Candles: new from old

bouicca21

Not entirely sure how MSE this is, or whether this is the right board, but it's definitely old style.

I've just made two new candles from the remnants of old ones (which sounds MSE until you factor in the cost of microwaving the old wax - was warned against using the gas hob).

I am inordinately pleased with the results. My next foray will be melting down a couple of old Lidl candles. These were pillars - white on the inside, red on the outside. The white wax has burned away leaving the outer casing virtually untouched. Is the casing likely to be worth melting for new candles or is it some kind of wrapper that is best chucked?

Any tips on how to add scents cheaply? I've tipped some ground cinnamon into the two I have just made, but I'm not sure how successfully.

jackyann

You do need to be careful - the little carbon pieces in the melted wax can give off a 'burned' smell after a few uses.
The casing is usually some sort of plastic / polymer and won't melt well, so discard that.
I have used essential oils for the smell (I think that ground cinnamon will burn, but would be interested to know). I buy them fairly cheaply on-line - haven't done this for a few years so suggest you google. I used to buy wax and mould quite cheaply too, but am not up-to-date with the best suppliers.
Suggest looking in your local library for candle making books - it's a popular craft. I used to know a family who made candles throughout the year at odd times. Every November they did a market stall, and that paid for xmas!

LameWolf

I always save the remnants of used candles, get wick from H0bbycraft, and make new candles. I use different coloured candles for different purposes, and have several plastic bags to collect up the wax, one for each colour.

I use a single plug-in electric redring as my heat source, a saucepan of water, and put the wax into an old 800g dog food tin, to make a water bath melting thingy, and have had no problems. I always carefully remove any old burnt bits of wick so it's just decent wax I'm using, and if I want scented candles, I use a little essential oil.

HTH

pavlovs_dog

I shall follow this thread with interest as it is a hobby that has crossed my mind before.

I've found a use for the left over bit of wax at the bottom of my yankee candle jars; I've been using it with my electric glade wax melt warmer rather than throw it away (at the rate I burn candles it would take me forever to accumulate enough wax of the same/complimenary scents to make a new one).

bouicca21

I was pleased with my first efforts, but jackyann was right the ground cinnamon just burned.

So I am going to buy some scented oils. im not too sure about the different types of scented oils - would oils for diffusers work? Or do I need stuff specifically described as essential oil?