Tiny candle jars from old tea tins

Each household has someplace — a drawer, cupboard or shelf — where old tea tins are likely to be accumulated. Perhaps it is a green tea you drank months back, or a tea that was seasonal whose tin you could not tear yourself loose of. The packaging is too pretty. The form is too heavy. There is something, too, in its opening and closing which seems worth retention.

Why should those tins remain empty when they can be used in another way?

Turning old tea tins into small jars of candle is not only a craft project. It is a good economic method of reusing what you already have — and you end up with something warm, useful, and personal.

This guide will assist you to effectively do exactly that in a step-by-step manner using language that is very simple to comprehend. No special candle-making experience is required, and you don’t need special craft materials. This wants nothing but a tin, a wick, a bit of wax, and time.

Why Use Tea Tins to Make Homemade Candles?

What is so delightful about small candles is making them. They are barely long enough to burn on a comfy night, not much wax, and not too hard to present as gifts. By using tea tins you are also creating something very different and with your own personal flavour — because it is not something you bought in the store, and it is not something produced at large and generic.

Tea tins make excellent candle holders because:

They are metal — which handles heat safely and effectively
They are small in size — ideal for shorter burns or testing new scents
They have lids — keeping the candle dust-free when not in use
They are decorative — already labeled or styled for added charm
They’re the right size — most tea tins hold about 2 to 4 oz. of wax

Repurposing also eliminates waste. You’re not buying extra pots or packaging materials. You’re not tossing good metal into a landfill. You’re simply putting what you already own to good use.

What Makes a Good Tea Tin for Candle-Making?

Before you begin, you’ll want to choose the right kind of tin. Not all tea containers are safe for melting wax or holding an open flame.

Look for:

Simple metal interiors: Most tea tins are food-safe lined with metal — perfect for candle use
Sound construction: Avoid flimsy tins that are bent or dry — they may leak or warp
Wide openings: Narrow tins are harder to pour into and trickier for wick placement
Flat bottoms: Keeps the candle level, stable, and safer to burn
Tight-fitting lids: Useful for protecting your candle from dust or during gifting and storage

Avoid:

Synthetic interiors: Some decorative tins have coatings that melt, smell, or off-gas
Damaged or peeling interiors: These can contaminate the wax and create fire hazards
Paper-covered tins: Wrapping around the outside of the tin can catch fire at the rim

Spend just one minute to examine your tins. Wash them in hot water. Don’t worry — we’ll cover how to remove or mellow any lingering tea aroma next.

Cleaning and Preparation of Your Tea Tins for Candle Making

Before you add a wick or pour in any wax, your tea tins must be clean, dry, and neutral in smell. Residue from dust, leftover tea, or lingering scents can alter the fragrance of your candle or cause uneven burning.

Preparing Your Tea Tins Step-by-Step

1. Wash Thoroughly

Warm up some water and use mild dish soap.
Wash the tin thoroughly, including the lid.
Dry with a cloth and then let it air-dry upside down on a drying rack to remove residual moisture.

2. Remove Odors

If the tin still holds a scent from the tea:

Add 1 tablespoon of baking soda and a drop of vinegar to the tin.
Let it sit uncovered for 15 minutes, then rinse and dry.
If any smell persists, leave 1 spoonful of dry baking soda in the closed tin overnight.

3. Optional: Peel Off Labels

You may choose to keep the original branding for charm. If you prefer a clean look:

Fill the tin with warm water and let it soak for 20 minutes.
Gently scrape off the label using your fingers or a butter knife.
For stubborn glue, rub with rubbing alcohol or a cotton ball dipped in oil.

4. Leak Test

Pour water into the tin and let it sit for several minutes.
If any leaks appear, do not use that tin for candles.

Once your tin is clean, scent-free, and dry, it’s ready for transformation.

Materials You Will Need to Make a Tea Tin Candle

This is where simplicity meets creativity. You don’t need a huge list of tools — most of the items can be found in your kitchen or a local craft shop.

