How to Make Soy Candles in Cute Recycled Pots
Instructions for how to make DIY soy candles using recycled glass ramekins, soy wax, a natural wick, and beautiful fragrance. Makes four ramekin candles but the recipe can be scaled up. Requires just a few ingredients and materials including recycled ramekins.
Servings 4 candles
Cost $7
Equipment
- 4 glass ramekins
- Two stainless steel pans, one being smaller than the other (or a double boiler)
- Pouring pot could be a Pyrex or heat-proof plastic measuring jug
- Wooden skewer for stirring
Ingredients
- 397 g Soy wax for containers (Golden Wax 464) 14 oz / Info above on waxes
- 39 g Candle fragrance oil 1.38 oz / See info above on fragrance oils
Instructions
- Pre-measure the ingredients using a kitchen scale. Measure the fragrance oil into a glass or ceramic dish and the soy wax into a small stainless steel pan.
- Prep the ramekins by sticking the bottom of the metal sustainer (also called a tab) of the wick to the center of each ramekin with a small amount of white mounting putty. Secure the wicks in a fully upright position by using the chopsticks. Place the ramekins on a piece of paper that can catch any drops of wax.
- Place the soy wax in a stainless steel pan and melt it on indirect heat. You do this by floating the pan in another pan filled with simmering water. Melt the wax until fully liquid and then place the pan on a potholder.
- Take the melted wax's temperature. When it has cooled to 180-185°F (82-85°C)*, stir in the fragrance oil. Stir with the spoon for thirty seconds to fully incorporate it. Leave the scented wax to cool and in the meantime clean off everything that came into contact with the fragrance oil with paper towels and dispose of it*.
- Allow the wax to cool to 135°F (57°C)* then pour into the ramekins. With small batches (such as four candles) it's relatively easy to pour directly from the pan that you melted the wax in. For larger batches, it helps to use a jug with a long pouring spout such as the one listed in the equipment above as optional.
- Once filled, leave the candles to harden undisturbed for twelve hours, at least. Afterward, you can gently remove the chopsticks and trim the wicks down to 1/4" (6 mm)*.
- Leave the candles someplace out of direct sunlight and room temperature for 7-10 days to cure. After this period, you can use the candles and expect good results.
Notes
* If you do not mix the fragrance at this temperature range, the quality of the throw (the scent the candle gives) can be affected.
*Most fragrance oils, and essential oils for that matter, will kill aquatic life and should not be introduced to water systems. That means that we should not put them down the drain. Once dishes that held them are wiped clean with a paper towel, they can be washed normally though.
* If you don't pour your candles at this temperature range, the final surface of the candle will likely be uneven, pitted, and unattractive. If this happens anyway, you may be able to even out the surface with a heat gun.
*The wicks that I recommend are self-trimming after their first cut, meaning that they'll burn down as the candle burns. Other wicks will need trimming to 1/4" again before each burn.