Jessie Taylor
Floating candles are a fun and decorative way to light up your home or garden. They are easy to make, requiring very little effort and can be made from candles you already own. There are various ways to make floating candles, including using tea lights, taper candles, or creating them from scratch with wax and a mould. You can even make them using video game mods or household items to recreate the floating candles from Harry Potter.
How to make floating candles
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Centerpiece for a special occasion or time of year |
| Difficulty level | Easy |
| Customisation | Customise colour, fragrance, and decorations to fit the theme of the event |
| Decoration ideas | Small pieces of driftwood, starfish, sea glass, sand dollars, eco-friendly marimo moss balls, sea urchin shells |
| Wax | Paraffin or soy wax |
| Mould | Wider and shallower than traditional moulds, with a flat base to ensure stability and buoyancy |
| Wicks | Pre-tabbed wicks for stability and ease of use |
| Burning | Cleaner and more even burning compared to traditional wicks |
| Setup | Map out the space and decide on string lengths, thread candles with string, add batteries, cut fishing line to desired lengths, wrap fishing line on command clips, and stick to the ceiling |
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What You'll Learn
Using tea lights
Tea light candles can be used to make floating candles. They can float due to their small size, which helps them displace enough water to remain buoyant. However, it is important to note that tea light candles are not suitable for large bodies of water due to unpredictable currents that could cause safety issues.
To make floating candles using tea lights, start by removing the tea light from its metal or plastic casing. This may require twisting and prying the candle out. Once the tea light is removed, expose the underside of the candle and the metal base of the wick. This can be done by flipping the tea light upside down.
The next step is to seal the wick tab with wax to protect it from the water. Light a taper candle and drip melted wax directly onto the bottom of the tea light, covering the wick base. Alternatively, melt wax in a pan on the stove and carefully pour the hot wax onto the bottom of the tea lights. Allow the wax to solidify before proceeding to the next step.
After the tea light base is dry and sealed, it can be placed in a vessel with water and lit. It is important to leave some space at the top of the vessel for displaced water. To enhance the presentation, consider adding flowers, flower petals, plastic gemstones, rocks, greens, or dye to the water.
When creating a floating candle centerpiece, it is recommended to use floating candle holders or choose smaller tea lights to ensure they remain stable and afloat. Additionally, it is important to light the floating candles about 15-20 minutes before guests arrive so they can experience the full effect.
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Sealing the bottom
To ensure your floating candles stay afloat, there are a few key considerations to keep in mind, especially when it comes to sealing the bottom. Firstly, the wax you choose plays a crucial role in buoyancy. Paraffin wax is a popular choice due to its firmness and ability to provide stability. Alternatively, soy wax is a more sustainable option, offering slightly different buoyancy and burn time characteristics. The density of the wax is a determining factor in how well your candles float, so it's important to select the right type for your specific needs.
Once you've chosen your wax, the next step is to melt it. Use a double boiler or a hot plate to gently melt the wax while maintaining a consistent temperature. The ideal melting point for paraffin wax is around 80-85°C, while soy wax requires a slightly lower temperature. It's important to monitor the temperature with a thermometer to ensure you achieve the desired melting point.
After melting the wax, it's time to prepare the mould. Floating candle moulds are distinct from traditional ones due to their wider and shallower design, which is crucial for ensuring a flat base. This flat base is essential for the candle's stability and buoyancy when it floats on water. Secure a pre-tabbed wick in the centre of your mould, using a bit of the melted wax to hold the wick tab in place. Ensure that the wick stands upright and centred for optimal burning.
The final step in sealing the bottom of your floating candles is to carefully pour the melted wax into your prepared moulds. Ensure the wick remains centred as the wax cools and solidifies. Once the wax has completely cooled and hardened, carefully remove the candles from the moulds. Your floating candles are now ready for decoration and display, but sealing the bottom correctly ensures they will float gracefully and provide a captivating visual experience.
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Floating in water
Floating candles can be used for both indoor and outdoor spaces, creating a serene and peaceful ambience. They are simple to make and require very little effort.
To make floating candles, you will need tea light candles, a taper candle, a bowl or container, and water. Start by removing the tea light candle from its aluminium cup and flipping it over. Light the taper candle and drip some wax onto the underside of the tea light until the metal wick holder is completely sealed. This process can be done in bulk for multiple tea lights.
Next, fill your bowl or container with water. Depending on the size of your container, place one to three tea lights on top of the water, ensuring there is enough space for them to float and move around. Check that the water level is not too high, as this could extinguish the candles or create a fire hazard.
Finally, light the wick of each candle and enjoy the calming atmosphere created by your floating candles. Always keep an eye on the candles and ensure they are not left unattended, maintaining a safe distance from flammable materials and open flames.
For a decorative touch, you can add flowers or other floating decorations to the bowl or container. Additionally, you can create a unique water holder by painting or decorating the outside of the container to match your desired theme or ambiance.
