How to Craft With Paraffin Wax
Paraffin wax is a petroleum-based wax that can be used in a wide variety of crafts projects, such as scented wax candles. Although you can buy paraffin candles at any home decorating store, they can often be expensive. One solution is to make your own scented paraffin candles with a few basic craft materials. You can add your own favorite fragrance or essential oil into the melted wax to make the candles smell how you want them to.
Things You'll Need
- Coffee can
- Double boiler
- 2 lbs. paraffin wax
- 2 tbsp. fragrance or essential oil
- Wooden spoon
- Water
- Cotton candle wick
- Scissors
Instructions
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1
Place 2 lbs. of paraffin wax into an empty, clean coffee can.
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2
Place the coffee can into the top of a double boiler.
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3
Fill the bottom of the double boiler with water until it is halfway full.
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4
Heat the device over medium-high heat until the wax melts.
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5
Stir in 2 tbsp. of fragrance or essential oil of your choosing using a wooden spoon.
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6
Cut a cotton candle wick to measure about 18 inches long.
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7
Hold the wick in the middle, and dip each end of the wick 6 to 8 inches into the melted wax. Only hold the wick in the wax for about two seconds, otherwise the wax will simply melt back into the can.
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8
Allow the wax on the wick to cool completely. As the wax cools, straighten the wicks as needed.
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9
Dip the ends of the wick again. Continue dipping the ends in the same manner as many times as you prefer until the candle is as thick as you would like it to be. Allow the finished candles to cool completely.
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10
Cut the wick to separate the two candles, and trim the wicks so that they are about 1/2 inch long on the top of each candles.
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References
- Photo Credit candles image by dinostock from Fotolia.com
