How to Make a Homemade Candle Out of Mason Jars

Avoid paying high prices for candles by making your own at home.

Creating homemade candles allows you to customize the sizes, shapes and aromas of your candles. You can further customize your candles by adding embellishments and choosing unique containers to house them. Mason jars make great custom candle containers due to their inherent heat resistance and durability. Mason jars are easy to work with yet provide numerous personalization options for new and experienced crafters.

Things You'll Need

• Wax
• 2 pots
• 1 pot or tin can
• Tongs or hot mitts
• Candle wicks
• Pencil or craft stick
• Glue
• Embellishments

Instructions

Preparing the Jars

1. Wash the Mason jars and lids with soap and warm water and rinse thoroughly.

2. Place the jars and lids, separated, in a pot of cool water so that the jars and lids are completely covered with water.

3. Bring the water to a boil. Allow the jars and lids to boil for about 10 minutes.

4. Use tongs to remove the jars and lids from the water and allow them to cool on a metal drying rack.

Preparing the Wax

1. Cut the wax into pieces about 1 inch by 1 inch. Place the wax pieces in a small pot without a handle or a tin can.

2. Place the pot or can in a larger pot. Fill the larger pot with several inches of water. Do not splash water into the smaller pot or can containing the wax.

3. Bring the water to a boil. Continue boiling until the wax is fully melted, stirring the wax occasionally.

4. Add dye or aromatic oils once the wax is evenly melted.

Creating the Candle

1. Heat the Mason jars by placing them in a cool oven and allowing them to heat up to about 100 degrees Fahrenheit. If you are working with just one jar, use a hair dryer to heat the jar. Once heated, place the jars, open end up, on a level, heat-resistant surface.

2. Place a bead of glue in the center of the inside of a Mason jar. Insert one end of the wick into the glue and allow it to dry for a minute or two.

3. Place a pencil or craft stick across the opening of the jar. Tie the free end of the wick around the pencil or craft stick so that the wick forms a straight line from the bottom of the jar to the pencil or craft stick. Cut away excess wick.

4. Slowly pour the melted wax into the jar. Fill the jar until the jar begins to taper toward the jar opening. Allow the wax to cool.

5. Trim the wick to about 1 inch from the top of the cooled wax.

Tips & Warnings

• Purchase candle dyes, scents and wax at craft stores. Old candles, with wicks removed, can also be used as a source of wax for making new candles. Remove air bubbles that form by inserting a toothpick, long matchstick or wire vertically into cooled wax, alongside the wick. Remove the wire and add additional melted wax. Add glass beads, seashells or other embellishments be pressing them into slightly cooled wax using a toothpick or long matchstick. Fill the holes with additional melted wax. Decorate the Mason jar with ribbons or other embellishments after the candle has cooled. Keep flammable embellishments away from the mouth of the jar.

• Use caution when pouring hot wax and always use tongs or hot mitts when handling heated Mason jars. Never leave a burning candle unattended.

References

• National Center for Home Food Preservation: General Canning Information
• Peak Candle Supplies: Wax Melting Instructions - Focus on Safety