2 plastic bottles

wire

a large pan

approx 1½ blocks paraffin wax 

dye 

wick 

• Cut the tops off the two plastic bottles, fill one with water, and set aside. Take the other and wire it securely inside a large pan, so that it can’t move. Fill the pan about one third full of water, and heat it up.
• Chop the wax into chunks and gradually add to the plastic bottle, putting in a little more whenever the wax has started to melt. Continue this process until the bottle is pretty much full of melted wax - this can take a while, and the wax can be stirred around to hasten the process, with a long utensil such as a chopstick. The water in the pan shouldn’t be let to boil too fiercely, but remain on a gentle simmer throughout.
• Now is the time to add the dye - yellow makes very attractive, authentic-looking candles. The colour can be tested by spooning a little onto a plate and letting it cool.
• When the wax is fully melted, cut yourself a 30 cm length of wick, turn off the heat and dip it into the wax. Quickly draw out the wick and dip it into the water which you set aside earlier. Draw out the wick, which will be bent, and straighten it with your hands.
• Keep dipping the wick alternatively into the wax and water. At first the wick will keep on kinking, but make sure to straighten it each time, until it becomes brittle.
• When the candle has reached the desired thickness, carefully lay it aside and dip another, following the same process. After a while the wax in the bottle will start to cool, and the water should be heated up again - dipping can continue throughout.

Tip 2: For a higher-quality candle a little beeswax can be added at the melting stage if desired.