Turn a vintage glass jar into a homemade candle that looks like a boutique find. These DIY crystal jar candles pair pretty thrifted containers with scented soy wax for a personal Christmas gift.
Below, I’ll walk you through the supplies, measuring, and pouring process, plus how to package your finished candles with my free printable “Made with Love” gift tags.
Supplies for DIY Crystal Jar Candles
First, you likely already have some of the tools for this project at home, so check your cupboards first! Then grab any extra candle-making supplies you need from my shoppable list below!
What You Already Have at Home
- Large saucepan and smaller saucepan to create a double boiler
- Digital kitchen scale (if you don’t have one, I’ve linked one below!)
- Scissors
- Pencils to support the wicks
- Heat-resistant trivet
Candle-Making Supplies
- Soy wax—I used Freedom Soy Wax
- Candle fragrance oil (I’ve included some festive holiday scents in my link below!)
- Candle wicks sized for your containers and wax (I’ve included two size options for you)
- Wax melting and pouring pitcher
- Candle-making thermometer
- Suitable glass candle containers—see the container guidance below
I’ve gathered the candle-making supplies and tools into one Amazon list so you can easily find what you’re missing.
Choosing a Suitable Candle Container
The vintage jar is what gives this project its boutique look and finding the *perfect jars* is one of my favorite parts of this project. Check thrift stores, estate sales, or your own cupboards for vintage glass containers with pretty patterns and interesting details. A matching lid is a nice bonus for gifting!
As you browse, look for:
- A flat, stable base so the jar sits securely.
- An open shape that makes it easy to position and center your wick.
- Glass without chips or cracks. Inspect the rim, sides, and base carefully before using.
A note about vintage glass: Thrifted glass and crystal aren’t necessarily designed for candle burning, and thickness alone doesn’t establish heat resistance. The safest choice for a poured candle is a container confirmed by its manufacturer as suitable for candle making. If you’re unsure about a vintage find, a battery-operated candle lets you enjoy its pretty details without exposing it to a flame.
How to Make Crystal Jar Candles
These crystal jar candles are one of my favorite homemade Christmas gifts to make when I want something personal that looks a little luxe.
Follow my step-by-step instructions below, or watch my reel for a more visual guide!
1. Prep Your Crystal Jars
Wash your jars thoroughly with warm soapy water, removing any labels or residue before moving on to step 2.
2. Measure Your Jar’s Water Weight
Place the empty jar on a digital kitchen scale set to ounces and press “tare” to zero it out. Fill the jar with water to your intended candle fill line, leaving about a 1/2″ at the top, and record the water’s weight.
3. Calculate and weigh your wax
Multiply the water weight by 0.86 to estimate how many ounces of wax to prepare.
For example, 10 ounces of water × 0.86 = 8.6 ounces of wax.
Empty and completely dry the jar.
Then, place your pouring pitcher on the scale, tare it, and weigh out the wax.
4. Calculate Your Fragrance Oil
The wax I use has a maximum fragrance load of 10%. For my candles, I used an 8% load for candles that are strong, but not overpowering.
For an 8% fragrance load, multiply the wax weight you measured above by 0.08.
For example, 6 ounces of wax × 0.08 = 0.48 ounces of fragrance oil.
You can either premeasure your fragrance in a separate, tared container, or wait until your wax is melted to add it directly to your pour pot (what I do).
5. Prep the Wicks
First, determine how many wicks your jar needs using this guide. Wick size, wax, fragrance, and container shape also affect the choice, so use the below as a starting point and adjust as feels right for your project.
| Inside jar diameter | Starting wick count |
|---|---|
| Under 3½ inches | 1 |
| 3½–4 inches | Consider 2 |
| Around 5 inches | Consider 3, positioned in a triangle shape |
| Around 6 inches | Consider 4, positioned in a square shape |
Then, attach your candle wicks to the bottom of each jar (spacing evenly around the jar for multiple wicks) using the provided peel-and-stick dots. If you do not have them for whatever reason, you can also use a dab of hot glue.
Finally, wrap the top of the wicks around a pencil and rest the pencil across the top of the jar to keep the wick straight and secured.
6. Heat the Wax
Gently heat the Freedom Soy Wax flakes you already measured out into your pouring pot using a double boiler, stirring occasionally, until it is fully melted and reaches 160°F. Use a thermometer to check the temperature.
7. Add Fragrance
Premeasured: Transfer the pouring pot to a heat-resistant surface and add your fragrance oil (the wax should still be approximately 160°F).
Not premeasured: If you chose to wait to add your fragrance directly to your pouring pot, place both a heat-resistant trivet and your pouring pot on your kitchen scale and hit “tare” to zero out the weight. Then, add your fragrance oil bit by bit until the scale hits your target weight you calculated in step 4.
Stir gently and thoroughly to distribute the fragrance throughout the wax.
8. Pour the Wax
After mixing, slowly pour the wax into your completely dry, room-temperature candle containers with the wicks secured and centered.
Aim for approximately 150°F, within Freedom Soy Wax’s recommended pouring range of 135–160°F. Fill to your planned line and let the candles cool slowly, undisturbed.
9. Cure and Finish
Let the candles cool completely overnight, then remove the wick holders and trim the wicks to ¼ inch. Allow the candles to cure for 1–2 weeks before burning for best fragrance performance.
Your thrifted crystal jar candles are now ready to burn or gift! The crystal jars will catch the candlelight beautifully for this holiday season, adding a warm, vintage-inspired glow to any room.
How to Package Your Candles for Gifting
To package your homemade candles for gifting, remember it’s ALL about the presentation. Any homemade Christmas gift can look like you bought it at a boutique by adding a few elevated touches.
For your candles, try:
- Tying velvet ribbon with a gift tag around the jar
- Packaging in a decorative gift box
- Adding it to a larger gift basket.
Want to turn your candle into a gift set? Pair it with a DIY thrifted match cloche for a coordinated boutique look
Finish with a ‘Made with Love’ gift tag for a personal touch. Grab my free printable tags below, then print, cut, and tie one onto your candle.
Free Printable “Made with Love” Gift Tags
More DIY Christmas Gift Ideas
Have a few more people on your gift list? Try one of these next!
- My DIY desktop photo calendar for a personalized gift filled with favorite photos.
- Homemade magnetic bookmarks for the homebody who loves to read!
- An adorable DIY Christmas Tea Towel for friends, neighbors, and coworkers
Or, make your next project a night with friends—browse these Christmas girls’ night craft ideas to find something you can create together.