You will need:

• left-over candle stumps or candle mixture (stearine + paraffin) or pure bees wax (you can also mix all these together)
• candle wick
• a tin
• a pot
• a plastic jar, e.g. yoghurt jar
• a needle or an awl
• duck tape
• stick/pen, which is longer than the jar’s diameter

Instructions:

1. Heat water in the pot. 

2. Put the candle stumps or the stearine/paraffin mixture in the tin and place the tin in the pot. If you want you can also add some candle dye to the mixture.

3. While the candles or the mixture is melting in the tin make a tiny hole in the bottom of the jar with the needle or the awl. Thread the wick through the hole and fasten it on the bottom of the jar with duck tape. Tie the other end tightly around the stick, so the stick lies on the edge of the jar. Protect the table, just in case you accidentally spill the hot candle wax.

4. When the wax has melted, pour it into the jar and wait until it cools. Sometimes the wax contracts when it cools. You can melt more candle wax and fill up the jar.

5. When the jar is full and the candle inside has cooled off, you can cut off the plastic jar. Cut the excess wick at the bottom and leave a 1 cm wick on the top. Now you have a new candle!

Text and pictures: Janina Lainio, Degree Programme of Crafts and Recreation