Can You Put Instant Coffee In A Candle?
Candles are a popular decorative item found in many homes, used to create ambiance and fill a room with pleasant scents. With so many unique scents and flavors available in candles today, some creative candle-makers have started experimenting by adding unexpected ingredients to create one-of-a-kind candles.
One intriguing idea is adding instant coffee to candles. Coffee’s rich, inviting aroma makes it a natural choice for candles. The question of whether instant coffee can be added to candles is an interesting one to explore for anyone looking to make custom, homemade candles with unique scents.
Background on Candles
Candles are a popular household item used to provide lighting and fragrance. The basic structure of a candle includes wax, a wick, and sometimes fragrance and dyes.
The wax serves as the fuel source for the candle. Common types of wax used in candle making include paraffin, soy, beeswax, and palm wax. The wax melts and pools around the wick when lit to fuel the flame (source).
The wick is a cord that runs through the center of the candle. It brings the melted wax to the flame. Wicks are typically made of braided cotton or paper fibers. When lit, the wick absorbs and incinerates the wax to produce the flame.
Candles often contain fragrance oils and dyes to provide appealing scents and colors when burned. However, these are optional ingredients. At its basic level, a candle only requires wax and a wick to function (source).
Coffee in Candles
Coffee is a popular scent for candles because of its strong, invigorating aroma that many people find energizing and uplifting. The scent of fresh brewed coffee is recognizable worldwide, making it a comforting, familiar fragrance. Coffee-scented candles can provide an instant pick-me-up and make your home smell like a cozy cafe.
Some key benefits of coffee-scented candles include:
- Provide an energizing burst of aroma that can help you feel more alert.
- Create an inviting atmosphere – the scent of coffee is welcoming to many people.
- Mask odors or stale air – the robust fragrance covers up unwanted smells.
- Evoke positive memories and nostalgia of coffee shops, breakfast foods, and mornings.
- Set a comforting mood that encourages relaxation, conversation, reading and more in your living space.
Overall, coffee’s bold, stimulating scent makes it a popular choice for candle fragrances. Burning a coffee-scented candle can provide an instant pick-me-up or help create a cozy, inviting environment.
Can You Use Instant Coffee?
Both instant coffee and ground coffee come from coffee beans, but they have some key differences. Instant coffee is made from brewed coffee that has been freeze-dried or spray-dried into soluble powder or granules. This makes instant coffee quicker and easier to prepare as you just need hot water to dissolve the powder. However, the process of turning brewed coffee into instant coffee strips away many of the oils and compounds that give coffee its flavor and complexity.
Ground coffee refers to whole coffee beans that have been ground into coarse, medium, or fine particles. To brew ground coffee, you add the grounds to hot water and steep or filter it to extract the oils, flavors, and compounds from the beans. This allows more of the nuanced flavors to come through. Ground coffee is more complex, aromatic, and flavorful compared to instant coffee. However, it takes more time and effort to prepare.
So while you can technically use instant coffee in candles, it won’t provide as nice of a coffee fragrance as ground coffee would. The additional flavors and aromas in ground coffee lend themselves better to candlemaking. If you want your coffee candle to have a rich, authentic scent, opt for fresh ground coffee beans rather than instant coffee powder.
Making Instant Coffee Candles
Making candles with instant coffee is a simple process. Here are step-by-step instructions:
- Prepare a strong coffee extract by mixing 2 tablespoons of instant coffee with 1/4 cup hot water (Source). Allow to cool.
- Melt candle wax either on the stove or using a double boiler. Use 4 ounces of wax per 1 ounce of coffee extract (Source).
- Once the wax has melted, remove from heat. Carefully stir in the cooled coffee extract.
- Add candle dye if desired for color. Stir to combine.
- Pour the wax into containers or molds of your choice.
- Allow candles to fully set and harden before use, at least 24 hours.
Be very careful when melting wax and pouring candles. Follow all safety precautions. Make sure to clean up spills right away to avoid stains.
Candle Wax Considerations
The wax you use for your coffee candle is an important consideration. Not all candle waxes are created equal when it comes to holding fragrance oils like coffee.
Paraffin wax is the most commonly used candle making wax, but it may not be the best choice for coffee candles. Paraffin doesn’t hold fragrance oils as well over time. The coffee scent can fade more quickly from a paraffin wax candle.
