How to Make an Oil Burning Candle
Making your own candles is a fun and useful hobby. The finished products make great decorations and wonderful gifts. Solid candles are easily made using wax, wick and fragrances purchased in craft stores and candle supply shops. However, oil candles (or oil lanterns) are made using the same wick along with simple cooking oil you already have in the kitchen. These types of candles are useful during power outages as they can be made quickly from simple ingredients.
Instructions
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Olive Oil Burning Candle
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1
Cut the flexible wire so that it is two times the length of the mason jar.
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2
Shape one end of the wire into a long hook.
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3
Wrap the other end of the wire around the nail to make a coil one to two inches high. Remove the nail once the coil is fashioned.
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4
Cut a 30-40 cm. wick, then stuff the wick into the wire coil. Make sure to leave one-quarter inch of the wick outside of the coil, then carefully pinch the top of the coil to hold the exposed wick.
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5
Place the wire coil-end at the bottom of the jar, with the previously fashioned hook over the top of the jar.
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6
Pour olive oil into the jar until the level of oil is just under the exposed wick.
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7
Allow the candle to rest for five minutes or so to let the oil soak into the wick.
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8
Light the candle by pulling the hook up and igniting the wick, then lowering the wick back into the jar, again using the hook.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Actual candle wick may be purchased, or use cotton twine, sisal or jute cord. A smooth wick is best but anything absorbent will do in a pinch. When your wick burns down, blow out the candle (if it is not out already) and slide more wick up through the coil. Add more oil to the jar and relight. For a fragrant candle, add a few drops of essential oil or some crushed herbs to the oil to create a natural scent. Try lavender oil or crushed basil or peppermint. Olive oil is best for a clean-burning candle. Other oils may leave your house smelling a bit like fried food.
Never leave a candle burning unattended. Make sure the candle is not burning when you pull out the wick and allow the hook to cool before handling. The mason jar that houses the candle is heat-proof but your hands are not, so be careful when handling the jar.