Basic Supplies:

Old tea tin – cleaned, dried, and leak-tested
Candle wax – soy is beginner-friendly, or you may use beeswax or coconut wax
Wick – wooden wick (cut to fit the tin) or cotton wick (cut to length)
Wick stickers or hot glue – to secure the wick to the bottom of the tin
Wick holder – pencil, chopstick, or wick bar to keep the wick centered as wax sets
Heatproof dish – a metal pouring pitcher or glass measuring cup
Double-boiler system – a pot of simmering water to safely melt wax in a second container
Thermometer (optional) – helpful to check wax temperature before adding fragrance
Candle fragrance or essential oil (optional) – 6–10% of wax weight is a good starting point
Scissors – to trim the wick once wax is solid

A Quick Tip for Beginners:

Start with just one tin and a small batch of wax for your first time. This helps you learn the process without pressure or waste.

How to Set Up Your Wick and Workspace

Safe and Simple Preparation Before You Melt the Wax

Before melting wax, spend a few minutes setting up your workspace. Candle-making involves hot liquid and the potential for spills. Being organized and safe prevents accidents and leads to better results.

1. Apply the Wick Securely

Attach a wick sticker or a small drop of hot glue to the bottom of the wick tab.
Press it firmly into the center of the tin’s base.
Hold in place briefly to ensure it sticks.

2. Center the Wick

Rest a pencil or wooden skewer across the top of the tin.
Tape the wick upright to the pencil, or slide it through a wick bar.
This keeps your wick vertical and centered as you pour the wax.

3. Make a Pouring Area

Cover your workspace with parchment paper or newspaper.
Have paper towels nearby for spills.
Melted wax can be messy — and once cooled, it’s difficult to clean from surfaces.

Melting and Pouring the Wax

Now that your tea tin is prepped and your wick is in place, it’s time to melt and pour your wax. This step is practical and easy if taken slowly and patiently.

How Much Wax Do You Need?

To estimate the amount of wax needed:

Fill the tin with water.
Pour the water into a measuring cup.
Multiply that volume by 0.86 to approximate wax weight.

Example: If your tin holds 4 oz of water, you’ll need about 3.4 oz of wax.

Always melt a little extra wax to account for cooling shrinkage or small spills.

The Practice of Melting Wax

Use a double boiler method to melt your wax safely:

Place a heatproof pitcher or metal container inside a saucepan of simmering water.
Add wax flakes and stir occasionally with a wooden stick or spoon.
Heat on medium, stirring slowly, until wax becomes fully melted and translucent.

Adding Fragrance (Optional)

Let wax cool to around 130°F (54°C) before adding fragrance oil.
This prevents burning off the scent.
Stir 30 to 60 seconds to distribute the fragrance evenly.

Note: Never melt wax directly on a burner — always use a double boiler to avoid overheating or scorching.

Pouring the Wax and First Care

Now your wax is melted and scented. You’re ready to pour.

Pouring Tips for a Smooth Finish

Place the tin on a flat, heat-safe surface.
Pour slowly and steadily to avoid bubbles.
Leave ½ inch of space at the top of the tin to allow room for wick trimming and proper flame burn.

If your wick shifts during pouring, gently recenter it and secure it again using your stick or bar.

Let the candle cool completely undisturbed for 12 to 24 hours.

Avoid moving or touching the tin while cooling — shaking or shifting may cause uneven surfaces or cracks.

Trimming, Curing, and Testing Your Tea Tin Candle

Finishing Touches for a Beautiful, Safe, and Functional Candle

Your candle is poured, cooled, and now it just needs time — and a little grooming — before it’s ready to be used or given as a gift.

Curing the Candle

Curing a candle means allowing it to rest after it has completely cooled. This helps the fragrance fully bind with the wax and enhances the scent throw when burned.

Soy and coconut wax cure in 2 to 5 days
Beeswax generally requires less time
Store in a cool, dry place away from sun or moisture

Let the candle sit undisturbed in its tin during this time.

