Easy Fall Mason Jar Candles
Make your home smell like Fall with these quick & easy DIY mason jar soy candles. They make fabulous gifts too!
Pumpkin spice, anyone??? It’s time to make your home smell like Fall, and these quick & easy mason jar soy candles are the way to do it! You can use any size mason jars you like. Just see the conversion chart at the bottom of this post for the correct ingredient ratios. Let’s get to it!
Tools & Materials
- large glass measuring cup (or other microwave-save bowl)
- measuring spoons
- hot glue gun and glue sticks
- digital meat thermometer
- fork
- scissors
A. 3 cups soy wax flakes (this is my favorite brand from Amazon and it comes with the wicks and wick-centering devices)
B. wick-centering devices (you’ll need one for each candle)
C. pre-waxed cotton wicks (2 per candle)
D. mason jars (I’m using 3 of these 4 oz jars from Amazon)
E. 1 oz. (2 Tbsp.) candle fragrance oil (I’m using Country Bumpkin, from CandleLynn)
F. wax dye (orange & brown)- optional (this is my favorite wax dye kit from Amazon)
Directions
1. Measure the wax.
I like to use a quart size glass measuring cup, but you can use any microwave-safe container. Bonus points if it has a pour spout. Soy wax flakes melt down to about half their original volume. For this tutorial I’m making three 4oz candles, so I need 12oz of melted wax, which equals 24 oz (three cups) of soy flakes.
2. Melt the wax.
Pop the wax into the microwave for one minute, then pull it out and give it a stir. Then back in for another minute. After this go down to 30-second intervals in the microwave, stirring each time. Do this until your wax is completely melted.
3. Add wax dye (optional).
If you want to add color to your soy candles, continue to heat the wax to between 180-190 degrees. It needs to be hot enough to melt the wax dye chips. If you’re not planning to add color, skip to the next step.
I like this wax dye kit because each color comes in a small screw-top container, and the tiny dye chips make it easy to control the amount of color you’re adding. And a little goes a long way!
Add 2-3 pinches of orange wax dye and 1 pinch of brown if you want a more muted orange. The wax dye chips should immediately melt and spread across the top of the hot wax. If they don’t pop the wax back into the microwave for another 20-30 seconds. Stir everything well.
4. Add fragrance oil.
Now it’s time to add the fabulous Fall fragrance. But before we do, we need to lower the temperature of the wax slightly so the fragrance oil and wax can bond properly. Wait for the wax to cool to between 175-180 degrees.
I’m making 12oz of wax, so I’m adding 1 oz (2 Tablespoons) of fragrance oil. See the conversion chart at the bottom of the post if you’re making a different quantity. Stir well.
I’m using Country Bumpkin fragrance oil, from Candle Lynn. It’s a nice well-rounded pumpkin spice scent. You can use any candle fragrance oil you like, but beware they’re not all created equal, and they definitely don’t all smell good. Here’s a list of all my favorite fragrance oils I’ve tested, and I’ll also include a list of my favorite ones for Autumn at the bottom of this post.
5. Prepare the wicks.
Now let the wax sit and cool a bit while you prep your wicks. Attach two wicks to the bottom of each mason jar with a dab of hot glue (or a wick sticker if you have them).
It should look like this:
Then thread the wicks through the holes in the wick-centering device and rest it on the rim of the jar. I know the wicks are standing up now, but as soon as they’re surrounded by hot wax they’ll get floppy.
6. Pour the candles.
Give the wax one last stir and then carefully pour it into each mason jar, but only fill the jars to about 1/8 inch from where you want the tops of the candles to be. Reserve a little bit of wax in the measuring cup.
7. Let them cool.
Now let your candles sit undisturbed until they’re completely cooled. This will take a couple of hours, depending on the size of your candles.
Once they’ve cooled, you may notice some imperfections on the surface. This is totally normal and the reason for the second pour.
8. Do a second pour.
Re-heat the remaining wax and do a second pour, just enough to cover the surface of each candle. Then let them sit and cool again.
9. Trim the wicks.
Trim the wicks with a sharp pair of scissors.
10. Let them cure.
Then screw on the lids and let them sit for at least two weeks to cure. Skipping this step isn’t the end of the world, but it will hep your candles smell stronger.
And enjoy!
Fall Candle Fragrance Oils
As I mentioned above, there are a lot of not-so-great candle fragrance oils out there. I’ve tested hundreds of fragrances from many different companies over the past several years, and these are the best Fall scents:
- Country Bumpkin, from Candle Lynn
- Pumpkin Harvest, from Nature’s Oil (amazon)
- Pumpkin & Persimmon, from Makesy
- Toasted Marshmallow & Pumpkin Brulee, from Makesy
- Baked Apples & Mulled Spice, from Makesy
- Apple Rind & Cinnamon, from Makesy
- Spiced Pear & Whiskey, from Makesy
Fall Mason Jar Candles
Materials
- 3 cups soy wax flakes
- wick-centering devices (you'll need one for each candle)
- pre-waxed cotton wicks (2 per candle)
- mason jars (I'm using these 4 oz jars from Amazon)
- candle fragrance oil (I'm using Country Bumpkin, from CandleLynn)
- wax dye (orange & brown)- optional (this is my favorite wax dye kit from Amazon)
Tools
- large glass measuring cup (or other microwave-save bowl)
- measuring spoons
- hot glue gun and glue sticks
- digital meat thermometer
- fork
- scissors
Instructions
- Measure the wax into a large glass measuring cup.
- Melt the wax in a microwave in one-minute intervals. Stir it with a fork between sessions in the microwave.
- Add 3 pinches of orange and one pinch of brown wax dye.
- Let the wax cool to 170 degrees and add 1 oz. (2 Tbsp.) fragrance oil and stir.
- Glue two wicks to the bottom of each jar. Then place a wick-centering device on top of each jar.
- Pour wax into each mason jar, filling them to about 1/8" from where you want the top of your candle to be, and reserving some wax in the measuring cup.
- Let the candles cool completely.
- Re-heat the wax and do a second pour, just covering the top of each candle. Let them cool again.
- Trim the wicks.
- Cover the candles with plastic wrap and let them cure in a cool place for 2 weeks before use.
More DIY Candles…
How to Make Candles Smell Stronger: 6 Tips For Great Scent Throw
The Best Fragrance Oils for Candles (That Actually Smell Good!)
How to Make Scented Tealight Candles