Why settle for regular candles when you can make your home smell like childhood creativity? In honor of Crayola's official scent—described as “slightly earthy soap with pungent, leatherlike clay undertones” let's make a scented candle using Crayola crayons.
Materials
- Crayola crayons (pick your favorite colors, and get more than one box!)
- Dixie cups (or any disposable cup you can sacrifice to the wax)
- A pot (one you don’t mind getting a bit crayon-y)
- Twine (for a homemade wick)
- A glass jar (for your beautiful candle creation)
- Tape (for wick control)
- A stove (for melting wax)
Step 1: Strip The Crayons
First things first, strip those crayons down! Peel off the labels—this part is oddly satisfying, like peeling the plastic off a new phone. Use a sharp utility knife to slice the labels lengthwise and they should come off in one piece.
Step 2: Break and Melt
Break your peeled crayons into small pieces and toss them into your Dixie cups. Make your own colors by combining your favorites. We made Blurple and Sky Brown.
Set a pot of water on the stove, and place your Dixie cups into the pot like a waxy double boiler. Watch the crayons melt into vibrant pools of colorful goodness. Have an adult present for this part -- the crayons need to be balanced in the cups or they'll tip over and you'll get a waxy mess in your pan.
Microwaving is also an option, but we found that it took much longer in the microwave -- we had dixie cups going for up to 10 minutes before fully melting. The stove method was quicker and more efficient.
Step 3: Craft Your Wick
While your crayons are busy melting, it’s time to make a wick. Grab some twine and dip it into the melted wax to give it some structure. Twist it up like a piece of licorice, then secure it in the center of your glass jar with a piece of tape. This will keep the wick standing tall while you pour in your colorful layers.
I used cotton twine since that's what I had on-hand. There are much better quality wick-making materials available, so rifle through your drawers and find some different options. Be sure to use cotton or natural material wick and steer away from polyester or manmade fibers. You don't want to breathe those fumes.
Step 4: Pour and Layer
Now for the fun part—pouring those glorious layers of melted crayon wax into your jar! Let each layer cool a bit before adding the next one so you can create a rainbow, a gradient, or whatever your heart desires. This is where you can let your inner artist shine. Just make sure to let each layer solidify a bit before pouring the next—otherwise, you’ll end up with a colorful mush instead of a masterpiece.
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