How to Make Jelly Jar Soy Candles
The dancing flame of a soy wax candle as it flickers in a dark room is a captivating sight. Soy candles have an eco-friendly reputation because they release less carbon dioxide than a standard candle during burning. Using old jelly jars to make your own soy candle adds another eco-friendly element of recycling to the mix. You can place the lids of the jars on the candle when not in use to prevent dust build-up or provide protection if gift-wrapped. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Jelly jars
- Dish soap
- Scrub brush
- Wire brush
- Soybean wax
- Double boiler
- Wooden spoon
- Dye
- Candy thermometer
- Wick
- Pencils or popsicle sticks
Instructions
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1
Clean your jelly jars thoroughly by running them through the dish washer or hand washing them with dish soap and a scrub brush. Wash off all jelly residue. Remove the label from the exterior by peeling it off and scrubbing excess glue away with a wire brush.
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2
Place the jelly jars into an oven set to the lowest temperature.
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3
Place 5 oz. of soybean wax into the inner container of a double boiler. Fill the outer container of the double boiler with water. Heat over the stove if the double boiler doesn't have a built-in heating element.
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4
Stir the soybean wax with a wooden spoon until it melts.
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5
Add any type of dye if you wish to create a colored soy candle. Use coloring specifically labeled as suitable for use with soy wax. Stir again with a wooden spoon until the color gets fully incorporated into the wax.
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6
Allow the soybean wax to cool to a temperature of 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Use a candy thermometer to check the temperature by sticking it into the wax.
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7
Remove the jelly jars from the oven. Tie a piece of wick at least 2 inches taller than the jelly jar to a pencil or popsicle stick. Position the wicks in the center of the jelly jars using the sticks for support.
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Pour the wax as slowly as possible into the jelly jar to eliminate air pockets. Fill the jelly jar with wax to just below the rim.
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9
Allow the wax time to cool overnight before using your new soy candles.
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Tips & Warnings
Use extreme caution when handling and pouring the hot wax.
References
- Photo Credit Medioimages/Photodisc/Photodisc/Getty Images