Can You Burn Tea Lights In Mason Jars?

Tea lights are small candles meant to burn for a few hours. They are inexpensive, easy to use, and available at most grocery stores and retailers that sell home goods. Tea lights come in metal tins or cups that hold the wax and wick. The metal containers help properly pool the melted wax while the candle burns.

Mason jars are reusable glass jars often used for canning and food storage. They come in a wide range of sizes with regular and wide-mouth openings. With their vintage, rustic look, mason jars have become popular home decor items. People often decorate them and display flowers, snacks, or other items in mason jars.

Displaying tea lights in mason jars combines the warm, flickering light of candles with the charming style of mason jars. It creates an inexpensive yet attractive way to decorate for different seasons, events, or ambiance. With some simple safety precautions, tea lights can burn safely for hours inside mason jars.

Safety Considerations

When burning tea lights in glass jars or containers, it’s important to be aware of potential fire hazards. The main risk is that the glass could get too hot from the flame and crack or shatter, causing hot wax to spill out. This spilled wax could then ignite any nearby combustible materials.

To prevent this, it’s crucial to use containers made of heat-resistant glass, such as borosilicate glass, tempered glass, or Pyrex. Regular glass jars and drinking glasses are generally not resilient enough for candle use. It’s also important to place the candle jar on a sturdy, nonflammable surface, avoiding any materials like paper or fabric that could catch fire.

Additionally, you should never leave a burning tea light unattended for any length of time. Stay in the same room and watch the candle, being ready to extinguish it if you notice the glass getting too hot. Allow adequate air flow around the jar and keep it away from other objects. With proper precautions, you can safely enjoy the soft glow of tea lights in glass jars.

Proper Setup

When using mason jars to burn tea lights, proper setup is important for both safety and aesthetics. Here are some tips for getting the setup right:

Choose an appropriate sized jar. Wide mouth pint-sized jars work well for standard tea lights that are approximately 1.5 inches wide. Make sure the jar opening is wide enough for the tea light to fit through without forcing it.

Use a tea light that fits. Tea lights come in various sizes, so match the size to your jar. A tea light that is too small may tip over or get lost at the bottom of the jar. One that is too big won’t even fit inside.

Arrange tea lights evenly. For the most attractive look, arrange multiple tea lights evenly spaced apart in the jar. This allows the light to shine through equally around the jar’s circumference.

Consider elevating candles. You can place tea lights directly on the bottom of the jar. However, for the best light dispersion, rest them on a small ledge, pebbles, or sea glass at the bottom.

Jar Lid Options

When burning tea lights in mason jars, you have a few options for the jar lids:

Open Lid – Leaving the jar lid completely off allows the candle to burn freely and provides maximum light. However, an open lid also comes with safety risks, as an open flame is more prone to catching other flammable materials on fire. Use caution if choosing an open lid.

Closed Lid – A completely sealed mason jar lid will extinguish the tea light flame due to lack of oxygen. This is the safest option but will not allow the candle to burn.

Lid with Hole – Drilling or puncturing a hole in the mason jar lid is a good middle ground. The hole provides just enough oxygen for the tea light to burn safely while containing the flame more than an open lid. The size of the hole can be adjusted to strike the right balance of illumination versus safety.

Decorative Ideas

Mason jars with tea lights create a cozy ambiance and allow for plenty of decorative touches. Here are some ways to make your mason jar tea lights unique:

Painting jars – Paint the outside of mason jars with chalkboard paint or acrylic paint in your favorite colors. You can paint patterns, designs, or words on the jars for some personalized flair. Metallic paints like gold and silver also look beautiful reflecting the tea light glow.

Adding beads or flowers – Adorn the tops of mason jars with beads, crystals, or artificial flowers. Choose colors and textures that complement the interior decor. You can also line the bottom of the jars with beads, pebbles, sand, or herbs before placing the tea light on top.

Outdoor Use

Using tea lights in mason jars outdoors can add lovely ambiance to your patio, garden or outdoor living space. However, there are some special considerations when using jars and tea lights outside.

Wind can be an issue since it can blow out the flame. Try placing the jars in more sheltered spots that are protected from gusts of wind. Position them near the house, fences, plants or other structures that block the wind.

Outdoor string lighting placed above the jars can also help block wind while adding more decoration. Just make sure the string lights are high enough not to generate heat on the jars.

Flameless LED tea lights are another option for outdoor use since you won’t have to worry about them blowing out. They provide flickering ambiance without an open flame.

