Soy Jar Candle Set
Container candles in a jar are the standard starting point because the container holds the wax, so you do not have to make a freestanding candle that stands on its own. Work in a batch of at least six: wick testing needs repeats, and a single candle tells you almost nothing because one wick can behave differently from the next.
Plan this project at my size -> The planner scales the material list and the time estimate to the size you want.
What it costs in materials
The quantities below are a basis, not a shopping list. Each one is stated per unit of the scale this project is measured in, and the planner multiplies it by the size you choose and adds your waste allowance. Where the quantity is 0 the item is a tool or a piece of equipment you either have or do not: a larger version of the same project does not need more of it.
| Material | Quantity basis | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Soy wax | 6.30 ounces per candle | For an 8 ounce jar filled to 90 percent. Confirm with the candle wax calculator. |
| Fragrance oil | 0.38 ounces per candle | At a 6 percent load. Load is always a percentage of the wax weight. |
| Cotton wicks | 1.20 wicks per candle | Buy spares. Wick sizing is the part that takes testing. |
| Jars with lids | 1.00 jars per candle | |
| Wick centring tools | 1.10 per candle | Or use two chopsticks and a clothes peg. |
| Labels | 1.00 labels per candle |
These figures do not include prices, on purpose. Material prices change by supplier, season and country, so the planner asks you to check them yourself rather than presenting an invented number as a fact. Scale this list to your size ->
How long it takes
- Working time
- 0.6 hours
- Finishing
- 2.0 hours
- Example at 6 items
- 5.6 hours
per items of count
Blocking, seaming, curing or mounting, on top of the working time
The planner gives you this figure for whatever size you enter
These are estimates for someone working steadily, not for a first attempt at a new technique and not for a rushed one. Most people take longer on the first version and much less time on the third, which is why the planner also shows a stretch estimate about a quarter higher than the working figure.
Steps
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1
Plan the batch
Decide the jar, the fill level and the fragrance load, then run the numbers through the candle wax calculator before you buy anything.
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2
Prepare the workspace
Cover the surface, set out the jars, and have the wicks and centring tools within reach. Once the wax is melted you should not be searching for anything.
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3
Prepare the containers
Clean and dry each jar, and fix the wick to the base with the sticker or a dab of hot wax. Keep it dead centre.
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4
Melt and combine
Melt the wax following your supplier instructions, add the fragrance at the temperature they recommend, and stir gently but thoroughly.
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5
Pour and cool
Pour slowly into each jar and leave them undisturbed at room temperature. Moving a setting candle causes cracks and sinkholes.
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6
Cure, then test
Soy needs one to two weeks to cure before the scent throw is representative. Then burn a full test candle and watch the melt pool before you sell any.
Skills you will practise
- batch calculation
- wick sizing
- fragrance load
- pour temperature
- burn testing
If any of these are new to you, work them on scrap first. Practising a technique on the real piece is how an afternoon turns into a week.
Tips
- Keep a written record of every batch: wax, load, wick size, pour temperature and how it burned. Without records you cannot improve a result.
- Never test a candle for the first time and sell the rest of that batch. Test one from every batch.
- A melt pool that reaches the edge within about two hours on the first burn is the usual target for a soy container candle.
Tools for this project
Work out the quantities before you buy anything. Each tool shows its formula and its assumptions.
Candle Batch Calculator
Scale a candle recipe up or down to the number of candles you want to pour, with wax, fragrance and an allowance for the whole batch.
Candle Cost Calculator
Add up what one candle costs to make, from wax and fragrance to wick, jar, dye and label, and see the cost of the whole batch.
Candle Label Size Calculator
Work out the label length and height for a round or square container, allowing for wrap overlap and a safe margin.
Candle Material Cost Calculator
Total the materials for a candle batch and see the cost per unit, with each material as a share of the total.
Candle Pricing Calculator
Turn a candle production cost into a retail price, a wholesale price and a premium price, with the profit at each.
Candle Profit Calculator
Work out the profit per candle and for the batch after marketplace and payment fees, with the break even price.