DIY Oil Lamp - Easy, Customizable Smell

In this instructable, you will learn how to make an oil lamp!

This is part of the Instructable Oil Contest.

Step 1: Materials

For this Oil Lamp you will need:

An empty water bottle
A knife or piercing object of some sort
Cotton Rope or Wick
Olive Oil
Mason Jar

Optional Materials Are:

Lemon
Rosemary
Tyme
Water
Food Coloring

Step 2: Piercing the Water Bottle Cap

Take the cap of the water bottle and put a hole through it using the knife (or similar object).

Make the hole only big enough that you need to slightly force the wax or cotton string through.

Step 3: Put the Wick or Cotton Through

Put the cotton string or wax through the hole you made in the bottle cap, in such a way that the top of the bottle cap is facing away from the end of the cotton string or wick. The cotton string or wick should create a water tight seal in the bottle cap.

Step 4: Cut the Wick or String

Cut the end of the cotton string or wick long enough that when you place it in your jar the bottle cap is about 3/5th the way up the jar. The seal in the bottle cap should still be air tight.

Step 5: Filling the Jar

Fill the mason with oil 3/5th full. This oil will get absorbed by the wick or cotton string, making it burn easier and brighter.

Optional Step: Lemon Scent

If you want to, you can put a slice of lemon in the bottom of the mason jar. This will give your oil lamp a citrus smell when it burns.

Optional Step: Adding Spices

If you want, you can add some spices to the jar. This will add some scent to the jar and will make the oil lamp look better. I recommend you add 1 of these 3 spices:

Thyme
Rosemary
Lavender

Don't add more than 1 because the smell with be very mixed when you burn the candle, causing an almost unpleasant aroma.

Optional Step: Adding Colored Water

If you want, you can add colored water to the mason jar. Color the water by using generic food dye. The water will sink to the bottom of the jar, allowing the candle to still burn but also giving a cool layered effect.

Optional Step: Adding Colored Water

This is the result of the colored water being added to the oil lamp.

Option Step: Adding Colored Water

This is just a cooler photo of the oil and water being mixed.

Step 11: Adding Everything Together

Add in the optional steps if you want, and place the candle wick / cotton string on top of the oil lightly, so that no oil gets into the bottle cap.

Finished

Congrats! You're now finished making your oil lamp!

Please vote for this in the Oil Instructible Contest! Thanks!

Dedications

This is dedicated to 2 people:

Mr. Mathew, for being an awesome teacher and inspiring me to make this.

My Dad, for inspiring me to be an engineer and creator.

Thank you for helping me in my journey.