DIY Soy Candles: A Beautiful Christmas Table Gift
I love adding a little something special to a Christmas table that guests can take home with them at the end of the celebration.
Along with my usual Christmas goodie bags, I decided to make small soy candles for each place setting. They were a lovely addition to the table, and I loved that they doubled as both part of the tablescape and a little handmade gift for my guests.
I went through quite a few ideas before settling on candles. Because I only wanted them to be small, I initially started looking through op shops for shot glasses that I could use as candle vessels.
Unfortunately, finding enough matching glasses proved much harder than I expected!
Then a friend mentioned that Myer was having a homewares sale, and I came across some beautiful Salt & Pepper shot glasses. They were only slightly more expensive than the second-hand glasses I had been looking at and, even better, I could buy enough matching ones for the whole table.
They were the perfect size for the little candles I had in mind.
A Quick Note Before Making Your Candles
Before I show you how I made my soy candles, I should point out that I am definitely not a professional candle maker, nor do I sell candles.
Candle making is simply something I enjoy doing occasionally for myself, family and friends.
Different waxes, fragrance oils, wicks and vessels can have different requirements, so always follow the manufacturer’s instructions and safety recommendations for the particular candle-making supplies you are using.
Supplies I Used for My Soy Candles
For my little Christmas candles I used:
- Soy wax
- Small heat-safe candle vessels – I used shot glasses
- Candle fragrance – I chose vanilla caramel
- Small liquid measuring jug
- Candle wicks
- Wick stickums
- Paddle pop sticks with a hole in the centre to keep the wicks straight
- Candle-making thermometer
- Kitchen scales
- An old double boiler
- Fine gold candle-safe glitter for decoration
I buy my candle-making supplies from Eroma.
Preparing the DIY Soy Candle Vessels
The first thing I did was give all the shot glasses a good clean and make sure they were completely dry.
I then added a wick to the centre of each glass, securing it to the bottom with a wick stickum.
Once the wicks were in position, I placed a paddle pop stick over each glass with the wick threaded through the centre hole. This simple little trick helps keep the wick upright and centred while you pour the wax and while the candle sets.
Measuring and Melting the Soy Wax
For this batch of candles, I used:
- 454 grams of soy wax
- 30 ml of fragrance oil
This amount was enough to fill all 18 of my small shot-glass candles.
I weighed the wax using my kitchen scales and placed it into the top of an old double boiler.
This is definitely not the time to pull out your best cookware! Candle wax can be messy, so I recommend keeping an old saucepan or double boiler specifically for craft projects. An op shop is a great place to look for one.
Mine actually belonged to my lovely great-aunty, which makes using it even more special.
I filled the bottom section of the double boiler with water and placed it over medium heat, allowing the wax to melt gently.
While the wax was melting, I measured out my vanilla caramel fragrance oil.
For the particular wax and fragrance I was using, I added the fragrance once the wax reached approximately 70°C and gently stirred it through with a chopstick.
I poured my candles at approximately 75°C.
Always check the recommended melting, fragrance and pouring temperatures for the wax and fragrance oil you are using, as these can vary between products. Never leave melting wax unattended.
Adding a Little Christmas Sparkle to my DIY Soy Candles
Once the candles were poured, I left them to begin setting.
Just as the wax started to firm, I added a tiny sprinkling of fine gold candle-safe glitter to the top. It was such a simple detail, but it tied the candles beautifully into my Christmas tablescape and made them feel a little more festive.
I then left the candles to harden completely overnight.
Once they had set, I removed the paddle pop sticks and trimmed each wick according to the wick manufacturer’s recommendations.
A Simple Handmade Christmas Gift
I was so happy with how these little DIY soy candles turned out.
Placed at each setting, they added another pretty detail to the Christmas table without taking up too much room. Best of all, when the celebration was over, everyone had a little handmade candle to take home and enjoy.
That’s one of my favourite things about creating a Christmas table. The special touches don’t need to be expensive or elaborate. Sometimes a small handmade detail is all it takes to make the table feel thoughtful and personal.
And because these candles can be made well ahead of time, they’re also a lovely Christmas DIY to tick off the list before the busiest part of the festive season arrives.
If you’re looking for another simple way to spoil your guests, have a look at my Christmas Goodie Bags. They’re another tradition I love and a lovely way to send everyone home with a few little treats after Christmas celebrations.
