How to Make Jelly Jar Soy Candles

Save your jelly jars for candle making projects.

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.

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

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.

2. Place the jelly jars into an oven set to the lowest temperature.

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.

4. Stir the soybean wax with a wooden spoon until it melts.

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.

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.

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.

8. 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.

9. Allow the wax time to cool overnight before using your new soy candles.

Tips & Warnings

• Use extreme caution when handling and pouring the hot wax.

References

• Easy Aromatherapy: Soy Candle Making Instructions
• Candle Instructions: How to Make Soy Candles