There is something so cozy about candles that smell amazing. And when you are a fan of tasty alcoholic drinks, making a DIY margarita candle for National Margarita Day seems appropriate. Now, there is a good chance that you are thinking that this glorious holiday takes place on Cinco de Mayo. But National Margarita Day is actually on Feb. 22. You really do learn something new every day.
This tropical candle has the works: grapefruit and lime oils, green dye, and an actual margarita glass. But if you have never made a DIY scented candle before, do not worry. This tutorial calls for gel candle wax, which is more forgiving than other types of wax. It is also super easy to clean up. Just let the wax cool down and peel it right off.
I recommend reading the entire tutorial before taking it on. This way, you can prepare the supplies accordingly. Want to do a test run? Try it out with an empty salsa jar. (How appropriate, right?) It will give you a feel for the process before doing the real thing.
And, as always, have fun with it. The awesome thing about making your own candles is that you can choose the scents and colors that go into it. If you are a fan of tasty colorful margaritas, simply use a different color dye. I'll cheers to that.
Supplies:
- Margarita glass
- Candle wick with clip*
- Scissors
- Gel candle wax*
- Green candle coloring (or blue and yellow)*
- Grapefruit and lime essential oils
- Hot glue gun
* You can find these supplies in the candle section of your favorite craft store.
Not crazy about grapefruit or lime? You can also use lemon, orange, or your favorite tropical scents.
Additional Supplies:
- Heat-proof container with handle
- Small pot
- Chopsticks or dowels (2)
Oven mitts and potholders are also a good idea. Safety first, people.
1. Double check to make sure the wick is securely attached to the clip. Most store-bought wicks will have the clips already attached. Hot glue this clip to the bottom of the margarita glass.
2. Break up the gel wax into big chunks. The amount needed will depend on the size of your glass. Your best bet is to start with more than you think you'll need; you can always re-use extra wax in the future.
Place the wax in a small pot over low heat. Let sit until the gel turns into a liquid.
While the wax is melting, prepare the dyes and essential oils. You'll have to work fast, since gel solidifies quickly.
3. Carefully pour the liquefied candle wax into the heat-proof container.
4. Now, here's where you have to work quickly. Add 1 to 2 drops of green dye, depending on the shade you're going for. You can also use 2 drops yellow and 1 drop blue. Give it a good stir with a wooden dowel or toothpick.
(Keep in mind that the candle dye is super saturated. The green shade that you see above was actually my first attempt. I wanted a light green shade, but I used way too much blue and only a little bit yellow. I tried it again with a 2:1 ratio of yellow to blue, and that worked out perfectly.)
Add 10 drops each of grapefruit and lime essential oils. You can add more or less depending on your preference. Give it another quick stir.
5. Pour the melted gel wax into the margarita glass.
6. Use the dowels to support the wick. You can also place a clothespin on the rim of the glass.
7. Inevitably, there will be some gel wax left in the container. Let it cool completely, peel off, then re-heat. Pour into the margarita glass.
8. Let the candle sit for about an hour. Once the gel has completely hardened, light it up and enjoy your new creation.
