Candles make an elegant and timeless gift for everyone. Quality candles can be expensive, and you are usually left with a bunch of wax that gets tossed in the garbage. Instead of wasting all of that wonderful wax, combine it with some fragrant coffee grounds to create dazzling, coffee-scented candles at home.
Things You’ll Need
1 glass jar
1 candlewick
Used candles, unscented
1 heavy-duty plastic bag
1/2 cup used or fresh coffee grounds
Scissors
Ribbon, optional
Step 1:Gather all of your supplies so everything is nearby when you begin making your candle. This will be a layered candle, with three layers of wax and two layers of coffee grounds.
Candle-making supplies (Kenzie Mastroe)Step 2:Place the anchor of the candlewick inside the center of a glass jar. Wrap the excess wick around a pen or pencil to keep the wick upright when it’s time to pour the wax in the jar. Make sure you position the wick in the center of the glass jar.
Anchored wick (Kenzie Mastroe)Step 3:Place the used candles in a heavy-duty plastic bag and seal the bag. Heat 4 cups of water in a saucepan. Do not bring the water to a boil. Low-medium heat is a good heat setting for melting the wax.
Wax ready to be melted (Kenzie Mastroe)Step 4:Put the bag of used candles into the hot water. Watch it carefully to make sure the plastic bag does not melt. The wax should melt within 7 minutes. If you want to bump up the aroma of your candle, add a few drops of coffee or vanilla extract to the melted wax.
Melting wax (Kenzie Mastroe)Step 5:Cut the tip off of one corner of the bag and carefully pour a layer of the wax into the glass jar, about 1 inch thick. Reposition the wick to the center if necessary.
First layer of melted wax (Kenzie Mastroe)Step 6:Sprinkle a layer of the coffee grounds on top of the melted wax, making sure to create an even layer of coffee grounds, about 1 inch thick, on top of the first layer of wax.
First layer of coffee grounds (Kenzie Mastroe)Step 7:Pour another layer of the melted wax over the layer of coffee grounds. Follow with another layer of coffee grounds.
Second layer of wax being poured (Kenzie Mastroe)Step 8:If the wax has hardened, dip it back in the hot water until it melts again. Once the wax has melted, pour the last layer of wax on top of the coffee layer and let it harden completely, about an hour.
Three layers of wax and two layers of coffee grounds (Kenzie Mastroe)Step 9:Trim the wick to one-quarter inch. If you plan on gifting it, gather up some scrap fabric and ribbons and use them to dress up your new candle. Old holiday ribbons make excellent adornments. If you are keeping it to enjoy at home, decorate it as you wish and find an area to proudly display your new coffee ground candle.
(ehow.com)