{"id":7188,"date":"2023-01-03T17:53:57","date_gmt":"2023-01-04T01:53:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/housefragrance.com\/?p=7188"},"modified":"2023-01-03T17:55:00","modified_gmt":"2023-01-04T01:55:00","slug":"can-you-make-a-candle-out-of-ear-wax","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/housefragrance.com\/can-you-make-a-candle-out-of-ear-wax\/","title":{"rendered":"Can You Make a Candle Out of Ear Wax? (Explained)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Delving into candle making, I researched and experimented with different approaches extensively. For instance, can you make a candle out of ear wax? The answer wasn\u2019t what I\u2019d expected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Earwax isn\u2019t a good material for candle making. After all, it doesn\u2019t melt properly, and it makes a crackling sound rather than explosive vapor. Not to mention, it\u2019d take ages to collect enough earwax for a candle (even for a small one).<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Although ear wax isn\u2019t enough for a functioning candle, it can be combined with other materials to make one.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/housefragrance.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Can-You-Make-a-Candle-Out-of-Ear-Wax-800.jpg\" alt=\"Can You Make a Candle Out of Ear Wax\" class=\"wp-image-7292\" srcset=\"https:\/\/housefragrance.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Can-You-Make-a-Candle-Out-of-Ear-Wax-800.jpg 800w, https:\/\/housefragrance.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Can-You-Make-a-Candle-Out-of-Ear-Wax-800-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/housefragrance.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Can-You-Make-a-Candle-Out-of-Ear-Wax-800-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Earwax and Candles<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Maybe you\u2019ve just rewatched Shrek, and it has really inspired you to give this earwax candle idea a shot. Unfortunately, it wouldn\u2019t turn out the way it would in the movie. How do I know? Mythbusters, the Discovery Channel serial show, had its crew try this experiment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In Episode 136, they collected Tory\u2019s earwax and mixed it with commonly used materials for candle making (beeswax and paraffin). As a result, the wax didn\u2019t melt; it burned, sparking, sputtering, and crackling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, the crew added earwax from other cast and crew members and volunteers. They made this wax into a candle and placed it alongside a paraffin candle. As suspected, the problem wasn\u2019t with Tory\u2019s earwax; this addition didn\u2019t alter the experiment results. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The earwax candle burned poorly and went out fast (compared to the regular candle). Accordingly, they concluded that earwax doesn\u2019t melt smoothly like paraffin and other candle-making materials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why Can\u2019t You Make a Candle Out of Ear Wax?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Theoretically, it makes sense. After all, you\u2019re using wax to make a candle, so why should it fail? A few reasons are that ear wax candles:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Burn<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A candle should melt slowly, allowing you to enjoy its scent as it releases vapor. However, ear wax doesn\u2019t melt. It burns and dissolves without creating a vapor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Leave a Bad Odor<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Ear wax is essentially gland secretions, dead skin cells, sweat, and filth. Try putting that on a candle label, and see if it sells. What I\u2019m trying to say is that an earwax candle will smell like, well, earwax.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Are Difficult to Source<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019ll be difficult to find enough earwax to make candles. A single candle required \u2018samples\u2019 from the Mythbusters crew and cast and even volunteers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, how are you going to source this DIY project? You\u2019d need to collect earwax for years before you have enough just for it to burn shortly. Talk about watching your life\u2019s work go up in flames.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Can You Do?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You may not be able to turn earwax into a candle, but here are some ideas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Mix Wax Types<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s possible to make a candle by combining ear wax with other waxes (even if it isn\u2019t very effective).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Melt ear wax with <a href=\"https:\/\/housefragrance.com\/can-you-mix-soy-and-paraffin-wax\/\">paraffin or soy<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Put the melted wax in a glass jar, and stir it with a spoon so that it doesn\u2019t harden.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pour essential oils on the wax to give it a nice scent and suppress the bad smell.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Give the mixture 24 hours.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Remove it from the container with a spoon.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Add the wax to your candles with a funnel.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Light your candle.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Put it out once it starts to smoke.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Store your candle in a cold, dark place.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Use Other Materials<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Making candles out of earwax may not be a good idea, but there are other materials that you can recycle into candles. And they might just be collecting dust in a cupboard or drawer, such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Crayons<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Believe it or not, old crayons can make for such colorful candles. Here\u2019s how to DIY them:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Add ice cubes to a bowl of water.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Once the water gets cold, drop 10 to 15 crayons in it for five minutes to separate their wrappers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Break the crayons in half, and try peeling off their wrapper.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If that fails, place the crayons vertically on a table.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Slide a knife carefully on your crayons until you remove part of their wrappers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use that spot to peel off the rest.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Place the crayons (two by two) into a container you don\u2019t need, and microwave them for two minutes. Make sure the crayon colors are complementary.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Once the mixture is smooth, pour it into a small baking cup, metal cookie cutter, or something similar.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>After five minutes, poke holes into your candles with a toothpick.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Insert wicks, and cut them off so that they\u2019re \u00bd or 1 inch above your candles.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Remove the candles from the molds with a spoon or knife.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Put them in candle holders, and store them.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Crisco<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Making candles with Crisco is unbelievably easy and cheap. Just avoid using Crisco cans as candle holders because they can be unsafe. All you need to do is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Thread a wick into a disk.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Secure it at the bottom of a jar.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tie the top of the wick to a pencil with flat sides so that it can stand still perpendicular to the jar.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Microwave the Crisco for about 30 seconds.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Stir it for about 30 seconds until it becomes a liquid.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pour the liquid into the jar.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Give it a day to harden.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cut the wick, and store the candle as mentioned before.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Is Ear Candling the Same as Making Earwax Candles?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As you do your research about earwax candles, you\u2019ll find tons of information about ear candling. Nonetheless, they\u2019re entirely different processes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019re looking to make a candle from earwax, whereas others are looking to remove earwax from their ears for medical purposes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In short, ear candling involves the placing of a cone-shaped candle into your ear. This way, its heat can extract earwax. Done by a practitioner or at home, this <a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/cosmetic-safety\/ear-candling#research\">ancient medical practice<\/a> is controversial and isn\u2019t backed by scientific research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What to Remember<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Ultimately, if Mythbusters has taught us anything, it\u2019s that earwax doesn\u2019t make good candles. That\u2019s because they burn fast, are difficult to source, and leave a bad smell. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Your best bet would be mixing earwax with other wax types like paraffin. Even better, old crayons or a can of Crisco make better wax for candles, and you won\u2019t have to buy pricey materials!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Delving into candle making, I researched and experimented with different approaches extensively. For instance, can you make a candle out of ear wax? The answer wasn\u2019t what I\u2019d expected. Earwax<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7293,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/housefragrance.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7188"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/housefragrance.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/housefragrance.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/housefragrance.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/housefragrance.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7188"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/housefragrance.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7188\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7295,"href":"https:\/\/housefragrance.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7188\/revisions\/7295"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/housefragrance.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7293"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/housefragrance.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7188"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/housefragrance.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7188"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/housefragrance.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7188"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}