Making Natural Coconut & Wooden Wick Candles in Ceramic Jars

Making Natural Coconut Wax Candles

For those interested in candle making, coconut wax is becoming an increasingly popular choice over standard paraffin wax. Coconut wax is a natural, renewable resource that comes from the meat of coconuts. It's a sustainable ingredient that makes lovely candles. When paired with eco-friendly wooden wicks, you can create candles that are better for the environment.

Benefits of Coconut Wax

There are many advantages to making candles out of coconut soy wax rather than paraffin or other types of wax:

• It's natural and renewable - Coconut trees produce coconuts containing the wax continually without any need for chemical processing.
• Clean burn - The natural oils in coconut wax mean the candles burn cleaner than paraffin.
• Longer burn time - The hardness of coconut wax enables candles to burn slowly over a longer period.
• Pleasant scent - Pure coconut wax gives off a light, tropical aroma without any added fragrances.

Choosing Wooden Wicks

Wooden wicks are the perfect match for coconut wax candles. Wooden wicks are made of natural wood fibers that have been processed into tightly wrapped cotton-like cords. As they burn, wooden wicks crackle softly, releasing a pleasant wood scent. Additionally, they produce almost no soot, making them cleaner burning than traditional cotton wicks.

There are a few types of wooden wicks to choose from when making coconut wax candles:

• Wooden braid wicks - Tightly braided for a classic crackling effect.
• Wooden square wicks - Square shaped wicks that produce ribbon-like flames.
• Wooden eco-wicks - Made partially from recycled materials like bamboo.

The width of the wick should be matched to the diameter of your candle vessel. A wider container needs a wider wick so that the wax can melt evenly across the top as it burns. Most wooden wick manufacturers provide guidelines on pairing wick widths with candle diameters.

Making Ceramic Container Candles

Ceramic containers make beautiful, earthy holders for coconut wax candles. You can buy pre-made ceramic vessels in craft stores or create your own by handbuilding or wheel throwing pottery specifically for candles.

Some tips when selecting ceramic vessels for candle making:

• Choose containers with an opening about 1-2 inches wide to properly hold a candle and allow airflow to the wick.
• Make sure containers have a flat, stable base so the candle doesn't tip over while burning.
• Pick light colored containers to best show off dyed or natural coconut wax colors.
• Look for heat safe ceramics without any cracks that could expand from the candle's heat.

Preparing the Wick

Once you've chosen an appropriate ceramic holder, the next step is preparing the wooden wick. Start by cutting the wick to about half an inch taller than the top of the container so it can be trimmed before burning.

To help the wick stay centered while pouring wax, attach it to a pencil or chopstick placed over the container mouth. A bit of wax dripped on the bottom of the vessel will hold the pencil in place. Some candle makers glue dot the base of wicks to secure them, but this can cause clogged wicks.

Melting and Pouring the Wax

There are a two basic methods for melting coconut wax - double boiling or using a wax melter.

A double boiler gently heats the wax to a pouring temperature of 130-185°F. You can create one by placing a heat safe bowl over a saucepan of simmering water. Pour chopped coconut wax into the bowl to melt.

Wax melters are specially designed warmers with chambers for melting wax. They allow precision temperature control. Just add wax chunks to the melter, set the thermostat, and it will automatically keep the wax in ideal pouring range.

Both melting methods work well. The key is bringing the coconut soy wax to a liquid state that easily flows into the wick-anchored ceramic holder beneath.

As you pour, avoid splashing wax directly onto the exposed wick above the container's edge. This can saturate the wick before lighting. Carefully fill the holder, leaving at least 1/4 inch of space at the top for the melted wax to pool when lit.

Cooling and Curing

Newly poured wax candles need adequate time to fully harden and cure before lighting them for the first time. Cool the candle until the wax is solid and no longer feels warm to the touch.

It's best to let coconut wax candles cure undisturbed for at least 2 days. This allows the coconut oil and other natural compounds to become stable. Insufficient curing can lead to melted wax pooling unevenly or wet wax choking the wick when burned.

Lighting Coconut Wax Candles

After full curing, coconut wax candles with wooden wicks are ready to produce their wonderful glow and scent. Before lighting, carefully trim the exposed wick to 1⁄4 inch length with scissors. This allows the wick to properly ignite and establish its melting pool in the wax.

Light the wick using long match sticks or a cigarette lighter. At first lighting, allow the candle to burn undisturbed for a few hours until a full melt pool forms across the top. Trim the wick as needed to 1⁄4 inch before relighting.

One of the advantages of coconut wax is a longer burn time before each relight. A well-wicked candle in ceramic holder should burn clean and steady for 15-25 hours or more.

Clean Up and Storage

Allow leftover melted coconut wax to fully harden in the melting container before disposal. It can then go directly in the regular trash.

Cleaning melted wax that dripped or spilled during pouring takes a little more effort. Carefully scrape away any pooled wax with a plastic spatula or credit card. Then place paper towels over the remaining wax smears and press a warm iron on top. The heat will transfer through the paper and re-melt the wax so it absorbs into the towels for easy removal.

Store unused coconut wax blocks in air tight bags or tins away from heat and moisture until making more candles. Hardened wax can be continually remelted and repoured as needed.

We hope you've enjoyed learning how to make lovely coconut wax candles with wooden wicks in ceramic vessels. Try experimenting with unique container shapes, natural dye colors, and essential oil infusions. Crafting sustainable candles can be a gratifying hobby as well as beautiful gifts for any occasion.

FAQs

What kind of wicks work with coconut wax candles?

Wooden wicks are best for coconut wax as they have the ideal absorbency and burn rate for this wax. Wood also matches coconut wax's natural benefits.

How do you prevent air bubbles in poured coconut wax candles?

Air bubbles can be avoided by double-checking wax temperature is between 130°F to 185°F when pouring, pouring slowly, and tapping the sides of containers while pouring to release trapped air.

Why should I cure coconut wax candles before burning them?

Coconut wax needs at least 48 hours of cure time for the wax components to become stable, preventing issues like wet wax choking wicks or uneven melt pools.

What's the best candle wick size for a 3-inch wide ceramic container?

A 3-inch ceramic vessel works well with a CD-6 to CD-8 size wooden wick, depending on your preferred flame height. Match wick width to container diameter.

How can I clean up spilled coconut wax?

Scrape away pooled wax spillage once hardened. Then place paper towels over wax residue and press a warm iron on top to remelt the wax so it absorbs into the towels for removal.