For best coffee fragrance retention, try using soy wax, coconut wax, or a soy-paraffin blend. These natural wax options have excellent fragrance throw and hold scents better than paraffin alone. Soy and coconut wax also produce less soot.
Beeswax is another option, but it can be prone to frosting and separation. Adding some paraffin to beeswax can help, but test your wax blend first before making a large batch of candles.
No matter what wax you choose, make sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for adding fragrance. Generally a maximum of 1 oz of fragrance oil per 1 lb of wax is recommended.
Coffee Candle Fragrance Oils
Premade coffee fragrance oils are a great way to add authentic coffee scents to candles. These specialty oils are formulated to replicate the aroma of fresh brewed coffee. The oils contain a precise blend of fragrance compounds that capture the complex notes of coffee – from the nutty, roasted elements to subtle sweet undertones.
High quality coffee fragrance oils from reputable candle making suppliers can provide a lovely and long-lasting coffee aroma in candles. Utilizing a premade oil removes the guesswork and effort needed to try to capture the nuanced scent of coffee yourself. It also ensures your candle will have a consistent, pleasant coffee fragrance every time.
Some popular coffee scent options for candle making include Fresh Brewed Coffee, French Vanilla Coffee, Dark Roasted Coffee, Iced Coffee, and more. Testing a few coffee fragrance oils will allow you to find your favorite to incorporate into candle designs.Brewed Bliss: Elevate Your Space with Our Top Coffee Fragrance OilsSet of 3 Dark Chocolate-Exotic Amber-Fresh Coffee Fragrance Oil for Candle Making 30ml EachSet of 3 Dark Chocolate-French Vanilla-Fresh Coffee Fragrance Oil for Candle Making 30ml Each
Storing and Burning
Proper storage is important for maximizing the scent and burn time of your coffee candles. Here are some tips:
Store coffee candles in a cool, dry place away from direct light and heat. Temperature fluctuations can cause the fragrance oils to evaporate more quickly (source). A pantry, closet, or basement are ideal storage spots.
Keep the candle in its original container or wrap in plastic wrap to seal in the scent (source). Opening the container frequently allows the fragrance to dissipate.
Burn the candle for 1-2 hours at a time to fully liquefy and blend the wax and oils. This helps ensure an even burn and maximizes fragrance throw when lit again.
Allow the candle to cure for 1-2 weeks after production before burning to give the fragrance time to set in the wax. Burning too soon can cause poor scent throw.
Trim the wick to 1⁄4 inch before lighting to prevent excess sooting and uneven burning. This helps the candle burn cleaner.
Burn on a stable, heatproof surface away from drafts which can disrupt the burn. Keep subsequent burns spaced a few hours apart to allow the wax pool to solidify again.
Coffee Candle Ideas
Coffee-scented candles lend themselves to creative uses beyond simply lighting them to fill a room with the aroma of fresh coffee. Here are some fun ideas for incorporating coffee candles into your home décor or as gifts:
Coffee-scented candles can make for inviting centerpieces on a dining room table or kitchen countertop. Cluster several coffee-scented votives or pillars together in the middle of the table for an aromatic accent. The warm, cozy scent helps promote conversation and connection.
The invigorating aroma of coffee candles makes them ideal for aromatherapy. Place a coffee-scented candle on your desk or workspace for an energizing boost when you need to concentrate. Or put one on the bathroom counter and light it while taking a shower to help you wake up and feel refreshed.
Give a gift of a freshly brewed pick-me-up with coffee-scented candles as presents for birthdays, holidays, or housewarmings. Choose a coffee-themed container like a milk jug or coffee cup for a fun presentation.
Coffee-scented candles can help provide a cozy atmosphere and tantalizing aroma that conjures memories of a local coffee shop. Place them in a café-style setting in your home, like on the kitchen table with mugs, a French press, and baked goods.
Conclusion
In summary, instant coffee can absolutely be used to make candles. The coffee provides a rich, aromatic scent that many find relaxing and uplifting. When adding instant coffee to candle wax, it’s important to use soy wax or other natural waxes, as paraffin wax can mute the coffee scent. You’ll also want to use a double boiler method and proper candle making supplies like wicks and jars. Coffee candles pair well with coffee fragrance oils or complementary scents like vanilla, chocolate or cinnamon. With the right preparation, coffee candles can make wonderful homemade gifts or Bath & Body products. We’ve covered the basics of making and enjoying coffee candles, from the benefits to the ideal supplies. Experiment with different coffee blends and wax colors to create your own custom coffee candle.
