Directions:

1. Cut four pieces of cotton string into 2-foot lengths. These will be the wicks of four pairs of beeswax tapers.

2. Tie a washer or nut onto the bottom of both ends of each string. These will serve as weights so your candles will be straight. Hang the weighted strings over the dry cleaner’s hanger. You can place the hanger through the handle of a kitchen cabinet, or some other location that is close by but far away enough from the stove that your candles will be able to dry and not melt.

3. Fill the bottom chamber of the double boiler with water and set it to boil on medium heat on the stove. If you do not have a double boiler, you can improvise one using a medium saucepan for the lower chamber and a clean coffee can for the wax-melting chamber.

4. When the water starts to boil, place the beeswax in the upper chamber and set it on top of the boiling water. Allow the wax to melt. Lower the temperature of the flame just enough to keep the wax in a liquid state.

5. Take one weighted string off of the hanger and hold it high over the molten wax. You can hold your index and middle finger together and drape the middle of the string over your fingers to keep the wicks separated.

6. Scoop up a ladle full of hot wax and pour it down the string, starting from about four inches from the top. The wax will cool as it travels down the wick. Excess wax will drip back into the pot. Repeat this with the other half of the string. While you pour the first coat on the second wick, the first one will be drying. Continue pouring wax down each wick, alternating as you go. Allow some time in between pouring for the previous layer to dry, otherwise the application of the molten wax will melt the layer already applied to the wick and the process will take much longer. The wax will eventually begin to build up thickness. When the base of the candle is about a quarter of an inch thick (about the width of a pencil), place the pair back on the hanger to dry thoroughly. Repeat this process with the other wicks and you will have four pairs of beautiful beeswax tapers.

If you wish, you can create thicker candles by repeating the process and building up more and more layers of wax. (To make sure you don’t run out of beeswax, try making fewer candles if you want them to be thicker.) The candles are dry when the wax is no longer pliable and is cool to the touch. Using the scissors or sharp knife, remove the bottom end of the candle that contains the weight (washer or nut) and discard it. Trim the wicks to about a quarter of an inch, and your candles are ready to use.