Have you ever wondered how to make candles in a jar? I certainly have, and the interest in this type of DIY activity increased along with the increase in jar-candle prices. For many people, candles are an essential part of the lifestyle and home décor, thus they invest a lot of money to create a mood they like.
Unfortunately, the prices of jar candles have become quite high. Furthermore, the internet doesn’t offer many guides on how to make candles in a jar.
Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash
For that reason, I have decided to make an educational article on this topic, where I will cover the basics, along with steps, so that you can make your candles and save money.
What are the basics of making candles in a jar?
The process of candle-making doesn’t have to be too complicated or difficult. It can be quite an interesting and relaxing activity that can positively stimulate your lifestyle. Making candles isn’t the cheapest hobby, although it is possible to find ways and methods to cut those costs.
The process could be broken down into a couple of basic steps. You melt the wax, add dyes and fragrances. Next, you move the wax into the jar. It sounds fairly simple, but to create a truly beautiful candle, one needs to be patient and go through a lot of trial and error.
What are the reasons to make candles in a jar?
The fundamental reason to create candles inside a jar is increased mobility. You can place them anywhere you have access to a flat surface. This eliminates the need to buy coasters, candleholders, or various containers.
The jars where you place candles are significantly different from simple glass containers where you can put votive candles. With decoration jars, you have a lot more visual appeal, since their main purpose is to serve as décor.
Scented candles that come in jars provide you with a chance to gift your family members or friends a warm presence. No matter if they love candles or not, it is possible for anyone to find a small place for a jar and enjoy the pleasant visual and fragrant stimulation.
Moreover, if you make candles in a jar, you can learn something new and it helps you to save money. If you become truly well-versed in this hobby, it offers a possibility to earn money selling jars online.
What kind of glass to get for candles?
Not all jars are created equal. You should opt out for a jar that has a wide diameter, so that you can light and extinguish fire easily, without having to burn your fingers. My advice is to for jars that have lids. They can help your candles to retain fragrance and they stop the debris and dust from impacting the candle.
How much fragrance do I need for my candle?
The formula is fairly simple: you should multiply the amount of wax you plan to use by six to ten percent. The amount you get will represent the amount of oil fragrance that is required. For example, if you work with 100 grams of wax, you need to use six to ten grams of oil fragrance.
What kind of fragrance oils should I use for my candle?
My recommendation is to use fragrance oils to breathe the perfume into the jar candle. These types of oils are made to specifically blend with candle wax, thus providing you with the scent you prefer.
On the other hand, it is important to point out that you can scent all of your candles with herbs as well. Of course, you need to follow all the safety procedures to not lower the burning time of the candle.
How do I measure how much dye to use in my candles?
The amount of dye you should use in the candle-making process depends on the type of dye you plan to use. Moreover, it will depend on the type of candle you are trying to make. For starters, I suggest buying dye blocks, since you can include them in the liquefied wax, and it lowers the risk of coloring the candle because, in this step, it is easy to make a mistake.
You only need to shave the dye block into the melted wax through a shredder. After that, you can check the color by dropping a spoon into the wax. Check the color after it sets on your spoon.
Are essential oils good for my jar candles?
Essential oils can be used in the candle-making process. They are formulated to stick to the wax. I tested along with six percent fragrance oils, which means you can use six grams of essential oil for 100 grams of wax and experiment your way up or even down.
One of the things to pay attention to is the flashpoint of essential oils. It refers to the critical temperature where the essential oil disperses. If you blend the essential oil with wax beyond the flashpoint of the oil, the fragrance will vanish from the candle by the time the candle has cooled down. If you have doubts about whether the wax you want to use can hold essential oils, you can check the declaration or directly ask the seller.
Things You Will Need
As with every DIY project, you should get certain tools and ingredients before you start.
- Thermometer – You don’t need a specialized tool, so it is perfectly fine to use a kitchen or candy thermometer.
- Wax – It is possible to find ten-pound blocks of paraffin wax at any local store. If you don’t want to spend money this way, then you can use old candles that you have stored. If you choose the second option, make sure it doesn’t have a thick outer coating.
- Dye – Not everyone wants to add colors to their candles, but if you are one of those who want to, try using dye blocks. If you don’t have them, it is possible to use crayons as well. Just be careful not to use too much of it, because it could create issues with the way candles burn.
- Fragrance oil – It is not possible to have a nice-smelling candle without a fragrance oil. Make sure to get the scent that you like.
- Wick – Having a wick is a must to light the candle. They come in various sizes, depending on the size of a wax circle. Along with wicks, you will need metal tabs.
- Container – This piece of equipment is necessary, but it can be as simple as a kitchen jar. However, you can also buy different cheap and neat containers online or even at thrift stores.
Procedure on Making a Candle Jar
Once you have all the supplies ready to roll, you will need to gather tools for this endeavor. You should get an ice pick, glass measuring cup, pliers, wax paper, cutting board, big knife, thermometer, wooden spoon, and sauce span.
- Step 1. Prepare the workspace by laying out the wax paper. You should open jars and put them on paper. Then, lay the rest of the gear on the stove.
- Step 2. Divide the wax and place it inside the saucepan. Make sure to use low temperatures. Ensure the melting process goes quite slowly. Then, add the wax as it starts to melt. Since the wax is easily flammable, be careful not to let the heat go over 250 degrees Celsius. Now you see why having a thermometer is a must.
- Step 3. In this step, you should prepare wicks by slicing them based on the candle height (and adding one inch on top of it). Then you push it through the hole on the metal tub by using an ice pick. Use pliers and crimp them down tightly. Next, you dip the wick into the melted wax and hold it straight. Wait for it to cool down completely. Doing this will ensure it remains straight inside the jar.
- Step 4. Make sure the wax has reached a stable temperature, preferably between 170 and 180 degrees Celsius. If it is hotter than that, transfer the saucepan from the heat so that it can cool down. Now you can pour the wax. At this point, it is wise to add the chosen dye and fragrance into the mix.
- Step 5. Once you have started pouring the wax inside the jar, use a glass measuring cup, starting with one inch of wax. By using this method, you need to stick and push the metal stab down the bottom of the jar. Make sure that the wick is placed in the middle, then you can pour in the rest of the wax. Once the wax cools down, ensure the wick remains straight.
- Step 6. Upon filling all the jars, let them cool down for at least 24 hours. In this way, they will harden. Following that, you can trim the wick and start lighting your candles.
Summary
Learning how to make candles in a jar doesn’t have to be complicated if you prepare correctly and if you follow the given instructions. Although it requires getting your hands dirty and there is a chance you won’t succeed totally on your first try, the results are worth the trouble.
Before you start with the process, make sure to get all the necessary gear and get ready to experiment. Making candles is a procedure where you need to go through a trial and error period, but results can be amazing if you remain creative and persistent enough!
