Tyler Brooks
Candles are a great way to set the mood or create a romantic atmosphere. However, it can be frustrating when a candle burns out, leaving behind a decent amount of wax. Luckily, there is a cost-effective and simple solution to remold a candle using leftover wax. This process involves melting the leftover wax and pouring it into a new mold or container with a wick. You can even mix different candle scents to create a unique fragrance. Before melting the wax, it is important to remove it from its current vessel by placing the candle in hot water, the oven, or the freezer. By remolding candles, you can not only save money but also reduce waste and create personalized gifts.
How to Remold a Candle
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Why remold a candle? | To save money and reduce waste |
| What you'll need | Old candles, a container for your new candle, a saucepan, a can, water, a stove, a wick, a pencil/toothpick/popsicle stick, essential oil (optional), pressed flowers (optional) |
| How to remove wax from old candles | Place the candle in the freezer, then use a knife or spoon to remove the wax. Alternatively, place the candle in a small pot, fill a larger pot with water, place the small pot inside, and bring the water to a simmer. |
| How to prepare the new container | Clean the container with boiling water, then place the wick in the center, folding it over a pencil/toothpick/popsicle stick across the top of the container |
| How to remold the candle | Melt the wax in a can placed in a saucepan of barely boiling water. Pour the melted wax into the new container and let it harden. |
| Customization | Add essential oils and pressed flowers to the wax before it hardens. You can also mix different scents and colors of wax. |
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What You'll Learn
Melting wax from old candles
To melt wax from old candles, start by removing the leftover wax from the candle jar or holder. You can do this by placing the candle jar upside down on a pan and putting it in the oven at the lowest temperature setting. Alternatively, you can place the candle jar in the freezer, which will cause the wax to shrink and pop out easily. Once the wax has shrunk, you can use a butter knife to break it into smaller chunks and remove it from the jar.
After removing the wax, use an old saucepan or a can placed inside a pot of water to melt the wax. Fill the pot with water and bring it to a simmer. Place the wax bits into the saucepan or can, ensuring that the water level is not too high to prevent the can from falling over. You can also use a double boiler to melt the wax.
While the wax is melting, prepare your new candle container. Choose a container that fits your desired aesthetic, such as a teacup, a miniature vase, or a short mason jar. Place a wick in the centre of the container and secure it with a pencil, toothpick, or popsicle stick.
Once the wax has melted, remove it from the heat and carefully pour it into your prepared container. Allow the wax to harden completely before removing it from the mould. You can also add a few drops of essential oil and place pressed flowers in the wax to create beautiful, gift-worthy floral wax sachets.
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Preparing a new container
Choose the Right Container
The first step is to select an appropriate container for your new candle. You can reuse old candle jars, but it is recommended to use a fresh container to avoid any waxy residue or breakage issues. Choose a container that fits your desired aesthetic and ensure it is heat-resistant and suitable for holding a candle. Examples include crystal votive holders, teacups, miniature vases, ramekins, or short mason jars. You can often find unique and affordable containers at antique stores and thrift stores.
Clean the Container
Before using your chosen container, it is essential to clean it thoroughly. If you are reusing an old candle jar, remove any remaining wax by melting it. This can be done by placing the jar in a pan of boiling water or using an oven at its lowest setting. Once the wax is melted, scoop it out or pour it out carefully. You can also place the jar in the freezer to allow the wax to shrink and pop out more easily. Ensure you remove any labels or stickers before applying heat. After removing the wax, clean the container with boiling water to remove any residue.
Prepare the Wick
While your wax is melting, prepare your new container by placing a wick in the centre. Most wicks come with double-sided stickers. Remove one side of the sticker and secure the wick in the centre of your container. Place a pencil, toothpick, or popsicle stick across the top of the container, and fold the wick over it to keep it centred and taught. Ensure the wick is long enough to protrude from the top of the container, allowing you to light it easily.
