DIY

Spiced Christmas candles

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DIY Christmas 2022

Passion Jardins x Chloé COMTE

Candles, garlands, votives, tapers... their glow is part of the atmosphere and traditions of the holiday season.

To treat yourself or to spoil hosts, hostesses, or teachers; I guide you step by step to create beautiful spiced candles.

Psst! Don't be afraid to prepare them in quantity, because if they are meant to be gifts, I'm convinced you will be tempted to keep some!

Materials:

– Non-draining terracotta pots (without drainage holes)

– Mod Podge

– Brush

– Recycled glass jar

– Wooden stick

– Natural wax (soy, beeswax, candelilla...)

– Wooden, hemp, or cotton wicks

– Wick holders (if not included)

– “Glue dots” adhesive pads

– Oranges

– Parchment paper

– Baking sheet

– Spices (cinnamon, star anise, cardamom...)

– Natural greenery

Steps:

Start the day before by drying thin slices of orange.

To do this, place your citrus slices on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper and place it in the oven in convection mode at the lowest possible temperature (+_ 170ºF) for about 7 hours.

Turn off your oven and, without opening the door, let your orange slices finish drying with the residual heat.

To waterproof your terracotta pots (so that the wax grease doesn't stain them); cover the entire inner surface with 3 thin coats of Mod Podge. Let your sealant dry well between each application.

Attach your candle wicks to the bottom of your pots using "Glue dots".

In a recycled glass jar, gradually melt your wax in a double boiler, stirring regularly.

Pour some of the melted wax into the bottom of your pots to fill them to 1/3.

Let the wax cool and solidify a bit before placing your dried orange slices and spices on it.

Once your composition of dried fruits and spices is complete, completely fill your pots with wax and let everything cool slowly.

If you want to place some spices on the surface; gently place them on still slightly soft wax, just before it begins to change color.

Once the wax is completely hardened, trim the excess wick to ensure they are not too long.

Info, tips & tricks:

– Depending on the size of the pots chosen for your candles, if they are wide, you can use several wicks in the same pot.

– The choice of wicks is yours. However, make sure to choose them based on their composition, as natural as possible.

– Natural wax like soy wax, compared to paraffin wax, does not emit harmful particles that remain suspended in the air we breathe. Indeed, paraffin wax emits toxic soot during combustion, and its production is harmful to the environment.

– To calculate the amount of soy wax needed: volume of your container in ml x number of containers x 0.07 = weight of soy wax in grams.

– Even with natural candles, everything is about moderation. Don't forget to ventilate the house often if you let your candles burn all day.

– To prevent the candle from tunneling, it needs a minimum burn time before extinguishing. Make sure its entire top surface is liquid.

– A wick that becomes too long causes overheating and generates more smoke. The ideal wick length is between 3 and 5 mm.