From the page: The glass jar still has plenty of stories left in it
Idea 7
Floating candle centerpiece
Floating candles come from the Asian tradition of carrying lights on water at festivals, as offerings and wishes for prosperity. The physics is simple: wax is less dense than water, so the candle floats with the flame above the surface, and the glass holds it all in balance.
What you need
- Wide-mouth glass jars (canning, olive, or jam jars)
- Ready-made floating candles or regular candles cut into discs
- Filtered water or food coloring for tinting
- Flowers, leaves, or thin fruit slices (lemon, orange)
- Pebbles or shells to decorate the bottom
- Optional: drops of essential oil for the room
How to make it
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1
Choose wide-mouth jars, because the candle needs room to float without touching the sides; a narrow jar heats the glass unevenly.
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2
Decorate the bottom with pebbles, shells, or laid-down flowers if you like; they show through the glass and create layers of color.
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3
Fill the jar with water up to about three fingers from the rim, leaving room for the candle to float without overflowing when someone bumps it.
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4
If you want tinted water, mix in a drop of food coloring before pouring it into the jar; a little goes a long way, because the glass intensifies the color.
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5
Place the floating candle in the center of the water, careful not to wet the wick; if the wick gets wet, dry it before lighting.
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6
Finish with petals or fruit slices on top of the water, around the candle, and light it right when your guests arrive.
Finishing touches
For a soft scent, use orange blossom water or a slice of orange peel instead of essential oil drops, which can smoke near the flame. Change the water every two days and the arrangement is reborn with fresh flowers.
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