Easy to Make Floating Tea Candles

Floating tea candles are a gorgeous way to enhance a centerpiece or to create a romantic mood as they float in a pool. The really cool part is that floating tea candles are easy and super cheap to make. Plus they’re fun.

You can start from scratch

You’ll need a pound of wax, some wicks (the type with the metal centers), candle safe colorant (optional) and fragrance (either essential oil or fragrance oil).

Materials:

• Candy thermometer

• Double boiler

• The wax:

You can use any kind of wax you choose. Paraffin, soy or beeswax all work well and have about the same lasting power.

• The colorant:

Make sure you get candle safe colorant. You’ll find it in your local hobby store and there are numerous places online to buy it. Just be sure to add it in no more than the recommended amount to your wax otherwise the quality of your candles will be compromised.

• The fragrance:

You’ll need about ½ ounce of candle safe fragrance or 1 teaspoon (about 5ml) of essential oil. Fragrances designed for candles come in just about any aroma you choose and they’re a lot cheaper than essential oils. If you opt to use essential oil(s) in your candles, consider using lime, lavandin, orange, spearmint, spruce or pine. You can also use cinnamon and clove, but these should be in low concentrations. These oils, according to the aromatherapy candle making gurus last the longest, have the lowest risk of irritation and are the most cost effective.

• The wicks:

We suggest the zinc core wicking. You’ll need the wicks long enough to extend above your candle ¼ inch. You’ll find these at good hobby stores and in many online sites.

Directions:

Heat the candle wax in a double boiler to the recommended temperature. You will need a candy thermometer. Remove from heat and add colorant. Allow to cool slightly then add your fragrance. Pour into tea candle holders. Allow candles to harden about 48 hours.

Put the tea candles back into a water bath just long enough to loosen the wax. Remove the candle carefully. When all your tea candles are removed from their holders, pour wax over the wick tab at the bottom of each of the candles to seal them. You now have floating tea candles.

You can also make floating tea candles out of an existing candle. I found an absolutely wonderful blog post by a gal who thinks a lot like we do here at SpaFromScratch. You can read what she has to say at http://www.theartofdoingstuff.com/how-to-make-floating-candles/.

Floating candles are not only easy to make they’re cheap and fun to make. They’re perfect when you need a gift for a friend’s birthday or a gift giving holiday. They also make an ideal housewarming gift. They can be packaged in netting with a bow or wrapped in a small box. If you want to add an extra touch, you can include a bowl in which to float the candles.

Now go have fun and relax.

Related articles:

Fragrant Candles to Enhance Your Life

Make Gel Candles – It’s Fun

How to Make Candles at Home – A Beginner’s Guide