Placing rocks, pebbles or marbles in the bottom of the jars can also help anchor them and prevent the wind from tipping them over. Start with a heavy, wide-bottomed jar for stability.

Take precautions to keep jars and tea lights safely away from anything flammable outdoors. Don’t place directly on or near dry grass, wood surfaces or flammable decor.

Avoid using tea lights outdoors on extra windy days when the wind can quickly carry the flame to unintended areas. Opt for flameless LEDs on high wind days for safety.

Troubleshooting

When burning tea lights in mason jars, you may encounter some issues like soot buildup, candles blowing out, or tunneling. Here are some tips for troubleshooting common problems:

Soot Buildup

Soot on the inside of the jar is caused by incomplete combustion of the wax. To prevent soot, make sure your wick is the proper length and trim it before each use. Allow the wax pool to fully melt on the initial burn to prevent mushrooming. Soot can be cleaned with hot water, soap and a soft cloth or sponge.

Blowing Out

If your tea light keeps blowing out, there likely isn’t enough oxygen getting inside the jar. Try using a tea light holder or floating wick so the flame sits higher above the rim. Avoid windy areas or drafts. Check that the wick isn’t smothered in wax.

Tunneling

Tunneling happens when the wax melts unevenly, creating a hole down the side of the candle. To prevent tunneling, make sure your candle isn’t near any hot or cold drafts. Allow the wax pool to fully melt on the first burn. Trim wicks to 1⁄4 inch before lighting to keep the flame centered and upright.

Making Your Own Tea Lights

If you want full control over the scents and colors of your tea lights, making your own at home is relatively easy. Here are some tips for DIY tea light making success:

Wax

For the wax base, you can use old candles, blocks of beeswax, or wax flakes/pellets. Paraffin wax tends to be the most affordable option. Soy wax and beeswax are pricier but give a natural, eco-friendly vibe. You can also blend waxes. The wax should be free of debris.

Wicks

Make sure you get wicks specifically designed for votives/tea lights. The wick thickness determines how large the flame will be. Test different thicknesses to find the right balance. The wicks should be trimmed to 1⁄4-1⁄2 inch before pouring the wax.

Pouring

Melt the wax completely before adding fragrance oils or liquid candle dyes as desired. Carefully pour the wax into the tea light cups, leaving 1⁄4 inch at the top. Center the wick in each cup. Let candles fully harden for about 12 hours before burning.

Curing

Allow homemade tea lights to cure for 1-2 weeks before burning to allow trapped air bubbles to dissipate. This helps prevent tunneling issues where the flame burns through a hole instead of evenly across the wax. Now you can enjoy your personalized tea lights!

Tea Light Alternatives

If you want to use battery-powered tea lights instead of real candles in mason jars, LED and battery-operated options are widely available. These flameless tea lights offer many advantages over real candles:

LED tea lights are cool to the touch, eliminating any fire hazard. You never have to worry about the batteries or LED burning out. They can be left unattended, making them ideal for outdoor use or sending guests home with a decorative light.

Battery-operated tea lights come in many styles, from elegant ivory wax to colorful flashing lights. They turn on and off with the flip of a switch or automatic timer. Many have remote controls for easily changing light modes. Choose flickering lights for a realistic candle effect.

Reusable LED and battery tea lights are cost effective. Just replace the batteries periodically. They’re also better for the environment than constantly purchasing new wax tea lights that get thrown away.

Flameless tea lights give you creative flexibility. Cluster different colors together in one jar for fun mood lighting. Mix sizes to create depth and dimension. Place them in locations unsafe for open flames like paper luminaries or floral wreaths.

Conclusion

Burning tea lights in mason jars can create a lovely ambiance and decorative accent to your home or outdoor space. With proper precautions, setup, and jar lid choices, it can be done safely and beautifully. Opt for heat-resistant jars, allow for airflow, use flat metal lids or tea light holders, and avoid leaving lit jars unattended. Get creative with your jar and tea light choices to make a statement. Just be sure to take safety seriously and troubleshoot any issues that arise. Overall, burning tea lights in mason jars is a simple yet stunning way to add charm and a cozy glow to your surroundings.

In the end, whether you’re looking to set a romantic mood, illuminate your patio, or make your home decor shine, tea lights in mason jars present a budget-friendly and stylish lighting option when done properly. A little creativity and care goes a long way. Enjoy the ambiance!