Hearth & Harvest Fire Starters
When the air turns crisp these handcrafted soy wax fire starters bring a little extra charm to the hearth. Made from melted soy wax and natural materials like cedar shavings, pinecones, cinnamon sticks, dried orange slices, and juniper sprigs, each one is as beautiful as it is functional. Place one beneath kindling in your fireplace, wood stove, or outdoor fire pit to help get the flames going. They’re easy to make, smell wonderful, and look lovely in a basket by the fire place.
Equipment
- Double boiler or heat-safe pouring pitcher
- Wooden skewer or chopstick (for positioning wicks)
- Measuring cup with pour spout
- Baking tray or muffin tin (to hold liners)
- Scissors
- Heatproof surface for cooling
Ingredients
- Wax soy, or leftover candle wax
- Natural cupcake liners
- Cedar shavings or wood chips
- Small pinecones
- Dried orange slices
- Cinnamon sticks
- Star anise
- Juniper sprigs or twigs with berries
- Bay leaves
- Cotton wicks
Instructions
- Melt your wax. Gently heat your soy wax in a double boiler or microwave-safe container until it’s fully melted and clear. Cover your workspace with newspaper to catch drips, then discard when finished. Make sure the wax is hot and fully transparent, but not smoking, before moving on.
- Prepare your molds. Line a muffin tin or tray with cupcake liners. Add a small handful of cedar shavings to each liner to create the base.
- Add your wicks. Place two wicks on opposite sides of each cup, leaving the ends exposed so they’re easy to light later.
- Pour the wax. Slowly pour the melted wax over the cedar shavings in each liner. Pour until the shavings are evenly saturated and the liners are about three-quarters full.
- Top with decorations. While the wax is still soft, gently press in your decorative elements, orange slices, cinnamon sticks, star anise, bay leaves, juniper sprigs, or anything else you love.
- Cool and store. Let the fire starters cool and harden completely, then remove from the muffin tin. Store in a cool, dry place until ready to use.
Notes
These soy wax fire starters are for woodstoves, fireplaces, campfires, and outdoor fire pits, not pellet stoves.
Avoid botanicals treated with dyes, perfumes, or preservatives. Natural materials burn cleaner.
Wooden wicks also work beautifully.
For gifting, wrap each fire starter in parchment or place in small kraft boxes.
If using essential oils to enhance the fragrance, choose ones that are safe for burning and keep amounts small.
Store in a cool dry place.
Avoid botanicals treated with dyes, perfumes, or preservatives. Natural materials burn cleaner.
Wooden wicks also work beautifully.
For gifting, wrap each fire starter in parchment or place in small kraft boxes.
If using essential oils to enhance the fragrance, choose ones that are safe for burning and keep amounts small.
Store in a cool dry place.