Homemade candles: how to turn your tins into gorgeous decorations

Create your own homemade candles with these easy to follow steps...

Homemade candles DIY
(Image credit: Debbie Patterson/CICO Books)

Creating your own homemade candles is actually really easy and is a lovely way to make use of second hand or vintage boxes. You could even use food tins – you know, like one of those retro-looking tomato or olive tins (ask in restaurants if they have any going, that's how we got our impressive collection). Anyway, to learn how to transform whatever tins you choose into gorgeous candles, keep reading...

And if you are looking for more crafts or DIY projects, just head over to our hub page.

You will need:

FIND MORE HOMEMADE CANDLE IDEAS

This project was taken from Handmade Candles & Smudge Sticks by Emma Hardy, published by CICO Books. 

Before you start

Before filling a tin with wax, pour water into it to make sure it is watertight. The tins will become very hot when lit so they are best placed on a surface that will not scorch.

Step one: how to make a candle wick

For a long tin, cut three lengths of wick long enough to fit in the tin, plus about 5cm. Using the pliers, fasten a wick sustainer to one end of each length of wick.

Homemade candles how to

(Image credit: Debbie Patterson/ CICO Books)

Step two: Secure the wicks in place

Using three small pieces of wax adhesive, stick the wicks to the bottom of the long tin, spacing them out evenly.

Homemade candles how to

(Image credit: Debbie Patterson/ CICO Books)

Step three: space out the wicks

Cut a piece of wooden skewer so that it can rest across the rim of the tin. Tie the wicks to it, making sure that they are taut.

Homemade candles how to

(Image credit: Debbie Patterson/ CICO Books)

Step four: Melt the wax

Melt the wax in the double boiler until it reaches 60°C.

Homemade candles how to

(Image credit: Debbie Patterson/ CICO Books)

Step five: Pour the wax

Pour the wax into the jug, then carefully pour it into the tin, stopping about 1cm before the rim.

Homemade candles how to

(Image credit: Debbie Patterson/ CICO Books)

Step six: trim the wicks

Leave to harden completely. Slide the skewer out of the knots and trim the wicks down to about 2cm.

Homemade candles how to

(Image credit: Debbie Patterson/ CICO Books)

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Hebe Hatton

Hebe joined the Real Homes team in early 2018 as Staff Writer before moving to the Livingetc team in 2021 where she took on a role as Digital Editor. She loves boho and 70's style and is a big fan of Instagram as a source of interiors inspiration. When she isn't writing about interiors, she is renovating her own spaces – be it wallpapering a hallway, painting kitchen cupboards or converting a van.