What Do You Fill Floating Candles With?

Floating candles are candles designed to float on water. They have become increasingly popular for ceremonies, events, and home decor. The candle sits in a container, usually made of glass or metal, filled with a liquid that enables the candle to float while lit.

There are several options for what to fill floating candles with. The liquid provides buoyancy to allow the candle to float, as well as keeping the wick upright. The most common fill options include water, mineral oil, gel wax, vegetable oil, rubbing alcohol, propylene glycol, glycerin, and decorative fillers like beads or glitter.

This article provides an overview of the different fill options for floating candles, the pros and cons of each, and considerations for choosing the right fill for your needs.

Water

Water is one of the most common and easiest materials to use for filling floating candles. Some key pros of using water as a floating candle fill are:

• Water is inexpensive and readily available.
• It’s easy to fill the candles – you just pour water in.
• Water provides a nice weight to keep the candles upright.
• It creates a soothing ambiance as the candles float and bob gently on the water.

Some potential cons are:

• Water can leak out and create a mess if the candle container is compromised.
• Plain water doesn’t have the most visually appealing look compared to colored or glitter-filled water.

To prepare water-filled floating candles:

1. Make sure the floating candle holder is watertight and has a lid or seal.
2. Fill the container most of the way with fresh water. Leave a little room at the top.
3. Place the floating candle wick down into the water.
4. Light the wick and replace the lid or seal to contain the water.

The Lumizu Water-Activated LED Floating Candles are a good option that are designed specifically for water.

Mineral Oil

Mineral oil is a popular choice for floating candles because it is odorless, smokeless, and burns cleanly. Some key pros of using mineral oil include:

• It has no scent, so it won’t compete with fragrance oils
• It is non-toxic and won’t release harmful fumes
• It has a long burn time, typically over 20 hours
• It is inexpensive and widely available

Some potential cons are that mineral oil can leave an oily residue on surfaces, and it is derived from petroleum so some prefer more natural options. To prepare mineral oil floating candles:

1. Choose a heat-safe glass container and add a wick
2. Fill the container most of the way with mineral oil
3. Optionally add fragrance oils, glitter, or dye
4. Let the candle sit for 24 hours before lighting

It’s important to take safety precautions as with any open flame. Keep the candle away from flammable materials, never leave it unattended, and keep out of reach of children and pets. Make sure the wick is trimmed to 1⁄4 inch before lighting to prevent smoking. With proper care, mineral oil makes a long-lasting, mess-free floating candle.

Gel Wax

Gel wax is a popular choice for filling floating candles because it provides excellent light quality, durability, and fragrance throw. Gel wax is a solid but flexible medium made from a blend of mineral oil and polymer resin that solidifies at room temperature (Candle Science). Some key pros and cons of using gel wax include:

Pros:

• Excellent light quality – Gel wax provides a bright, vibrant flame.
• Good fragrance throw – Gel wax holds and disperses fragrance oils better than many other waxes.
• Reusable – The same gel wax can be melted and reused multiple times.
• Customizable colors and scents – Gel wax can be easily colored and scented as desired.
• Minimal cleaning – Gel wax leaves behind no wax drippings or residue.

Cons:

• Can be more expensive than other waxes.
• Requires proper preparation and pouring techniques.
• May shrink over time as the wax evaporates.

To prepare gel wax for floating candles:

1. Melt the gel wax in a double boiler or wax melter at 180-200°F.
2. Add fragrance oil and dye as desired, stirring well to combine.
3. Carefully pour the melted wax into containers, leaving room at the top for the wick and float ring.
4. Insert wicks anchored with wick stickers before the wax starts to set up.
5. Allow the candles to fully cure for 24-48 hours before use.

With proper preparation, gel wax makes an excellent fill for floating candles, providing beautiful illumination and fragrance.

Vegetable Oil

Vegetable oil is one of the most commonly used fillers for floating candles. It’s inexpensive, easy to find, and burns cleanly (source: https://www.buyacandle.com/shop_watercandlepage.html). Some pros of using vegetable oil as a floating candle filler are:

• Vegetable oils like corn, soybean, and olive oil are readily available at grocery stores.
• Vegetable oils are affordable options compared to more specialized candle making oils.
• Most vegetable oils burn very cleanly, without producing a lot of soot.

Some cons of vegetable oil floating candles are:

• Some vegetable oils can develop an odor as the candle burns, whereas oils like mineral oil are odorless.
• The oils can go rancid over time before the candle is burned.
• Some oils like olive oil can solidify in cooler temperatures.

Making floating candles with vegetable oil is simple. Fill a glass bowl or vase about halfway with water. Then pour a thin layer of vegetable oil over the water surface. Add your floating wick by placing the metal or plastic base in the center of the bowl and lighting the wick (source: https://pepperell.com/shop/wick-store/floating-candle-wick-floats/). The wick will absorb the vegetable oil as it burns to create a beautiful floating flame.

Rubbing Alcohol

Rubbing alcohol, also known as isopropyl alcohol, is a common ingredient used for floating candles. It has some advantages as well as some safety considerations to keep in mind.

Some of the pros of using rubbing alcohol for floating candles include:

• It’s inexpensive and readily available (source: https://www.instructables.com/Alcohol-Candle-2/)
• It burns slowly and cleanly
• It’s easy to extinguish
• It has little to no scent

To prepare rubbing alcohol floating candles, you’ll need 70-91% isopropyl alcohol and containers that are heat-resistant like glass or metal. Do not use plastic containers as they can melt and be a fire hazard (source: https://www.instructables.com/Alcohol-Candle-2/). Fill the container about 3/4 full with rubbing alcohol and add a wick. Make sure the wick is fully submerged in the liquid before lighting.