Optional Scent and Colour Customisation
If you are combining wax from multiple scented candles, consider whether the scents will complement each other. Similarly, if you are mixing different-coloured wax, decide if you are happy with the resulting colour. You can also add a few drops of essential oil to your melted wax to create a custom scent or enhance an existing one. Dried flowers or herbs can also be added for decoration and fragrance.
Safety Precautions
When working with hot wax, always exercise caution. Avoid using knives or sharp objects to remove wax from containers, as this can scratch or weaken glass. Instead, opt for gentle implements like chopsticks. Always protect your work surface from heat damage and be mindful of water levels to prevent spills.
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Adding a new wick
Once you have your wick, you need to secure it in place in the centre of your chosen mould or container. You can use double-sided sticky tape, or wax, to secure the wick at the bottom of the container. Then, place a pencil, toothpick, or popsicle stick across the top of the mould and fold the wick over it. This will ensure the wick stays centred and doesn't sink into the wax as it hardens.
If you are using a jar as your mould, you can tie the top of the wick to a spoon or similar object that rests across the top of the jar. This will keep the wick centred and prevent it from falling into the wax.
You can also add multiple wicks to your candle, especially if you are using a wider mould. Just ensure you space them evenly and follow the same process to secure them.
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Combining wax from different candles
Firstly, separate your candles into batches based on colour and scent. If you are only using unscented candles of the same colour, you can skip this step. However, if you are combining different colours and scents, consider whether you are happy with the colours mixing and whether the scents will complement each other. For example, a pumpkin pie candle and a floral candle may not be the best combination, whereas a pumpkin pie candle and a smoky whiskey candle may work well together.
Next, prepare your candle vessels. You can reuse old candle jars, but make sure to clean them with boiling water first. Alternatively, you can use fresh tins or any container of your choice, such as a teacup or a jam jar. Place your wicks in the centre of your chosen vessel. Most wicks come with double-sided stickers, so peel off one side and place the wick in the centre of the vessel.
Now, it's time to melt your wax. You can use a double boiler to safely melt the wax, or place the wax in a saucepan and melt it over low heat on your stovetop. Different types of wax have different melting points, so be aware that some waxes may take longer to melt than others. Once the wax is melted, remove any old wicks with tongs and dispose of them.
Finally, pour the melted wax into your prepared vessels, holding the wicks in place, and let the wax set completely. If you are adding scents or dyes to your candles, make sure to do so before pouring the wax into your vessels. You can add essential oils or fragrance oils, stirring well to ensure an even distribution.
With these simple steps, you can create new candles from combined wax scraps, reducing waste and creating something unique.
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Removing wax from glass or metal containers
To remove wax from glass or metal containers, you can try a few different methods. One common method is to place the container in the freezer for several hours, which will cause the wax to shrink and easily pop out. You can then gently pry the wax out with a gentle implement, such as a chopstick.
Another method is to use hot water. Place the container in a shallow pan or baking sheet, and sit the pan on something that won't be damaged by heat, such as a stovetop, wooden cutting board, or oven mitt. Boil a couple of cups of water and pour some into the pan, surrounding the jars, and pour the rest into the candle jars, leaving a bit of space below the rim. Leave this for about an hour, and then wash the container.
You can also melt the wax by placing the container in the oven at its lowest setting, or by placing the container in a saucepan of simmering water. Once the wax is melted, scoop it out and reuse it.
To remove small amounts of wax, simply run hot water over the container.
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Frequently asked questions
There are several ways to melt candle wax. One way is to place the candle in a small pot and then place the small pot inside a larger pot filled with water. Bring the water to a simmer. You can also melt the wax in the oven by preheating the oven to its lowest setting and placing the jar inside.
Once the wax is melted, you can remove the old wicks with tongs and throw them out.
You can use a variety of containers as moulds for your new candle, such as an old candle jar, a crystal votive holder, a teacup, a miniature vase, a ramekin, or a short mason jar.