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Using soy wax
Soy wax is a great option for making floating candles. It's natural, affordable, and easy to work with. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to make floating candles using soy wax:
Prepare Your Work Area and Materials:
Before you begin, it's a good idea to line your work area with parchment paper to catch any spills. Gather your materials, including soy wax flakes, tart tins or moulds, a candle wick, glue dots, a kitchen scale, a candle melting pitcher or metal bowl, a saucepan, a stove, and a thermometer.
Prepare the Tart Tins or Moulds:
Press the metal tab of the candle wick into a glue dot while it's still on the roll. Carefully pull the wick and glue dot from the roll and place it into the centre of one tart tin or mould. Repeat this process for each tin or mould you're using.
Measure and Melt the Soy Wax:
Use a kitchen scale to measure the desired amount of soy wax flakes. The amount will depend on how many candles you're making and the size of your moulds. Pour the wax flakes into your melting pitcher or metal bowl.
If using a melting pitcher, place it inside a saucepan filled with about 2 inches of water and heat on low using the double boiler method. Stir slowly and frequently, and remove from the heat as soon as the wax is melted.
Alternatively, you can use a stove to melt the wax. Fill a bigger pot halfway with water and place a smaller pot in the centre to create a double boiler. Place your metal bowl or pour pot with the wax inside the smaller pot, making sure the water level is about an inch or more. Melt the wax on medium-low heat.
The ideal temperature for pouring soy wax is between 130°F and 140°F. Use a thermometer to check the temperature.
Pour and Cool:
Carefully pour the melted wax into each prepared tart tin or mould. Allow the wax to cool and harden for several hours. For best results, let the wax cool completely before removing the candles from the moulds.
Finishing Touches:
Once the wax has hardened, pop the candles out of the tins or moulds. Trim the wicks to about a quarter of an inch in length. Your soy wax floating candles are now ready to use!
You can customise your floating candles by adding colour or fragrance. This can be done before pouring the wax into the moulds. You can also experiment with different types of moulds, such as metal tart tins, candy moulds, or muffin trays, to create unique shapes and sizes for your floating candles.
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Creating a decorative holder
Choose a Theme or Style
Decide on a theme or style that you want to create for your floating candle display. This could be something whimsical and magical, like a Harry Potter-themed floating candle display, or something more elegant and serene, like a minimalist or natural-themed display.
Select a Vessel
Choose a vessel that fits your theme and the number of candles you plan to use. It could be a simple bowl, a terrarium, a glass jar, or even a small pool or water feature. If you're going for a natural look, consider using a wide, shallow bowl that resembles a lotus flower, in homage to the traditional floating candles of Southeast Asia.
Decorative Elements
Now, it's time to select decorative items to place inside your vessel. This is where you can get creative and choose items that fit your theme. For a natural or minimalist look, consider using eco-friendly marimo moss balls and sea urchin shells, small pieces of driftwood, starfish, sea glass, or sand dollars. If you want something more whimsical, you could use dried flowers, glitter, or even small toys or figurines. Just be sure that your decorative elements don't compromise the candle's buoyancy.
Colour and Fragrance
Customise your floating candles by choosing a colour and fragrance that fit your theme and event. For a natural look, opt for earth tones and a subtle floral or green fragrance. If you're creating a magical or whimsical display, you might choose brighter colours and a complementary scent, like a fruity or sweet fragrance. Remember to choose a scent that won't overwhelm your guests or compete with any food being served.
Finishing Touches
Once your candles are made and your vessel is decorated, it's time to fill the vessel with water and gently place your floating candles on the surface. Be sure to give them enough room to bob around and float freely. Light your candles about 15-20 minutes before your guests arrive so they can experience the full effect of your enchanting display.
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Frequently asked questions
First, remove the tea light candle from its aluminium cup and flip the candle over. Next, light a taper candle and drip wax from it onto the underside of the tea light until the metal wick holder on the bottom is completely sealed. Once the wax has dried, place your candles in a bowl of water and watch them float!
To make floating candles from scratch, you will need a candle wick, soy wax flakes, a double boiler, a container, and a thermometer. Start by pressing the candle wick metal tab onto a glue dot and placing it into the centre of your container. Next, melt 275 grams of soy wax flakes in the double boiler, stirring regularly, until the wax reaches a temperature of between 54°C and 60°C. Pour the melted wax into your container and let it cool and harden for several hours.
To create a magical floating candle effect, you can use poster board, tea candles, hot glue, and white spray paint. First, measure the circumference of your tea candle and cut the poster board to size, creating cylinders that are slightly larger than the candles. Cut different lengths for each cylinder and add curves at the top to mimic melted wax. Use hot glue to create drips and spray paint the cylinders white for a smooth finish. Finally, insert the tea candles into the cylinders and display them for a floating candle illusion.
