Making Tea Lights From Old Candles

Introduction

Tea lights have a long and interesting history. They originated as floating candles used in spiritual ceremonies in ancient civilizations. These ceremonies would often involve placing floating candles on the surface of water for an hour, during which time meditative practices were carried out. In more recent times, tea lights have been repurposed for use as small container candles with holders. These holders protect the delicate flame from strong winds and can be placed anywhere to provide a blanket of light. This has made them popular for indoor or outdoor mood lighting in many contexts such as weddings, events or even just at home.

Step One

Step One: Before making tea lights from old candles, it is important to thoroughly clean out the old candle containers. The best way to do this is by boiling water and putting the candle containers into the hot water for a few minutes before scrubbing out any excess wax. It is also helpful to use long handled tools such as tweezers or BBQ skewers to reach difficult parts of the container and pull out leftover pieces of wax.

To make tea lights from old candles, you’ll need several candle containers, wax (from your own old candles or newly purchased), wicks with metal tabs, a large saucepan for melting your wax in and several small heatproof cups for pouring finished wax into each individual container. Finally, you will need matches or a cigarette lighter for lighting your candles once they are set up.

Step Two

Step Two: Pour the wax into the candle containers. Be sure to use a thermometer when pouring in order to ensure the temperature remains at or just above 200°F. Too much heat can cause the wax to splatter and create air pockets, while not enough heat can cause you to have large clumps of wax inside your finished tea light. Continuously stir to keep the wax temperature evenly distributed over 190-200°F as this will also help avoid any large chunks in your finished product.

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Step Three

When working with essential oils, it’s important to make sure you pick ones that blend well together. Depending on what type of scent you are looking for, there are various combinations that will work well in your tea lights such as lavender, eucalyptus, lemon and cinnamon. These four smell great all together and have a nice aroma when combined. If you would like more of a holiday feel to your tea lights, add some peppermint or wintergreen oil which contrast nicely with the others. Additionally, you can also mix and match different scents like cedarwood and bergamot to help create a custom and unique scent to enhance your special moment.

Finishing Up

It is important to store tea lights away from dusty areas and out of direct sunlight. Doing so will help keep the candles in optimal condition for reuse. Ensure you store them at room temperature and remember to keep an eye on the wicks, as they may bend or burn too quickly when exposed to extreme heat. In addition, use caution when placing tea lights near flammable materials.

Different types of tea lights offer different levels of lighting, thereby providing versatility. For general lighting, scented tea lights emit a pleasant aroma while illuminating a dark room. Colored tea lights add a unique hue to any room, creating an intriguing atmosphere for dinner parties or outdoor events. And if you want even brighter light for larger rooms or outdoor activities, then regular tea lights with higher wattage will be more suitable.

Summary & Conclusion

Making tea lights from old candles is a great way to minimize waste and save money. Not only can you help reduce waste, but you can also reuse items that would otherwise be thrown away. By doing so, you will also save money since making tea lights from existing candles costs much less than buying new ones. Additionally, the material to make tea lights may already be available in your home, such as wicks or jars.

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Making your own tea lights provides an environmentally friendly alternative to disposable items and reduces the demand for new products. Additionally, these homemade items often burn longer than store bought options and have a unique charm that comes from their repurposed nature. Plus it’s an easy project that anyone can do with minimal effort.

Overall, making tea lights from old candles is a great way to reduce waste while also saving money and providing a nice decor item as well.