How to Make a Bottle Candle

This is a step-by-step process of how to make a scented, decorative candle out of your favorite bottle.

Step 1: Gather All Materials Needed

List of materials needed to make the bottle:

-your bottle of choice (preferably one about a liter in size)

-glass cutter

-pan of boiling water

-bowl of cold water and ice

-hot pads

Step 2: Creating the Bottle Base

Choose a bottle that you would like to make a decorative candle out of.

Step 3: Score Line

Mark a score line (line where you will be taking the top of the bottle off at) on your bottle.

Step 4: Boil the Water

Get a pan out that is big enough to boil water in. You will need to have enough water in the pan to reach the score line when the bottle is upside down in the boiling water.

Step 5: Ice Bath

Prepare a bowl with cold water and ice to prepare the ice bath that you will use in later steps.

Step 6: Bottle in Boiling and Ice Water

Once the water is boiling and the bottle has its score line put on it you can grab the bottle with a hot pad and hold it upside down in the boiling water for 10 seconds and then moving it to the ice bath for 10 seconds.

Step 7: Intervals

You will repeat the pattern of putting the bottle in and out of the boiling water and ice bath for 10 second intervals until you hear cracking, which will sound like a popping noise. Once you hear this you can start moving it at 5 second intervals from the boiling water to the ice bath.

Step 8: Removing Top of Bottle

The top of the bottle should fall off cleanly at the score line. It may fall into the ice bath or the boiling water so have tongs near to be able to pull it out and throw this part away.

Step 9: Sanding

Now you can use sand paper to even out the score line so that it is smooth and will not injure you.

Step 10: Bottle Is Ready

As of now your bottle is ready to make a candle out of!

Step 11: Preparation for Making the Candle

Materials needed to make the candle:

-your choice of wax (soy, beeswax, paraffin)

-double boiler (pan and boil over the top of it) with boiling water

-wick

-scent of your choice

-oil based dyes to make a color of choice

-pencil and tape to place wick

Step 12: Creating the Wick

Prepare a wick to put into the bottle. We would suggest buying a long amount of wick so that you can adjust it to the size of bottle you choose to use.

Step 13: Measuring the Height

Measure the height of the bottle and cut a wick about an inch and a half longer. Tape the bottom of the wick to the bottom of the bottle and then wrap the top around a pencil and put the pencil horizontally across the top of the bottle.

Step 14: Prepare for Wax

Now your wick and bottle will both prepared for when you pour the wax into the bottle.

Step 15: Double Boiler

Make a double boiler. In order to make a double boiler you have to boil a pot of water, then you will need to put a bowl on top of the boiling pot.

Step 16: Choosing Kind of Wax

There are 4 different types of wax you can use to make your own candle. You can use any of the following soy wax, paraffin wax, beeswax, or you can use old candles as well. Select which one you want to use.

Step 17: Shavings of Wax

Depending on the type of wax you choose to use you may have to cut the wax into small chunks so that it will be easier to melt. However, if you buy wax it would be better to buy wax that is already in shavings so that you do not have to cut it into chunks. (Soy wax is usually sold in these small shavings)

Step 18: Heating the Wax

Now pour about half of the 32 oz. bag of wax into the double boiler (16 oz. of the wax). Right when you pour this into the double boiler you will need to start stirring it so that it starts to turn into liquid.

Step 19: Add Color

Once the 16 oz. of the wax starts to melt you can add in the coloring tablets and let these melt in with the wax as well. Before you add more wax make sure all of the wax you have added and the color tablet have all turned to liquid.

Step 20: Adding More Wax

After this you can add the other 16 oz. of wax and all the rest of the tablets and stir them up until they turn into liquid as well.

Step 21: Add Scent

After all of the wax and coloring tablets have turned into liquid you can add the scent that you selected for your candle.

Step 22: Fully Melted Wax

Once you have added the scent make sure that you mix it in with all the melted wax.

Step 23: Remove Bowl Out of Double Boiler

After you have mixed the wax, color tablets, and scents together it is time to pour the wax into the bottle. As you take the bowl part off the double boiler be very careful as it is very hot underneath the bowl so be sure to pick it up with hot pads.

Step 24: Pour Wax Into Bottle

You can now pour the wax into the bottle. Be careful as you pour it in so that it does not spill on the edge of the bottle.

Step 25: Let It Cool

You now need to let the wax sit for six hours minimum but it would be better to let it sit for twenty-four hours.

Step 26: Making Top

After you have let it sit for six to twenty-four hours you need to melt some more wax, color tablets, and scent.

Step 27:

You will then add this new melted wax onto the top of the hardened wax.

Step 28: Make Sure Top Is Smooth

Make sure to be careful as you add this wax as this will be the top layer of the candle and therefore should be smooth and refined instead of rough.

Step 29: Cutting the Wick

Once you have added this it is time to cut the wick. Cut the wick at about a half of an inch above the wax.

Step 30: Finished Product

Now that you have finished your last step your candle is ready to find a place in your home to be lit and enjoyed for all to see.