Candles and flame lamps like this mason jar oil lamp can help you create a romantic atmosphere in your home.
If you are having a dinner date, spending at home with your loved ones, or just feel like pampering yourself, lighting a scented flame can really set the atmosphere. With this simple DIY project, you can create a mason jar oil lamp with ingredients and materials found in the kitchen. In fact, this homemade olive oil lamp is much cheaper compared to candles.
I've made these with peppermint oil, cinnamon oil ans sticks, rose oil, dried roses, lavender essential oil and lavender buds. The mason jar oil lamp makes a lovely gift — even if it's a gift for yourself!
How To Make a Mason Jar Oil Lamp:
Materials Needed:
- A wide-mouthed glass jar (a quart-size wide-mouthed canning jar works really well)
- A short length of flexible steel wire (1 1/2 or 2 times the height of the jar)
- A wick
- Olive oil
- Essential oil or fragrance oil (optional)
- Dried flowers, herbs and/or spices (optional)
Step 1:
Wrap and Coil Wire to Make Hook
Use the steel wire to create a long hook. Wrap the wire back and forth so you have several strands making up the length. Make the wire piece the same height as the jar. It will help hold the wire and can also be used as a handle to help pull the wick up for lighting.
Step 2:
Make Wire Coil for Wick
Measure the wire at this point and make sure it is a couple of inches taller than your jar. At the other end of the wire from your handle coil, make another, looser coil. This will serve as a wick stand that's about an inch or two tall that sits on the bottom of the jar.
Step 3:
Cut Wick and Attach to Wire
Create enough length of wick to allow it to stick up above the wire coil, while the remaining length of the wick is covered with olive oil.
Step 4:
Add Oil
Pour the olive oil into the jar. Make sure enough olive oil is is poured into the jar, so that it's just under where the wick is pinched. Leave enough space for the wick so it's not totally soaked with olive oil.
FYI!!
A few ounces of oil will keep the lamp lit for several hours.
Step 5: (optional)
Additions
You can add herbs and spices to the olive oil to create a romantic or calming scent.
Step 6:
Light & Enjoy!
Are you a visual learner? Watch our video tutorial on how to make a mason jar olive oil lamp:
NICE
COOL
Caution: this works, but should ONLY be used under constant adult supervision.
SERIOUS fire risk…. the jar should NOT be placed near curtains, or open windows, or anywhere containing flammable material.
I used to make oil lamps using a coiled wire, but the problem with them is you have to keep adjusting the height of the wick as the oil is consumed and the level drops. The solution? A FLOATING wick: Cut in half lengthways a cork from a wine or champagne bottle, make a hole through the center of it (with a sharply tapered knife and cutting board, or a drill), wrap a layer of aluminum foil around it (or cut a 3/4″ ring out of the side of an aluminum can), poke a hole through it, and insert a cotton wick, like a strand from a cotton mop, rope, or rag — or even a short length of tightly rolled toilet tissue or paper towel. Adjust wick to just less than a quarter inch high (5 mm) — higher and will smoke. Fill jar with vegetable oil (olive oil is best or even animal lard in a pinch, like the Eskimos), dip wick in oil, light, and float. Will burn for hours without adjustment.
Also, I recommend using a SMALL jar, so it’s easily portable in bag or even a large pocket. I also prefer to not add any other ingredients. Essential oils don’t produce much fragrance, because they just burn up, so are wasted.
I have some olive oil that has gone bad—-can I use it for making these candles? I hate to waste 3 pints of olive oil.