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Making Candles Is Easier Than You Think. Repurposing old, broken candle bits into brand new candles is even easier.
So I had a lot of old broken candles lying around that not only were unsightly but wasteful for the amount of wax they had. So one day I decided enough was enough, and burned the proverbial and literal candle on the both ends. Here's how you can do it too. The basic idea is to melt the old wax bits and pour into a new container with a new wick.
But here's a step-by-step guide to making a candle from old bits of candles.
1) Coral all your old candles, and wax bits at one place. Preferably the kitchen as you need a stove for melting the candle on. DO NOT USE A MICROWAVE! While the microwave melts the wax just fine, it makes the wax sputter and splash around the microwave which will be near impossible to get off!
2) Place a newspaper or a cardboard base on the platform before beginning as this process does end up getting messy and getting wax bits out of the surface is a pain!
3) Use an old discarded container that you won't immediately need for cooking as melting wax leaves some bits and pieces in the pan. If possible, keep a pan separately for this.
3) Before you start to melt the wax, prepare your mould and wick. If you don't have a dedicated candle mould, you can use things like empty juice cartons. They work brilliantly as they have the right shape, and once the wax is set, you can just peel off the carton and dispose. Brownie points for re-using the carton for a productive purpose. You can also use old glass jars that you get with pickles and dips if you want jar based candles.
5) If you don't have a wick around, a simple jute rope is enough. It should be properly soaked in wax which it'll be once you pour the hot liquid wax into the mould. To set the wick on the base of the mould, use a bit of melted wax, or FeviQwik it to the base. Keep it upright with a pencil or fork placed across the edge of the mould.
6) Now depending on the color you want, start by melting all or the color you want into the pan. You can do it directly on the pan. In my case my candles were in glass jars already, so I used the double boiler method. A double boiler means basically you have a big sauce pan full of water and another container in it with the wax. It'll take around 10-15 minutes for the wax to completely melt. Turn off the stove and wait for the wax to cool for a few seconds before pouring it. Be VERY CAREFUL here! use mittens or a heat-immune cloth to hold the pan to pour into the mould. Hot wax can burn!!!
7) Pour the wax into your mould ensuring the wick doesn't move. Adjust it in the centre after the wax has been poured. You can add a few drops of essential oil into the wax to make a scented candle.
8) Let sit for a few hours. The wax should be set in minimum 2 hours. After checking for harness, simple peel off the carton away
9) Enjoy your newly resurrected candle!
About the author: I (Monica) am a lifelong traveler, (40 countries), sustainability and veganism advocate, and a marketer by profession.
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