How to Melt Candles

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You might have some old candles lying around the house that look dirty and have sat in the one place for far too long. Instead of throwing these candles away, you can melt the wax and use the new wax liquid to make new candles. Follow the safety precautions no matter what method you use to melt your candles, as while it's generally quite safe, you should always be careful when melting wax.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Using a Microwave

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  1. You can find these almost anywhere, but chances are you already have one in your home. Some containers will have labels on their back which will tell you if they are safe to use in a microwave. Other labels which show that a container is safe to use in a microwave include:
    • A symbol of a dish with wavy lines above it.
    • A symbol with wavy lines.
  2. Take the candle in your hand and break it up. If it's too difficult to break the candle with your hands, use a knife and slice the candle into smaller pieces. The smaller pieces should be much easier to break up with your hands.
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  3. The microwave won't melt the wax but it will make it much softer. For best results, leave the bowl uncovered when you place it in the microwave. This allows the heat to work more effectively on the wax.
  4. Make sure you're familiar with the flash point of your wax, the temperature it will ignite at. Use a standard thermometer to check the temperature of the wax. If the wax is too hot, let it cool down until it reaches a safe temperature again.
    • You can use the prongs of a fork to press the wax into the side of the bowl and break it up which will make it melt faster in the microwave. Be careful to not get any of the wax on your skin.
    • You can find the flash point of your wax on the side of its container or packaging. Your wax should always be at least 30–50 °F (−1–10 °C) below its flash point.
  5. Keep your eye on the wax while it's in the microwave. If at any point you think the wax is getting too hot, take it straight out of the microwave. Keep taking the temperature and don't put the wax back in if it's too hot. When the wax is completely melted, you're finished.
    • Once you're careful and keep a watchful eye on your wax, you shouldn't encounter any problems.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Melting the Candle with the Oven

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  1. The melting point of your wax should be detailed on the side of the candle container or packaging. Make sure you use the melting point and not the flash point of the wax. [1]
    • The flash point is the temperature the wax will ignite at. You can find the flash point of your wax on the side of its container or packaging. Your wax should always be at least 30–50 °F (−1–10 °C) below its flash point.
  2. When the oven reaches the right temperature, place your wax in in a baking tray. It should take around 10 minutes for the wax to completely turn to liquid at the right temperature.
    • Keep an eye on the wax. The oven is a little more dangerous than the microwave so it's important to keep your eye on it.
    • Be especially vigilant with a gas oven. Once the wax turns to liquid, it will become much more flammable and won't have any problems finding a flame in a gas oven.
  3. Every couple of minutes, use oven gloves to take the wax and its container from the oven. Take the temperature of the wax using a standard thermometer.
  4. Use oven gloves to remove the baking tray from the oven and turn off the oven once you've removed the tray. You can now use the liquid wax.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Using a Stove Top

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  1. Using a stove top is the most dangerous of all of the melting methods. An electric stove is safer than gas but still quite risky. You should only use this method if you have plenty of experience with melting wax and candles. [2]
    • This method should not be used by a novice or someone who has completed the other methods a few times.
    • Find out the flash point of the wax you're using. The flash point is the temperature the wax will ignite at. You can find the flash point of your wax on the side of its container or packaging. Your wax should always be at least 30–50 °F (−1–10 °C) below its flash point.
  2. You can buy specialized double boiler sets at your local supermarket or kitchen utilities store. However, you can also make your own at home. All you need is a deep, wide pan and a large glass or metal bowl that will fit into the pan. [3]
    • Ideally, you want as much of the bowl in the pan as possible as this will more evenly distribute the heat.
  3. Don't place the large bowl into the pan just yet. [4]
  4. Once the water in the pan has reached boiling point, place the wax in. The boiling water will heat the bowl quickly but won't burn the wax. This will also reduce the chances of a fire. Remember to use your thermometer to frequently take the temperature of the wax in the bowl. [5]
    • If the wax gets close to its flash point, use oven gloves to remove the large bowl from the pan. Give the wax some time to cool down before placing it back into the pan. Turn the heat down on the stove top.
  5. Turn off the stove top and wear oven gloves when removing the bowl with wax from the pan. Your wax is now ready to be used for your project.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    How can I add scent to my candles?
    Filip Kabashi
    Candlemaking Expert
    Filip Kabashi is a Candlemaking Expert based in Ontario, Canada. Filip and his brother Anton founded Berryline Candles in 2021, offering pet-safe candles handmade with coconut wax. Berryline’s candles are also paraffin-free, paraben-free, sulfate-free, phthalate-free, and cruelty-free. Committed to sustainability, Berryline Candles incorporates eco-friendly practices in production and packaging to minimize environmental impact. Berryline Candles has been featured in Biz X Magazine, The Penthouse Magazine, and the “Hello, Hello World” podcast. Berryline Candles is also a 2023 Community Votes Award winner for Best Candles in Windsor, a 2024 Canadian Choice Award Winner for Best Online Candle Shop and a 2024 Global Recognition Award recipient.
    Filip Kabashi
    Candlemaking Expert
    Expert Answer
    You can add a few drops of your chosen fragrance oil to make your candle fragrant. Also, make sure to use high-quality fragrance oils to make their scent last as long as possible. 
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      Tips

      • Use either the microwave or oven method for your first few attempts to be safe. Some people claim the stove top method is the best but err on the side of caution when you're starting out.
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      Warnings

      • Never use water to try and extinguish a wax fire.
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      • Have a fire extinguisher ready. Read the instructions on the side of the fire extinguisher before you do anything else. Familiarize yourself with how to operate it. For a small wax fire, you can use something like the lid of a pot to smother the fire. Liquid wax behaves the same way oil does when on fire, so use a fire extinguisher to put the fire out. [6]
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      • Avoid leaving the melting wax unattended. While it can seem like it takes forever for melting wax to turn into a liquid, never take your eye off of the wax. When the wax finally reaches its liquid state, the temperature will rapidly rise. Watch the wax and take the temperature using a standard thermometer every couple of minutes. [7]
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      Things You'll Need

      Microwave Melted Wax

      • A fire extinguisher
      • A microwave-safe bowl
      • A knife
      • Thermometer

      Oven Melted Wax

      • A fire extinguisher
      • An oven
      • Oven gloves
      • Baking tray
      • Thermometer

      Stove Top Melted Wax

      • A fire extinguisher
      • A double boiler or a deep wide pan and a large bowl
      • Thermometer
      • Oven gloves

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      References

      1. ↑ http://www.supplycandle.com/Melting-Candle-Wax/
      2. ↑ https://candletech.com/candle-making/wax-melting-instructions/
      3. ↑ https://www.reluctantgourmet.com/double-boilers/
      4. ↑ https://candletech.com/candle-making/wax-melting-instructions/
      5. ↑ https://candletech.com/candle-making/wax-melting-instructions/
      6. ↑ https://candletech.com/candle-making/wax-melting-instructions/
      7. ↑ https://candletech.com/candle-making/wax-melting-instructions/

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To melt candles in the microwave, break the candles up into small pieces and put them in a microwave-safe container. Microwave the container for 4 minutes to soften the candle pieces, then remove the container and stir the wax. If possible, check the candles’ original packaging to find out the flashpoint of the wax, which is the temperature at which it will catch fire. Use a cooking thermometer to make sure the wax is at least 30 to 50° F (-1 to 10° C) cooler than its flash point. If it’s not too hot, put it back in the microwave for another minute, then check again. Keep doing this until the wax is completely melted.

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