Tea-Infused Candles
You can often find me hunting the aisles of Home Sense, looking for tea-scented candles because there is nothing better than having a bubble bath drinking a cup of Earl Grey tea with an Earl Grey-scented candle gently flickering next to you (who came up with the idea of moderation anyways, right?)
It turns out I could have been making them myself the whole time. A little DIY experiment into the world of candlemaking unleashed my creativity and gave me a unique and customized candle that makes a great gift (but obvs I kept them all for myself!)
Learning how to make your own candles isn’t as hard as you might think. Don’t be put off by any fear you have of spilling hot wax on yourself - this isn’t a Ricky Martin video, and by taking things slowly, the risks are low (this coming from a major clutz who made it through unscathed).
This project is also great opportunity to reuse an old or broken tea-cup and to create unique, custom gifts for the tea lovers in your life - especially you! Check out the video below for other ideas in your candle crafting!
Materials
Teacup, mug or heat-resistant vessel
Loose leaf tea
Cooking or coconut oil
Soy wax
Candle wicks (string or wooden wicks)
Hot glue gun or metal wick holder
Wooden dowel or pencil
Thermometer
Scissors
Pot and/or pan to melt wax
Optional: Essential oils
Instructions
Heat oil on the stovetop at a low temperature.
Put loose leaf tea in tea bags and steep in oil for 15 minutes (I used 4 tsp of tea for ¼ cup oil). The bags might start to break apart while steeping.
(Optional) Add a couple of drops of your favourite essential oil.
Remove tea bags.
Add wax to pan and let melt slowly. Make sure to melt enough wax for the size of the teacup or vessel you have chosen. It is important to monitor the temperature to ensure it doesn’t get too hot and rise above 250F.
Using a hot glue gun, attach the wick to the centre of the bottom of your tea cup. Or if you have a metal wick holder and place it in the centre.
Hold the wick upright by attaching it to a small wooden dowel or pencil laid across the top of the teacup
Pour in melted wax mixture, filling up the tea cup
Let the wax cool and solidify for a few hours
(Optional) As the wax begins to cool, you can add loose leaf tea directly into the candle for a more decorative effect.
Trim the wick and give your candle as a gift or add it to your holiday table decor!
Watch the Video
In December, Tory joined Shabnam Weber from the Tea and Herbal Association of Canada on their "Entertaining with Tea" series to explain how to make this tea-inspired craft.
