Mason Jar Candle

You will need these supplies:

• mason jars (5-inch high or smaller)
• tabbed 6-inch, waxed wicks
• candle wax (you could melt down old candles or buy wax at the craft store. I only use high-qualityEcoSoya Advanced soy wax)
• aluminum pot with handle for wax melting
• large pot filled with water
• scissors
• optional: thermometer, fabric and/or burlap for lid decorating, bakers twine, ribbons, gift tag, candle burningwarning stickers, etc.)

 Mason Jar Candle Tutorial:

1. Start by melting the wax. Put the wax into the aluminum pot, and put that in another pot filled with water. Heat up the water, but don’t let it boil. You might have to put a heavy plate on the top of the pot to keep it from floating up. I only use soy wax because it’s non-toxic and burns for a long time. I also like how soft it is, and easy to clean from containers.
2. While the wax melts, wash the Mason jars and lids with warm water and soap, and dry them.
3. Line your countertop with wax paper or paper or placemats that can get ruined.
4. After the wax is melted, sit the pot on a plate on the table near the Mason jars.
5. While the wax cools down a bit (I’ve learned that it’s best to pour my kind of wax when it’s around 120 degrees warm), take the wick and dunk the tab into the wax and then place it in the bottom of the jar. The wax will “glue” it down. Make sure it’s centered.
6. You don’t need a thermometer to know when you have the ideal temperature for pouring the candles. When you stir the wax, you want it to look like thick maple syrup, not thin like water, at least that applies to the kind of wax I use.
7. When the wax is cooled down and looks thicker when you stir it, slowly pour the wax into the Mason jar, but not all the way to the top. I pour my candles in two stages – I find that the surface layer will look smoother that way.
8. If there are any bubbles in the surface of the wax, you can pop them or eliminate them by sticking one of the wicks into it. Since you will pour another layer on this one, the first one doesn’t have to be perfect.
9. When the first wax layer hardens, double-check that the wicks are centered before you pour the last layer. You will most likely have to melt another batch of wax. Make sure the wax is the right temperature before you pour it to get best result. You’ll figure out the best temperature for your wax after the first batch.
10. Once the second layer is completely cool, after about an hour, cut the wick shorter. It’s important to keep trimming the wick when you or the recipient burns the candle. Either make sure to give the candle away with written instructions, or add a warning sticker (available in candle supply stores) to the candle.
11. Now you are ready to cut out fabric for the lid decoration. Only use thin fabric, otherwise you won’t be able to screw on the lid ring over it. I used burlap for one candle, and an old T-shirt from my son for the second lid. Put the fabric over the top of the jar and screw on the lid ring. Then cut off the excess, leaving about half an inch sticking out from under the lid ring.
12. Then decorate it further to your liking with gift tags, stickers, yarn, etc. Hold on to the original lid top so that you can use it once the candle is used up.

A few more ideas for Mason jar candles:

• If your mason jar doesn’t have a lot of raised writing on it, you could tape off a section on the jar with painter’s tape and paint that part with chalkboard paint, like I did for this jar, so you can write directly on the jar with chalk.
• Instead of using fabric as a lid, you could paint the actual Mason jar lids with chalkboard paint and write on them directly – maybe a note, the name of the scent, or the name of the recipient.
• I don’t add scents to my candles, but you could.

So don’t pass up Mason jars the next time you come across them at a thrift store or tag sale: these Mason jar candles make great Mother’s Day gifts, teacher’s gifts, and hostess gifts! Plus, after you’ll see how easy it is to make your own candles, you might never buy another one in a store.

Will you make these Mason jar candles as a gift or for yourself?