DIY Sprinkle Candle

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A fun and easy DIY sprinkle candle that makes the perfect birthday gift.

Most of us probably have an ‘ultimate birthday month’, where a lot of friends and family members celebrate their birthdays. For me, it’s February. It’s fun but also kind of stressful, not diet-friendly … and frankly, expensive. Which caused me to come up with a strategy to survive this crazy month. 

One word – DIY! While not all DIYs actually save you money (or time), this one definitely does. Buying wax and candle wicks in bulk is not only affordable, but you’ll also have candle-making materials at home, in case you ever need a spontaneous gift for someone on a Sunday when all the stores are closed (we’ve all been there, right?). 

All that you need in addition are some sprinkles, sugar and water. Since we are creating a birthday gift, we want to go with the theme and what better way to celebrate, than with sprinkles? No matter if guy or girl, 8 or 80 years old, everybody loves sprinkles on their birthday. You are certainly never too old to enjoy sprinkles, whether on a cake, or even inside a candle. #sprinklesknownoage

If you are a regular visitor to this blog, you will know that I have 0 patience for complicated DIYs. Which is why today’s project only requires minimal ingredients and materials. In addition to a brush, a few skewers, you’ll also need a heatproof bowl to create a double boiler.

How to make a double boiler

Fill the bottom of a pot with water and place your heatproof bowl on top of it. Make sure that the bowl is large enough, so it sits on top of the pot, without touching the water. Add your wax to the bowl and bring the water to a boil, then reduce to a simmer.

With a double boiler, you’re melting the wax using indirect heat (with the hot steam), which prevents it from burning. It’s best to give it a stir every once in a while, as the wax flakes will want to clump together and by separating them, you’ll help the wax melt quicker.

Soy Wax – and how to prevent “pooling”

Soy wax vs. paraffin wax – what’s the difference? Paraffin wax is a byproduct of petroleum refining. Most store-bought candles are still made with it, since it is cheap and has a relatively low melting point, making it ideal for any sized candles. The downside? As a crude oil product, it isn’t renewable, its extraction is environmentally problematic and it is often debated whether it contains cariogenic compounds that get released through the smoke. The research on the later isn’t conclusive, but the first two are – at least in my opinion – reason enough to boycott it.

Soy wax on the other hand, is renewable and creates less soot. Unfortunately, it also has a higher melting point, which means you’ll need sufficient heat for your candles to burn down evenly and avoid the dreaded “pooling” in the center of your candles. I recommend using 2-3 wicks on wider jars. For anything wider than 7 cm ⌀ I typically use 2 or more.

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