You might be familiar with used cooking oil, aren’t you? Used cooking oil (UCO) is a cooking oil that has been used for frying many times. You commonly found this oil in households and the home industry. 

According to Traction Energy Asia, in a year, Indonesia can produce 1.2 million kiloliters of used cooking oil from households. Yet, since this oil is not advised to be reused for cooking, many innovative opportunities in leveraging UCO emerge. The processed products are valuable, one of which is aromatherapy candles. 

Interestingly, the candle, which helps you reduce stress and improve your mood, is among the UCO processed products you can make. 

In addition to being accessible, you can adjust the aroma of your candle if you make it yourself. So, what are you waiting for? Read how to make candles using used cooking oil here!

Equipment to Make a Candle from Used Cooking Oil

Instead of reusing used cooking oil (UCO) for cooking, which later can lead to health risks, you had better process UCO into aromatherapy candles for a room refresher and a calming candle when you have a lot on your mind

Do not worry, the tools and ingredients you need are accessible. Here is some equipment you need to prepare:

• ¼ litre of used cooking oil. 
• 90 ml of stearin.
• 1 cup of charcoal. 
• 1 stick of crayon or other dyes (food coloring, acrylic paint, or natural dye from flowers or fruits).
• ½ tbsp of essential oil. 
• Toothpicks or small wood. 
• Candle wick.

How to Make Candles from Used Cooking Oil

Now that you already have the equipment, you can start making candles from used cooking oil by following the steps below:

1. Filter the UCO

UCO has usually been a multiple frying process, making it contain food and cooking particles. So, before making candles from used cooking oil, the first thing you should do is filter it using a mesh or a cloth.

2. Soak the Charcoal in the UCO

After filtering the used cooking oil, you can soak charcoal in it for a minimum of 1 hour to remove the unpleasant odor. 

3. Heat the Oil

Next, you can heat the used cooking oil on a low fire. Before it is boiled, you can add stearin and stir well. 

4. Add Dye and Essential Oil

Now that the stearin is mixed with the UCO, you can add your desired dye and mix well. Then, add essential oil as you like. If you prefer a strong aroma, you can add more essential oil and vice versa. 

5. Get the Candle Wick

You can cut a candle wick based on the height of the container or mold. Make sure that the wick stands well in the container. 

Tips: You can add paper or weight to the wick to make it stand. You should also make sure that the wick is not flammable. 

6. Pour the Oil into the Mold

The next step of how to make candles from used cooking oil that is already mixed with dye and essential oil into the mold with a wick in it. 

To make the wick stand without holding it, you can put a toothpick or popsicle stick on the surface of the candle container as a place for the wick to rest.

7. Let the Candle Set

The last step is to wait for the candle to set for several hours. After hardening, you can cut the excessive wick to make it more appealing. With the 5 steps above, you can have your own aromatherapy candle from used cooking oil!

Read also: Don’t Throw Used Cooking Oil Away! It Can Be Recycled with Many Benefits!

Other Ways to Reuse Used Cooking Oil

Aside from aromatherapy candles, you can also turn used cooking oil into something valuable, such as:

1. Using UCO to Make Biofuel

Used cooking oil can also be utilized to make biofuel, a renewable and eco-friendly fuel. Based on a study by the International Council on Clean Transportation, used cooking oil can be a cost-effective material to produce biofuel for power plants and transportation sectors. 

Thus, we need a wise processing method through a massive UCO collection to recycle it. From this initiative, Chandra Asri Group collaborates with TUKR (part of Biofront) through UCO collection as an environmentally friendly action. 

This collaboration is realized through Manajemen Pengumpulan Minyak Jelantah untuk Lingkungan or MINYAKU. As one of the circular economy initiatives of the Chandra Asri Group and TUKR, this program invites people to dispose of the used cooking oil around the operational factory in Cilegon. 

This program involves waste banks, associations, and fostered communities to make the collection process more organized and follow the procedures. Later, people can exchange used cooking oil and will get a balance of savings per liter.

Through MINYAKU, people can learn the importance of managing used cooking oil wisely in an eco-friendly way. Moreover, it also contributes to nature preservation and encourages the local economy. 

2. UCO as Soap Making Material

Aside from aromatherapy and biofuel, used cooking oil can be one of the soap-making materials, especially dishwashing soap. 

A study entitled Pemanfaatan Limbah Minyak Goreng Sebagai Bahan Sabun Krim Cuci Piring Arang Aktif reported that the soap content of USO is 40.60% and the pH is 10.6. Thus, UCO can be used as a dishwashing soap that is more economical and environmentally friendly.

3. UCO as Cleaning Substance

Lastly, used cooking oil can be used to clean oil stains on mechanical tools and clean housewares. 

That is the information about how to utilize used cooking oil daily. It is more cost-effective and eco-friendly, isn’t it? In addition to processing UCO into valuable products, you can also contribute more to preserving nature by joining Indonesia Asri!

Indonesia Asri invites you to do various actions and challenges to implement a sustainable and free lifestyle with simple steps, one of which is through #SiPalingSustainable.

What are you waiting for? Register yourself now, and let’s become Warga Asri to contribute more to the environment!

Read also: Zero-Waste Community in Indonesia, Understand Their Roles!