Mandarin Oil Candle: A Scented Craft Idea

What you'll need

• Mandarin
• Spoon
• Knife
• Cooking oil
• Lighter
• Porcelain plate or bowl

How it works

1. 
   1

   Place a mandarin on a cutting board and cut it in half. Do this slowly so the peel doesn't break. One half will be your candle later.

2. 
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   Now it's time for the spoon! Scoop out the flesh from the mandarin half, but make sure to leave the white thread that stands up in the middle. This white "wick" is important for your candle to burn later.

3. 
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   It's not easy to get everything out without damaging the peel. Stay patient! Once the flesh is out, take a close look at the white thread in the middle. Is it sticking up? Good! If not, gently adjust it a bit so it looks like a wick.

4. 
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   Place your mandarin half on a plate or in a bowl. Now pour the cooking oil into the mandarin half until the bottom is well covered. The wick should also be slightly soaked with oil so it can burn later.

5. 
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   Now it gets exciting! Ask an adult to light the candle for you. The wick sometimes takes a few seconds to catch fire. So stay patient. Once it’s burning, your mandarin will glow like a small, fragrant lantern.

6. 
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   The cooking oil is the "fuel" that transforms energy into light and heat when burned. The white thread in the mandarin absorbs the oil like a sponge. It is the "wick". The mandarin peel ensures that the candle smells good and burns steadily.

7. 
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   With this candle, you've crafted a real natural wonder! You've learned how oil and a wick work together to produce light. And you've shown how creative you are by making something so special from a mandarin. Have fun experimenting!