Some important safety tips when using rubbing alcohol for floating candles:

• Never leave a burning rubbing alcohol candle unattended
• Keep away from flammable materials and out of reach of children and pets
• Have a fire extinguisher nearby just in case
• Allow plenty of ventilation to avoid build up of fumes

With proper precautions, rubbing alcohol can be a inexpensive, effective option for clean-burning floating candles.

Propylene Glycol

Propylene glycol is a common ingredient in many cosmetics, food products, and medicines. It is a synthetic liquid substance that absorbs water (Shahbandeh 2020). Propylene glycol works well for floating candles because it is clear, odorless, and has a thick, syrupy consistency that allows the candle to float on water.

Some pros of using propylene glycol for floating candles are that it:

• Is affordable and easy to find
• Has a high boiling point so it won’t evaporate quickly
• Is non-toxic and generally recognized as safe by the FDA

Some cons are that propylene glycol:

• Is petroleum-based and not a natural product
• Can irritate skin for some people
• Is flammable at high temperatures

To prepare floating candles with propylene glycol, first melt wax and pour into a container or mold per your candle making method. Let candles fully set and harden. Then, gently melt a small amount of bottom wax and quickly pour in room temperature propylene glycol until the candle floats properly when placed in water. Allow the newly poured bottom layer to fully set again before use (Royal Imports 2016).

Take care to avoid overheating propylene glycol as it is flammable at very high temperatures. Make sure ventilation is adequate if melting large amounts. Test for skin irritation before prolonged exposure. Keep away from children and pets as ingestion can be problematic (MedlinePlus 2022). With proper precautions, propylene glycol can be a convenient option for DIY floating candles.

References:

MedlinePlus. 2022. Propylene glycol. U.S. National Library of Medicine. https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a682604.html

Royal Imports. 2016. 3” White Floating Candles. Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/Royal-Imports-Floating-Candles-Unscented/dp/B019YGT1FA

Shahbandeh, M. 2020. Propylene glycol production in the United States from 2004 to 2019. Statista. https://www.statista.com/statistics/796942/us-propylene-glycol-production/

Glycerin

Glycerin is an odorless, colorless liquid that can make floating candles appear crystal clear. It has a thick, syrupy consistency that allows objects to float freely. Some key pros and cons of using glycerin for floating candles:

Pros:

• Creates a transparent effect as it has no color
• Thick, viscous formula allows items to float and move slowly
• Typically inexpensive and widely available

Cons:

• Can get sticky and leave residue on surfaces
• Not recommended for lighting as it may release harmful fumes when burned (source)
• May attract dust and debris over time

To make glycerin floating candles:

1. Purchase food-grade glycerin
2. Clean and dry container thoroughly
3. Pour glycerin into container, filling about 2/3 full
4. Add desired floating decor (flowers, glitter, etc)
5. Allow to sit undisturbed so decor can float freely

Glycerin creates beautiful, crystal clear floating candle effects. However, it’s best used in unlit displays rather than burning candles due to potential fumes. Always test glycerin in small batches first when experimenting with floating candle projects.

Decorative Fillers

Floating candles can be enhanced with attractive decorative fillers like glitter, seashells, and flowers placed on top of the candle’s surface. These eye-catching accents serve both decorative and functional purposes.

Glitter is a classic decorative filler that adds shimmer and sparkle to floating candles. Fine glitter sprinkled lightly on the surface not only looks beautiful, but also helps break up the candle’s surface tension allowing the candle to float freely. Coarser glitter can be used to add texture and interest. Just be sure to use glitter rated for candle making as some types of glitter can clog wicks or be a fire hazard.

Seashells make natural, nautical-themed fillers. Small seashells like sand dollars or tiny clam shells can be placed upright in the wax for a charming effect. Larger shells can be arranged attractively around the candle’s edges. Seashells help weigh down the edges of the floating candle to keep it stable in the water.

Faux flowers and petals make stunning fillers that transform floating candles into floral centerpieces. Delicate flowers or rose petals can be scattered across the surface, while mini flower stems can be inserted into the wax around the candle’s sides. Choose durable silk or plastic flowers that won’t wilt when they come in contact with the water and wax.

When using decorative fillers, carefully arrange them on the wax, spreading them out evenly so the candle remains balanced and can float properly. Most fillers can simply be pressed lightly into warm wax before it fully hardens to keep them securely in place. Decorative accents help personalize basic floating candles for any occasion or theme.

Conclusion

Overall, the best floating candle fill options are water, mineral oil, gel wax, and vegetable oil. Each of these has advantages and disadvantages to consider:

• Water is inexpensive and easy to use, but can lead to wax melting issues.
• Mineral oil is clear, long-lasting, and won’t evaporate, but is more expensive.
• Gel wax floats well and looks attractive, but can be messy when cleaning the jar.
• Vegetable oil provides good floatation at a low cost, but may go rancid over time.

Some final tips when preparing great floating candles:

• Match the wick size to the jar width for proper burning.
• Allow adequate wax cooling time before adding the fill liquid.
• Consider adding colors or scents to the wax or fill liquid.
• Clean the jars thoroughly and check for leaks before pouring.
• Make sure the fill level is 1-2 inches below the jar rim.

With the right fill material and preparation, you can create beautiful floating candles to enhance any space. Have fun experimenting!