Some scents feel like a place. Roasted Coffee & Tobacco smells like a leather armchair in a corner cafe: nutty roasted coffee, smooth woody tobacco, and a soft, bready warmth underneath. It is cozy without being sweet, which makes it a favorite for people who usually skip gourmand candles and a strong addition to any fall or winter line.
It also pours beautifully in soy wax. Here is everything you need.
This recipe makes two 8-ounce candles.
You Will Need
- 1 lb (16 oz) natural soy candle wax, flakes or pellets
- 1.3 to 1.6 oz Roasted Coffee & Tobacco Fragrance Oil (an 8 to 10% fragrance load)
- 2 pre-tabbed cotton or wooden wicks, sized for your vessel
- 2 heat-safe candle vessels (8 oz jars or tins); amber glass looks great with this scent
- Wick stickers or a dab of hot glue
- A pouring pitcher and a saucepan for a double boiler
- A thermometer
- A kitchen scale
- A spatula, plus clothespins or a wick-centering tool
Instructions
1. Prep your vessels.
Make sure the jars are clean, dry, and at room temperature. Stick a wick tab to the center of each jar and hold the wick upright with a clothespin or centering tool.
2. Melt the wax.
Weigh 1 lb of soy wax into your pouring pitcher and set it in a saucepan of simmering water. Heat gently, stirring now and then, until the wax is fully melted and reaches about 185°F. Never melt wax directly over a burner or leave it unattended.
3. Add the fragrance.
Take the wax off the heat and add the Roasted Coffee & Tobacco Fragrance Oil. Stir slowly and steadily for a full 2 minutes so the fragrance binds completely with the wax.
4. Cool, then pour.
Let the wax cool to about 135°F, then pour slowly into your jars, leaving about 1/2 inch of headspace. Save a little wax for a top-off pour if needed.
5. Set and cure.
Let the candles set undisturbed at room temperature for 24 hours. Trim each wick to 1/4 inch, then let them cure for 1 to 2 weeks before the first burn. Curing is what turns a faint candle into one that fills the room.
Make It Your Own
- Vanilla latte: blend 3 parts Roasted Coffee & Tobacco with 1 part Spiced Cinnamon Vanilla.
- Salted caramel mocha: blend 3 parts Roasted Coffee & Tobacco with 1 part Caramel Drizzle.
- Library: blend 3 parts Roasted Coffee & Tobacco with 1 part Amber Musk.
- Finishing touch: a few whole coffee beans on the lid or tied to the jar with twine (never inside the wax, where they can catch fire).
For the Best Scent Throw
- Trim the wick to 1/4 inch before every burn.
- On the first burn, let the melt pool reach the edges of the jar, usually 2 to 3 hours.
- Burn in sessions of 3 to 4 hours, and let the candle cool completely before relighting.
A Note on Safety
Our fragrance oils are formulated to comply with IFRA (International Fragrance Association) standards. Check the IFRA certificate on each product page for the maximum usage rate in candles, and follow your wax manufacturer's recommended fragrance load. Fragrance oils are made for candles and home fragrance only: do not apply them undiluted to skin or ingest them. Never leave a burning candle unattended, keep it away from drafts, children, and pets, and stop use when about 1/2 inch of wax remains. If you sell candles, add a proper warning label. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Ready to Pour?
Warm, smooth, and just a little bit sophisticated, this is the candle that makes a rainy afternoon feel like a treat. Grab a bottle of our Roasted Coffee & Tobacco Fragrance Oil and pour a batch this weekend.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this candle smell like real coffee?
It smells like freshly roasted coffee beans with a smooth, woody tobacco note and a soft bready warmth. It is richer and less sweet than a coffeehouse latte scent.
How much fragrance oil do I need per pound of wax?
For soy wax, 8 to 10% is a good range: about 1.3 to 1.6 oz of fragrance oil per pound of wax. Always check the IFRA certificate for the product.
Can I put coffee beans inside the candle?
No. Beans and other botanicals inside the wax can catch fire. Use them as decoration on the lid or outside of the jar instead.
Why does my candle smell weak when it burns?
The most common causes are not curing long enough, adding the fragrance when the wax was too cool, or not stirring for the full two minutes.
Can I use this fragrance in wax melts?
Yes. Roasted Coffee & Tobacco is rated for candles and air care, so it works well in wax melts too.