How to Clarify Paraffin Wax

Clarify paraffin wax to reuse it.

Paraffin wax is used to make candles, as a specialty application in beauty salons for skin or as an ingredient in hand and face creams. However, paraffin wax that is speckled with impurities causes the finished product to appear unsightly and dirty. Buying new, clarified paraffin wax is costly and may not fit into your project's budget. Save money by clarifying the paraffin wax you already have using a few basic crafting techniques and kitchen equipment.

Things You'll Need

• Saucepan
• Large coffee can
• 3 lbs. paraffin wax
• Knife
• Glass container

Instructions

1. Fill a saucepan with water, and place a large coffee can into the saucepan.

2. Place up t 3 lbs. of sullied paraffin wax into the coffee can, then heat the saucepan over medium-high heat for 10 minutes. This will cause the wax to melt.

3. Turn the heat in the pan up to high, which will cause the wax to begin to boil without causing it to scorch and burn. Boil the wax for 5 minutes. The impurities will rise to the surface.

4. Allow the wax to cool for 30 minutes to 1 hour inside of the coffee can.

5. Scrape the top layer of paraffin wax off using a knife, which will get rid of the collected impurities. Discard the impure paraffin wax.

6. Reheat the paraffin wax as before, then pour the melted wax into a glass container for storage.

Tips & Warnings

• Add 1 tsp. of essential or fragrance oil into the melted paraffin wax to scent it.

• Do not touch melted paraffin wax, which can burn skin.