Easy DIY Soy Candles in Vintage Teacups

These do-it-yourself soy candles in vintage teacups are easy to create and make sweet gifts for Valentine’s Day, birthdays, holidays or as random acts of love and appreciation for friends and family throughout the year.

Once you’ve assembled all the things you’ll need, which I’ve listed below, you can make these clean-burning candles in under an hour, leave them to set overnight, so they’re ready to use or gift the next day.

Clean-Burning Candles

One of the best things about making your own candles is you know exactly what’s in the ingredients. Soy wax comes from the oil of soybeans and makes a really clean-burning, long-lasting candle.

If you prefer unscented candles, you can leave out the fragrance. If you like scented candles, add an aroma using pure, not synthetic, essential oils.

One of the best things about making your own candles is you know exactly what’s in the ingredients. Soy wax comes from the oil of soybeans and makes a really clean-burning, long-lasting candle.

I heated up two batches of soy flakes so I could add two essential oils to the mix. I added calming lavender to some of these candles and spice mix of cloves, sweet orange and cinnamon to the rest.

Use Vintage Teacups Or Jars

You can use just about any clean glass container you have around your home to make these candles, you don’t have to use old teacups.

In the past, I’ve made candles using mason jars and empty glass jars that I’ve held back from the recycle bin because the container had an unusual shape or interesting label. I’ve used jars that contained household foods from preserves to spaghetti sauce.

But this time I decided to use teacups and saucers instead because they look so unexpected and quaint!

Rounding Up Teacups

I did a run to our local thrift stores to round up a few teacups, which is a little bit of a quest, since mugs have taken over the show.

But I did find a motley assortment of unusual teacups, some with saucers, some without. Prices ranged from 80 cents for one cup without a saucer, to $3 for a cup and saucer! Waay too expensive, right?!

And surprisingly, some turned out to be vintage English and German pottery pieces. Since they they were chipped orphan cups and not part of a complete set, I didn’t feel bad about making them into candles.

This stamp, Enoch Woods English Scenery by Woods & Sons, England, is printed on one cup and saucer I found.

This is the stamp on the lone teacup with no saucer.

Stores will usually sell dinnerware sets together. The ones I found were random, mostly well-worn pieces, that are now up-cycled into useful candles that showcase their beauty.

I also found these three milk glass teacups with scalloped edge saucers, all for $9.

The sales person at the store said they’re milk glass so I’m taking her word for it because I’m no milk glass expert!

They look so cute that I couldn’t pass them up.

You can’t go wrong with thrift store prices and what you find is literally the luck of the draw.

I also love wondering about the history behind old things.

Sourcing Soy Joy

The most expensive item on this candle-making foray, was the soy wax, since I already have a candle-making pouring pot.

I used a candle-making set, that includes a 5-lb bag of soy wax, 100 6-inch pre-waxed wicks and two centering devices. This is a similar set.

Now you don’t have to buy a set. You can buy the soy, the wicks and the centering devices separately at craft stores or online.

I used about half of the 5-lb bag of soy, which was 12 cups measured out, to make a total of 8 small 4-ounce teacup candles and one candle in a 3-inch aluminum holder.

Centering Devices For Wicks

You can easily make your own centering device using pencils or knitting needles. I’ve even used chopsticks.

So if you’re using pencils, as I did above, hold two of them together with a rubber band at either end.

Then pull the wick through, placing the wick base at the bottom of the candle container, in this case the teacup.

Center the pencils on the rim of the container before pouring the wax in.

I’ve found the DIY centering devices are as good as the metal manufactured ones above.

Safety

Because there’s hot wax involved, I like to make these candles at night or when there’s less traffic in the kitchen, to be safe.

Make sure you’re in a quiet area so you can heat up and pour the wax without little hands about.

In case of spills, if you’re making candles in your kitchen, as I do, put paper over the kitchen table or the surface where you’ll be making the candles. I know this from experience.

What You’ll Need

Here’s what you’ll need to make 8 teacup candles in roughly 4-ounce teacups and one small 3-inch candle:

• 12 cups of  soy wax flakes.
• Nine 6-inch pre-waxed wicks.
• Nine centering devices.
• Essential oils of your choice for fragrance (optional).
• A candle-making pouring pot. I bought mine at the craft store. This is similar to the one I use.

Candle-Making Directions

Assemble the teacups or glass containers. Make sure they’re clean.

Gather the number of wicks you’ll need and pull them through the centering devices for each candle. Then center them over the teacup or jar, making sure that the wick base is in the center at the bottom of the teacup.

Half fill a saucepan with water and place it on the stove at high.

Pour the soy wax flakes into the candle-making pouring pot and place the pot inside the saucepan full of boiling water. It took about 5 or 6 minutes to melt on our electric stove.

The candle-making set I bought indicates the soy starts melting at 120 degrees. As it’s melting, I lightly stir the wax with a wooden spoon that I use only for candle-making.

Add in the essential oils. I added about 20 drops of lavender to the first batch and 25 drops of the spice scent to the second batch. I made two batches from the 12 ounces of soy flakes because I wanted two difference scents.

The candle-making set I purchased also recommended raising the temperature to 180 degrees when adding fragrances or dyes and 185 degrees if the dyes don’t melt.

I added the fragrance without determining the temperature of the wax and it turned out fine.

I found that both fragrances emit a really light scent when the candle is burning.

Stir in the oils and start pouring into the teacups.

Pour slowly and try to keep the wicks centered.

After three hours, carefully remove the centering device and cut the wick.

Lastly, leave the candles to set overnight before lighting them.

Enjoy!