The Clementine Candle

So, I think a lot of people have pinned this pin about a clementine candle.  It looks really neat, and I've always wondered if it would work.  First of all, the link only took me to a picture, so I had to google the original post.  But there were very few instructions - only pictures.  In the comments section, someone else had posted some instructions, so I followed them here.

 I had many failed attempts, which my kids loved, because they got to eat the leftovers!  You have to peel the orange in exactly two halves, which isn't too tricky.  The hardest part is taking out the orange from the bottom half (the non-stem side) while leaving some of the white part sticking up in the middle.  That part is supposed to become the wick, and if you don't have a wick, you need to start over again. 

I finally got one bottom half with a small wick, filled it with olive oil, and got the wick to light. I made a small star-shaped opening in the top but it got singed a fair bit, so I had to keep making it bigger.  All things considered, it was pretty neat - it burned for a few hours before I blew it out,and it has a nice smell - different than your typical wax candles.

Note:  I've tried this several times since, and have always had trouble getting a good "wick."   I've been able to improvise one, taking that white piece that should have been attached, trimming it, and propping it up in the oil on the bottom half.  Just keep experimenting with it.