Maddie James
Candles are a great way to create a cosy atmosphere, but they can be expensive and wasteful. Luckily, there are many ways to reuse old candle wax and containers. You can melt down the wax and pour it into a new mould with a wick to make a new candle, or use it to create wax melts, fire starters, or scented sachets. Old candle containers can be washed out and reused as drinking glasses, plant pots, or for storage. With a bit of creativity, you can enjoy your favourite candle scents for longer while reducing waste.
How to reuse an old candle
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Removing wax from jars | Freeze the candles and use a knife to scrape out the wax; preheat the oven to the lowest setting and place the jar inside; boil water in a kettle and pour it into the candle container and leave it to cool |
| Melting wax | Place wax in a saucepan and melt on low heat on the stovetop; use a double boiler; melt in the oven |
| Making new candles | Use a vintage teacup or a new container with a wick; pour melted wax into the container and let it set |
| Wax melts | Pour melted wax into ice cube trays or candy molds |
| Fire starters | Line a muffin tin with paper muffin liners, add pinecones, star of anise, cinnamon sticks, or herbs, and a wick; pour melted wax into the liners and let it set |
| Scented sachets | Make floral wax sachets or scented sachets |
| Candle containers | Reuse as drinking glasses, plant pots, etc. |
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What You'll Learn
Make new candles
Reusing old candles to make new ones is a great way to reduce waste and save money. Here is a step-by-step guide to making new candles from old ones:
First, select a container for your new candle. You can repurpose old candle jars, or use any other container of your choice. Ensure your container is clean, dry, and free of any old wax or residue.
Next, choose a wick that suits your container and the type of wax you will be using. Pre-waxed wicks with tabs are easier to use. Secure the wick to the bottom of your container using a bit of melted wax or a wick sticker.
Now, it's time to melt the wax from your old candles. You can use a double boiler or a makeshift one (a large pot filled with water and a smaller pot or heat-safe bowl). Place the wax in the smaller pot or bowl and melt it over low heat. You can also add essential oils or fragrance oils to the melted wax if you want scented candles.
Once your wax is melted, carefully pour it into your prepared container. Ensure the wick remains secure and centred as the wax sets.
Let the wax cool and solidify completely before lighting your new candle. Enjoy your handmade creation and the satisfaction of giving old candle wax a new life!
You can get creative and experiment with different colours and scents by combining wax from various old candles. Just remember that colours that are close to each other tend to blend better, and consider how the tones will mix after melting.
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Make wax melts
To make wax melts from old candles, you will first need to remove the wax from your old candle jars. You can do this by freezing the candles and then using a small knife to scrape out the wax. Another method is to place the candle jar in a pot of simmering water to melt the wax, then use tongs to remove the old wicks.
Once you have removed the wax, place it in a saucepan and melt it on low heat on your stovetop or use the double boiler method. If you are using the double boiler method, place the old wax into a pot and then place that pot into a larger pot of water on the stove over medium heat. Be sure to stay near your melting wax to prevent it from overheating and catching fire.
If you are combining the remnants of several candles, make sure they are all the same type of wax. You can add fragrance oils or herbs to enhance the scent of your wax melts.
Next, prepare your moulds. You can use ice cube trays, silicone moulds, or even cookie cutters. If you are using cookie cutters, cover a jelly roll pan in parchment paper or tin foil and lay out the cookie cutters.
Carefully pour the melted wax into your chosen moulds and let it sit for a couple of hours until it has fully set. Once the wax has hardened, pop the wax melts out of the moulds. You can place them in the refrigerator for a few minutes to speed up the hardening process.
Now you have your very own wax melts! You can use them in a wax warmer to fill your space with a lovely fragrance.
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Make fire starters
There are several ways to reuse old candles to make fire starters. Here is a step-by-step guide:
Step 1: Prepare the wax
First, remove the wax from your old candle jars. You can do this by freezing the candles and then using a small knife to scrape out the wax. Alternatively, you can melt the wax by placing the candle in a small pot inside a larger pot filled with water, or by using a double boiler. If you choose to melt the wax, make sure to remove any wicks with tongs and discard them.
Step 2: Prepare your moulds
Line a muffin tin with paper muffin liners or cupcake liners. You can also use an ice cube tray as a mould. If you want to make larger fire starters, use an old egg carton and cut it so that each egg cup is separate.
Step 3: Add herbs and spices (optional)
If you want to add a scent to your fire starters, gather dried herbs and spices such as rosemary, mint, bay leaves, pine needles, cinnamon, or chamomile. You can also use essential oils. Add these ingredients to each mould, along with a wick.
Step 4: Pour in the wax
Carefully pour the melted wax into your prepared moulds, ensuring that any herbs and spices stay in place. If you are using an egg carton, it is recommended to do this step outside as it can be quite smelly.
Step 5: Let the wax set
Allow the wax to cool and fully set before using your fire starters. Once they are set, you can store them in a large bowl by your fireplace or wrap them up as gifts.
With these steps, you can reuse your old candles to create functional and fragrant fire starters!
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Reuse the containers
If you want to reuse your candle containers, the first step is to remove the leftover wax. You can do this by placing the containers in the freezer for half an hour or until the wax is frozen, and then using a butter knife to pop the wax out. Alternatively, you can place the containers upside down on a tray lined with parchment paper and put them in the oven at 180–190 °F (80–85 °C) for 10–15 minutes. After this, you can wipe the inside of the container with paper towels to remove any remaining wax, soot, and wick pieces.
Once your containers are clean, there are endless ways to reuse them. You can use them for storage, such as for office supplies, makeup brushes, or Q-tips. They can also be used as plant pots, toothbrush holders, or even as containers for food and drinks. If you want to stick with the candle theme, you can make new candles in your old containers, or use them to store homemade balms.
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Remove wax using the freeze-and-scrape method
The freeze-and-scrape method is a popular way to remove wax from old candles. This method is especially useful when you want to reuse candle wax. Here is a detailed, step-by-step guide on how to do it:
First, place your old candle, jar and all, into the freezer. Leave it there for a couple of hours. The exact duration may vary, but 20 minutes is enough to get the wax to contract and become less pliable. This will make it easier to remove from the jar.
Next, take the candle out of the freezer. Using a small knife, like a butter knife, gently scrape out the frozen wax. This method is straightforward and does not require any hot water or heat, reducing the risk of burning your fingers.
However, it is important to note that freezing wax can cause it to expand, leading to cracks and imperfections in the candle. This technique may work better for soft wax and tins rather than harder wax and thinner glass containers, which may shatter due to rapid temperature changes.
After removing the wax, you can repurpose it in various ways. You can melt the wax in a saucepan over low heat or use a double boiler method. Once melted, you can add essential oils or dried herbs and spices to create scented wax melts or fire starters. Alternatively, you can pour the melted wax into a new container with a wick to create a new candle.
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Frequently asked questions
There are several ways to remove wax from old candle jars. One way is to place the candle jar in the freezer. Once the wax is frozen, it can be removed with a butter knife. Another method is to boil water in an electric kettle or on the stove and pour it into the jar. The wax will melt and float to the top, and once the water has cooled, the wax will solidify and can be removed.
Leftover candle wax can be reused in several ways. One popular option is to make new candles by melting the wax and pouring it into a new container with a new wick. Wax melts, fire starters, and scented sachets can also be made from leftover wax.
Old candle containers can be reused for various purposes, such as drinking glasses, plant pots, or storage containers. They can also be recycled and refilled with new wax to make new candles.
