making candles

[cecil39]

I have a lot of candle stubs that i'm to mean to throw away, if i melt them down to make a couple of big candles can i use some perfume to make them smell nice, i bought some pretty bottles recently with a dribble of perfume left in them and wondered if i can use that or should i have special stuff for candles.

[boxtops]

I'd try it but very sparingly, I used to make a lot of candles at one time, mostly from melting down used ends.

[Mosaic]

It's worth the experiment. Careful now - this stuff is like playing with chip pan fat, so can burn you or catch fire if a pan is left on a flame. I used to make candles, had great fun, in fact if you bob round I'll dig out the old moulds and you can have them.

[RATTER15]

Arent some perfumes containing alcohol, I would be a little careful if I were you!

[Mosaic]

The perfume would only be added once the gubbins is off the heat and going into the mould, so igniting it should not be a hazard. Good idea though!

[johnk]

What do you do for a wick, will ordinary string do?

[Philtaz]

I once remember watching Blue Peter make a candle and it looked fantastic as every one is unique.

You need:

Clean baked bean tin
Large heavy glass ashtray
One tall(ish) candle
Broken bits of other candles, of different colour if possible
Pliers/Oven glove
Washing up bowl/bucket of water

Melt a little of the tall candle and secure it to the centre of the ashtray. Melt down the broken bits in the baked bean tin(leave the lid attached).
Once melted, pick up tin with pliers or oven glove(using the lid) and pour the wax into the ashtray.
Then, carefully hold the ashtray just above the bucket of water. Take a firm grip and just as you release the ashtray, spin it as it drops into the water.
After a few minutes the resultant candle can be removed from the ashtray.
The results can be spectacular, particularly with contrasting colours.

[cecil39]

thanks everyone, thats great Philtaz I must give that a try.