MOO No. 9 Slow Cooker Candles
Handmade, MOOed candles are divine. They're nice to use and nicer to give as gifts.
But wax is a pain to use. It's messy to melt and hard to clean up when you melt it the traditional way - on the stove (or if you're a 21st Century type of crafter, in the microwave).
Until now.
Lightbulb moment - wax just needs gentle, low heat to melt and a heatproof container to hold it. The slow cooker provides gentle, low heat and the recycle bin provides plenty of heatproof jars that are ideal to hold melting and melted wax.
You will need (per candle):
1 x 4oz (125ml) mason/preserving/heatproof jar per candle
1 wick per candle (make sure you have the wicking that suits your wax)
1-1/2 cups soy wax or beeswax pellets
boiling water
1 tsp coconut oil
50 drops essential oil optional*
Step 1. Spoon the wax into the mason jars until full. Use the bottom of a small glass or jar to press the wax down in the jar as it gets closer to the top. Keep adding wax and pressing down until the jars are full. You won't use all the wax - set it aside for topping up the candles later on.
Step 2. Place the filled jars in the slow-cooker base. Turn the slow-cooker on high. Add boiling water to the slow cooker, until it comes half-way up the exterior of the jars.
Step 3. Place a tea towel across the top of the crock and put the lid on. The tea towel stops any condensation from dripping into the wax as it melts. Heat for 30 - 45 minutes.
Step 4. After 30-45 minutes, the wax should begin melting. Add more wax, pressing down with the glass until the jar is full. Cover with the tea towel and lid. Continue to heat for one hour until the wax has completely melted. The time it takes to melt will depend on the wax you use. Soy wax melts quite quickly, beeswax takes longer.
Step 5. Very carefully remove the jars from the slow-cooker. Let the candles rest for 10 minutes. Melt the coconut oil and stir in your chosen essential oil. We have made peppermint, lavender, orange, lemon, lemongrass, rose - use your favourite essential oils or oil blend. Pour the mixture into the candles and stir.
Step 6. Place the wicks in the jars, holding up the tops of the wicks straight with a skewer or pencil over the top of the jar. This will keep the wicks from moving in the liquid wax. Let the candles rest until cool and solid (about 30 minutes).
Step 7. Once cool and solid, trim the top of the wicks to 25mm.
Light your candle and enjoy!
But wax is a pain to use. It's messy to melt and hard to clean up when you melt it the traditional way - on the stove (or if you're a 21st Century type of crafter, in the microwave).
Until now.
Lightbulb moment - wax just needs gentle, low heat to melt and a heatproof container to hold it. The slow cooker provides gentle, low heat and the recycle bin provides plenty of heatproof jars that are ideal to hold melting and melted wax.
You will need (per candle):
1 x 4oz (125ml) mason/preserving/heatproof jar per candle
1 wick per candle (make sure you have the wicking that suits your wax)
1-1/2 cups soy wax or beeswax pellets
boiling water
1 tsp coconut oil
50 drops essential oil optional*
Step 1. Spoon the wax into the mason jars until full. Use the bottom of a small glass or jar to press the wax down in the jar as it gets closer to the top. Keep adding wax and pressing down until the jars are full. You won't use all the wax - set it aside for topping up the candles later on.
Step 2. Place the filled jars in the slow-cooker base. Turn the slow-cooker on high. Add boiling water to the slow cooker, until it comes half-way up the exterior of the jars.
Step 3. Place a tea towel across the top of the crock and put the lid on. The tea towel stops any condensation from dripping into the wax as it melts. Heat for 30 - 45 minutes.
Step 4. After 30-45 minutes, the wax should begin melting. Add more wax, pressing down with the glass until the jar is full. Cover with the tea towel and lid. Continue to heat for one hour until the wax has completely melted. The time it takes to melt will depend on the wax you use. Soy wax melts quite quickly, beeswax takes longer.
Step 5. Very carefully remove the jars from the slow-cooker. Let the candles rest for 10 minutes. Melt the coconut oil and stir in your chosen essential oil. We have made peppermint, lavender, orange, lemon, lemongrass, rose - use your favourite essential oils or oil blend. Pour the mixture into the candles and stir.
Step 6. Place the wicks in the jars, holding up the tops of the wicks straight with a skewer or pencil over the top of the jar. This will keep the wicks from moving in the liquid wax. Let the candles rest until cool and solid (about 30 minutes).
Step 7. Once cool and solid, trim the top of the wicks to 25mm.
Light your candle and enjoy!