burn time of over 25 minutes.

Materials

Soy wax or old candle wax
Whole cinnamon sticks
Pine cones
Wicks
Dried orange slices
Orange essential oil (optional)

Tools

Glass jar
Paper muffin liners
Muffin tin
Scissors

Instructions

Add soy wax to jar and melt it in the microwave. Alternatively, add old candle jars to a large pot, add water to the pot and turn to medium heat.
While the wax is melting, line a muffin tin with muffin liners and add half a dried orange and a cinnamon stick.
Cut a candle wick in half and add the wick to the muffin liner.
Add 30-40 drops of essential oil to the melted wax.
Carefully pour it into the muffin liners, filling them about 3/4 of the way full.
Allow the wax to cool slightly until lit starts to change colors, then add a small pinecone or wood shavings.
Let the wax fully harden, then store in a cool, dark place.

Notes

Only use these fire starters in a wood-burning stove, fireplace or campfire. Do not use them in any gas powered ovens or stoves.

You can make your own dried orange slices by cutting oranges thinly, placing them on a lined baking sheet and baking them at 170° for 4-6 hours.
If you don't have a muffin tin, you can use paper egg cartons instead.
Use any type of wax that's easiest to access, including old candle wax.

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Did you try making these homemade fire starters? If you did, I’d really love to see it. Tag me on Instagram (@thesimplehomeplace) to show me your own recreation of this tutorial!

How to Make Fire Starters

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