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You do not need a candle jar to make a candle. Any heat-safe bowl, urli or diya you already own can become one. Pour in sand wax, set a wick and light it. No jar to buy, no label, no melting.
When the wick is done, put in a new one and it is a fresh candle again.
Diwali is the best time to try it. Most homes have brass urlis, diyas, katoris and pretty bowls that only come out once a year. Sand wax puts them to work.
A sand wax candle is made from tiny wax beads that pour like sand. Pour them into any heat-safe bowl, diya or urli, push in a wick and light it. Nothing to melt, no jar to buy. Swap the wick for a new candle.
Every new jar candle is also a new jar to throw away
Candle brands often quote a figure that only about 8% of candle containers get recycled, and over 35 million end up in landfill every year. We could not trace it to an original study, so read it as a rough picture.
The direction is clear, though. The North London Waste Authority tells residents to put a candle they cannot reuse in the general waste bin.
Sand wax works the other way round. The bowl is something you already own, so there is no new jar, and when the candle is done the bowl simply goes back to being a bowl.
That suits how we celebrate. Instead of buying a fresh set of candles every Diwali, you can light the urlis and diyas already on your shelf.
Most bowls in your home will work, and a few will not
The rule is simple. The bowl should not crack or melt under a flame, it should sit flat, and the opening should be wide enough that the flame is not pressed against the side.
These are good picks:
- Ceramic or stoneware bowls
- Brass, copper or steel urlis and katoris
- Thick glass bowls
- Clay diyas
Leave these out:
- Plastic of any kind
- Thin glass, such as tumblers and vases
- Wooden bowls
- Anything that wobbles
Metal gets hot, so put a mat or plate under it and keep little hands away. Not sure about a bowl? Check it here.
Which bowl at home should become your candle?
Tell us about the bowl on your shelf and we will say if it is ready for sand wax.
How to make a sand wax candle: five steps, about two minutes
- Put your bowl on a flat, steady surface, away from curtains.
- Pour in the sand wax, leaving a little space below the rim.
- Push the wick straight down into the middle of the wax.
- Trim the wick so only about ¼ inch shows, then light it.
- Put it out with a snuffer or a gentle breath, never with water.
The National Candle Association advises trimming the wick to ¼ inch before each use and keeping candles at least 12 inches from curtains, bedding and books.
A new candle every time
When the wick is done, let everything cool. Lift out the old wick and the hardened bit around it, level the wax and push in a new wick. Your bowl is a fresh candle again.
Sand wax floats on water, so a glass of it looks beautiful
Pour a layer of sand wax over water in a clear, thick glass and it sits on top. Tuck a few petals or a flower under the wax for colour. It makes a lovely centrepiece for a Diwali dinner.
Put it together just before you light it. Water can slowly seep up between the beads and make the wick hard to keep lit.
Three rules for any open flame this Diwali
- Keep it on a steady surface, away from curtains and decorations, as the Telangana Fire Services advise.
- Never leave it unattended. Put it out when you leave the room.
- Keep children and pets well away from the bowl.
A fire service in Warwickshire, UK, warns that traditional clothing can be very flammable. Keep dupattas, sarees and loose sleeves clear when you reach over a lit bowl.
Is a bowl candle right for you?
A sand wax candle is about the glow and the fun of making it. For a scent that fills the room, a jar candle does that better.
| What you want | What fits |
|---|---|
| Light up bowls and diyas you already own | Sand wax |
| A scent that fills the room | A scented jar candle |
| A ready Diwali gift | Diwali gifting sets |
| Scent with no flame near kids or pets | A reed diffuser |
| Gentle scent, no naked flame | Wax melts |
If you want to go further and pour candles yourself, start with our candle-making course guide.
The bottom line
Before you buy a single Diwali candle, look at the bowls, diyas and urlis you already have. Most of them can be a candle.
Pick a steady, heat-safe one, trim the wick, never leave it alone, and swap the wick when it is done.
Common questions
What is sand wax?
Sand wax is candle wax made into tiny beads that pour like sand. You pour it into a heat-safe bowl, diya or urli, push in a wick and light it. There is no melting involved. Ours is natural soy wax, and it comes with soy wax-coated cotton wicks.
Can I use a diya to make a sand wax candle?
Yes. A clay or metal diya works well. Stand it on a plate or mat, because a small opening puts the flame close to the sides, and stay beside it while it burns. Metal diyas get hot, so keep them away from children.
What bowls can I use for a sand wax candle?
Use anything that will not crack or melt under a flame and sits flat: ceramic or stoneware bowls, brass, copper or steel urlis and katoris, thick glass bowls and clay diyas. Skip plastic, thin glass such as tumblers and vases, wooden bowls and anything that wobbles.
Can I reuse sand wax?
Yes. Once the wick is done, let everything cool, lift out the old wick and the hardened bit around it, level the wax and push in a new wick. Add a little more sand wax when the level drops.
Does sand wax float on water?
Yes. A layer of sand wax sits on top of water in a clear, thick glass, which makes a pretty layered candle. Put it together just before lighting, because water can seep up between the beads and make the wick hard to keep lit.
Is a sand wax candle safe?
It is an open flame, so the usual rules apply. Use a steady, heat-safe bowl, keep it away from curtains and loose clothes, trim the wick to about a quarter inch, and never leave it burning when you leave the room. Keep children and pets well away.
Ready to try it? Our sand wax collection has kits with wicks, and our Diwali gifting sets are there if you would rather skip the DIY.
No questions yet. Be the first to ask.