DIY Mason Jar Candles in 4 Easy Steps

ByKaren Sloan

How to make lovely mason jar candles in just a few steps with just a few materials!

Moving into our new home has reminded me how much I love making things. 

Unpacking box after box of craft supplies inspired me to restart a few projects I had put on the back burner.  

One of these projects are pretty DIY Mason Jar Candles.  

close up of a homemade mason jar candle
DIY Mason Jar Candles

I’ve made soy candles in the past, but never put them in mason jars.

Related Post: How to Make Votive Candles

Candles add cozy, soothing vibes to any room.  Plus, they can smell pretty darn good which is never a bad thing. 

This tutorial will show you how to make your own mason jar candles – you won’t believe how easy it is and how inexpensive compared to store-bought candles.  

NOTE: These candles get HOT after they have been burning. It’s best to blow out the candle, let it cool, then move it afterwards.

mason jar candles on a table with a vase of flowers

Most of us have a mason jar or two laying around the house. 

And if not, Target sells them in bulk in tons of sizes.  I’m particularly drawn to the small sizes, but I only had the 8 oz mason jars for this project.  Still works! 

Watch a Video Here

Use whatever you have and let’s get started.  

Things You’ll Need

Amazon also sells a whole candle making kit. So once you have it, you can reuse the candle making supplies and just buy new wax flakes.

Can you use essential oils in candles?

Of course, you can! Essential oils are extracted from plants at very high temperatures, so you can absolutely add them to your hot melted wax. Some essential oils have a higher flash point which makes them a little better suited to adding to candles. That doesn’t stop me from choosing my favorite scents, however, regardless of their flashpoints. The most important thing is to find an essential oil brand that you trust, where the oil is 100% pure and tested.

It’s best to add essential oils to your melted wax after it’s cooled a bit, but still warm, to ensure the best scent. More oil = more scent. If you use too little, the scent will be too faint to notice.

What are the Best Essential Oils for Candles?

It’s really up to you as to which scents really float your boat. Finding a reputable, trustworthy brand of essential oils should be your top priority. After that, go with your favorite scents or match them with the current season.

Here are some favorite Essential Oils for Candles.

  • Peppermint
  • Sweet Orange
  • Lavender
  • Balsam Fir
  • Cinnamon
  • Bergamot
  • Rosemary
  • Lemon
  • Clove
  • Ylang Ylang
  • Jasmine
  • Thyme
  • Patchouli
  • Grapefruit
mason jars

DIY Mason Jar Candles – Step by Step

Step 1:  Prepare your jars

Take the lids off your mason jars and place your wicks down in the center of the jar.  You can put a dab of hot glue on the bottom of the wick to keep it in place.  Or you can just wait until you pour in the wax. 

placing a wick in a mason jar

The weight of the melted wax will push it down into your jar.  Thread the top of the wick through the little hole in a clothespin, and lay it horizontally on top.  This helps keep your wick centered.  

Step 2:  Melt your Wax

You’ll want to set up a double boiler, which is basically just a pot of boiling water with another pot on top.  You can use a fancy candle pitcher or just use a glass measuring cup.  

wax melting on the stove

Pour water into a pot and bring it to a boil.  Place your wax flakes in your candle pitcher or glass measuring cup.  Set this on top of the water pot or directly in the pot.  

Wait for your wax to melt. This takes about ten minutes or so.

Step 3:  Mix in your scents (optional)

After your wax flakes are fully melted, remove it from the stove and allow it to cool a little bit. You still want it warm when you mix in your scents. 

The trick with a good smelling candle is to use A LOT of scented oil and stir, stir, stir.  The stirring helps incorporate the scent throughout the wax.  I used this light floral fragrance oil and put a TON of drops in there.  Again, more oil = more scent! Don’t be shy here.

  • essential oil for candles
  • putting fragrance oil in melted wax

Step 4:  Pour your wax into your jars

Carefully pour the wax into your prepared jars.  The wicks may move a little bit and that’s ok.  My wicks never end up perfectly centered and the candles still work fine.  

melted wax poured into mason jars with a wick

Set your candles aside and wait for the wax to harden.  This took about four hours for me.  

wax hardening in a mason jar for a candle

After the wax hardens, remove the clothespin and snip off the excess wick from the top.  

cutting the excess wicks from diy  candles

That’s it!  

important note about these candles

I just wanted to add that after these candles have been burning awhile – the jar will be HOT. Please take caution when handling them.

It’s best to blow out the candle first, let it cool, then move it around if need be.

close up of a homemade mason jar candle

These are just lovely and make perfect little gifts for your family, friends, and neighbors. 

You can embellish the jar a bit by adding your own gift tags with jute twine or a little sprig of rosemary or holly berry for the holidays.  So pretty!  

And who doesn’t love getting a new candle?

DIY mason jar candles on a stove

I was able to make about five of these mason jar candles with the leftover soy wax flakes I had.  You can see how economical this project can be.  

DIY mason jar candles on a stove

I hope these candles bring a little coziness and brightness to your day! 

Xo Karen