- The first step in making a container candle is to choose an appropriate container. Make sure the jar is heat proof and is clean and dry.
If you are reusing a jar from a prior candle, you can clean it by placing it upside down on a stack of paper towels on a cookie sheet in a warm oven.
The old wax should melt out and be absorbed by the paper towels.
NEVER POUR WAX DOWN THE DRAIN!
Another option to clean the jar is to use a heat gun to melt the wax and then wipe it out with paper towels.
- Once the jar is clean and dry, you can prepare it for the next candle.
You will need a pre-tabbed wick of the proper width and height and enough wax for at least two pourings of wax.
- Choose the wax/es you want to use.
Make sure you have enough to fill the mold to the height you want along with some extra for a second pour (roughly about 20% will be needed for this).
Break the wax into chunks with a knife and place it in the pouring pot.
Melt it over low heat until it reaches 175-180 degrees.
Never leave hot wax unattended!
- Use a glue gun to place a small dab of glue on bottom of the tab of the wick.
Either by hand, or by using a drinking straw that has been trimmed down as a support (thread the wick through the straw and use it to push the tab into the glue),
press the tab to the bottom of the jar, pressing down firmly to make sure it is securely attached.
- Once the wick is attached, use either a clothes pin or a wooden skewer to hold the wick upright during the pouring and cooling process depending on the size of the jar (pre-tabbed wicks are wax coated and can not be tied).
If you use a wooden skewer, be sure to clip the wick onto it with binder clips. The wick should be firmly attached so it does not pull to the side as the candle cools and contracts.
- Once the wax is at 175-180 degrees, pour it slowly into the jar, making sure that you leave enough clearance to be able to replace the lid on the jar.
Allow the candle to cool completely (this could take a full day).
- After the candle has completely cooled, it most likely will have partially collapsed during cooling.
Reheat the remainder of the wax to 185 degrees (hotter than the initial pour so that the new wax will melt into the original pour without leaving a line).
When the wax is at the proper temperature,
pour it into the jar being sure to fill in the sunken area and a bit beyond so you will have a nice smooth surface.
- Cool the candle completely. Trim the wick to ¼ inch and enjoy!
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