Make a shell candle with Kate from The Makery

The perfect craft for a rainy day, creating these simple candles is also the perfect way to hold on to a little piece of summer.


Seasalt Friend Kate, from The Makery, shows us how to make these beautiful, beachy candles using a few simple supplies and your favourite scent.

You will need
  • Saucepan
  • Pyrex or metal bowl, or jug
  • Metal spoon
  • Tea towel
  • Oven mitt
  • Jar lid or metal cookie cutter
  • Metal teaspoon
Candle-making supplies
  • 100g Soy wax (I use flakes)
  • Seashells (they need to be deep: Scallops & oysters work well)
  • Pre-waxed cotton candle wick
  • Glue dots or superglue Clay, glue-gun or tack
  • Thermometer
  • 7g Fragrance oil
Instructions

Place the cookie cutter or jar lid in the saucepan, then sit the jug or bowl on top. (This ensures the jug or bowl is raised from the bottom of the saucepan). Carefully pour water into the pan so the water goes less than halfway up the jug/bowl.

Heat the water until it’s gently simmering. No need to boil – you don’t want to risk water accidentally getting into the bowl or jug.

Pour the wax flakes into the jug or bowl. It’s important to melt the wax to the correct temperature; too hot and it will discolour. As it starts to melt, stir with your metal spoon. Use your thermometer to keep checking the temperature until it reaches 70 degrees C.

Whilst the wax is heating, prepare the shells: Ensure they’re clean. Glue the wick inside the base of each shell. Trim the wick to 5-6cm. Take the time to also check the shells are stable: You may need to attach some putty or tack to the base to stabilise them. When ready, place the shells on a tea-towel on a flat surface, away from a direct heat source, or a draft.

When there are no lumps left in the wax and it has reached 70 C, turn the heat off and carefully remove the jug/bowl from the heat using a mitt.

Pour in 7g fragrance oil and continue to stir gently to ensure it has fully bonded with the wax, until you reach a temperature of 55 – 65 C.

When the wax is between 55 – 65C, gently pour into the shells. Allow the candles to harden undisturbed for at least 3 hours. Trim the wick to 1cm. Ideally leave them to cure for 1 week before lighting.

Please remember to always keep lit candles away from flammable materials.

Find out more about The Makery at www.makerykate.com and on Instagram @themakerykate. Show us your candles by tagging us @SeasaltCornwall and using #SeasaltArtsClub