Clipping the Wick

Once your candle has cooled and solidified:

Remove the wick holder or centering stick
Trim the wick down to about ¼ inch

A wick that’s too long can cause a large flame and burn too fast.
A wick that’s too short may tunnel into the wax and burn unevenly.

After trimming — your candle is done and ready for use, display, or gifting.

Fire Safety and Burning Tips

Homemade candles are safe when used properly. Tea tins are compact and enclosed, so they concentrate heat. Following general candle-burning safety is essential.

General Candle Care:

Burn only on non-combustible, heat-safe surfaces
Keep away from drapes, paper, or flammable materials
Never leave a candle unattended
If wax pools near the edge, pour it out before the entire surface liquifies
For the first burn, let it burn 1–2 hours to help the wax melt evenly — this prevents tunneling
To extinguish: blow out or snuff — never pour water onto a candle (can cause splatter or damage)

Creative Ideas and Decorative Variations

You can add visual and aromatic flair to your tea tin candle in simple, elegant ways.

Add Texture or Visual Appeal

After pouring the wax, sprinkle a few dried flower petals, lavender buds, or herbs
- Place decorations toward the sides to avoid burning them
For natural color, stir in a small amount of turmeric, beet powder, or other botanical dyes
Create striped or ombré effects by layering differently colored wax

Olfactory Pairings & Fragrance Inspiration

Using essential oils or candle-safe fragrance oils can bring warmth and character. Some combinations that pair beautifully with tea tins:

Orange & Clove
Lavender & Cedarwood
Vanilla & Peppermint
Eucalyptus & Lemon
Cinnamon & Sweet Orange

For a light, natural scent, use about 1 tsp of fragrance oil per 4-ounce candle — adjusting slightly based on the strength and type of wax.

Tin Candles: Gifting and Reusing With Intention

Make with a Purpose, Illuminate with a Reason

For Gifting

Tea tin candles are one of those rare gifts that feel handmade, mindful, and memorable. Each one is crafted with care — and carries warmth beyond just the flame.

Simple Ways to Package Your Gift:

Write a handwritten tag or label with the scent name and burn time
Wrap in kraft paper, linen, or recycled tissue
Tuck into a care package with tea bags, a bookmark, or a handmade card

These candles make perfect birthday, holiday, wedding, or thank-you gifts — small in size, generous in sentiment.

After the Candle Is Burned Out: Reusing the Tin

Even when the flame has faded, the tea tin’s life isn’t over.

How to Clean and Reuse:

Pour hot water into the tin to melt any remaining wax
Wipe the residue away with a cloth or spoon
Wash with warm water and dish soap

New Uses for the Tin:

Pour a new candle inside
Use as a jewelry tray
Store buttons, seeds, paper clips, or keepsakes

One container can carry many lives — over and over.

Troubleshooting: Common Candle-Making Problems

Even the best makers face occasional hiccups. Here are easy fixes for typical issues:

Sunken or Asymmetrical Tops

Caused by wax cooling too quickly or drafts during cooling
Fix: Reheat a bit of wax and carefully pour it over the top to level the surface

Tunneling

Happens when the first burn is too short, creating a narrow melt pool
Fix: Cover tin with foil, leave the top open, and burn for 1 hour to even out the wax

Wick Drowning in Wax

Wick may be too small or off-center
Fix: Choose a wick that matches your tin’s diameter, and use a wick guide or glue to center it properly

Weak Scent

Often from adding fragrance at the wrong temperature or too little oil
Fix: Add fragrance when wax is between 130–140°F, and use enough oil to carry the scent

My Opinion | Make With a Purpose, Illuminate With a Reason

The process of turning old tea tins into tiny candle jars isn’t just about crafting. It’s about honoring what you already have. It’s about transforming something small and almost forgotten into something warm, glowing, and meaningful.

Whether you make one candle or a dozen — for gifts or for yourself — there’s intention in each one. It tells a story. And every time you light it, you remember:

Beauty doesn’t always come from buying something new.
Sometimes, beauty is something you almost threw away.