Tyler Brooks
There are many ways to reuse the bottom of a candle. You can melt the wax and use it to make new candles, wax melts, or fire starters. You can also repurpose the candle container as a drinking glass, plant pot, or storage container. To remove the wax from the container, you can place the jar in the freezer and then use a knife to pop out the frozen wax, or run hot water over the jar to melt the wax.
Ways to reuse the bottom of a candle
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Wax melts | Reuse the leftover wax to make wax melts and use them with a wax burner to gently fragrance the air with your favorite scent. |
| Fire starters | Combine wax flakes, cedar shavings, and dried flowers and herbs to create a cozy glow in your fireplace without the need for an armload of kindling. |
| Votive candles | Melt the leftover wax and pour it into a votive candle mold. |
| Scented sachets | Make gift-worthy floral wax sachets using leftover wax. |
| Tealight candles | Make miniature tealight candles using leftover wax, an empty tealight cup, and a small tealight wick. |
| Repurpose the jar | Use empty candle jars to serve drinks, as snack bowls, or to contain clutter around your home. |
| Planters | Use empty candle containers with drainage holes to plant small houseplants or succulents. |
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What You'll Learn
Make wax melts or wax tarts
If you're looking to reuse the bottom of a candle to make wax melts or wax tarts, there are several methods you can use. Firstly, you need to melt the remaining wax. This can be done by placing the candle jar in the freezer, allowing the wax to shrink and easily pop out. Alternatively, you can place the candle jar in a small pot of simmering water, melting the wax inside. You can also melt the wax in the oven by preheating it to the lowest temperature and placing the jar inside, but be sure to remove any labels or stickers first.
Once the wax is melted, you can pour it into small moulds of your choice. Silicone moulds are a popular option, but you can also use items like ice cube trays, jars, or small mugs. If you want to add colour or fragrance to your wax melts, this is the stage to do so. You can add a few drops of essential oil or include decorations like dried flowers or herbs.
After pouring the wax into your chosen moulds, allow it to harden. Once the wax has solidified, remove it from the mould, and your wax melts are ready to use! You can place them in a wax melter or warmer to release the fragrance.
Making wax melts is a fun and creative way to reuse leftover candle wax. It allows you to extend the enjoyment of your favourite candle scents and create unique, personalised melts. You can also get creative with the moulds and decorations, making them perfect as decorative pieces or gifts for friends and family.
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Create miniature candles or tealights
If you're looking to reuse the wax from the bottom of a candle, one idea is to create miniature candles or tealights. This is a simple process that only requires some leftover wax, an empty tealight cup, and a small tealight wick. The cups and wicks are inexpensive and can be purchased from your local craft store or online.
Firstly, you need to remove the wax from the jar. One way to do this is to place the jar in the freezer, which allows the wax to shrink and easily pop out. You can also try running hot water over the wax, or melting it in the oven at a low temperature. Once you have removed the wax, melt it down using a double boiler technique and pour it into your chosen tealight container. You can also add colouring, essential oils, or dried flowers to create decorative pieces or gifts.
If you have a lot of leftover wax saved up, you might be able to make a full-sized candle. You can purchase candle-making supplies, including wicks and containers, from craft stores. It's important to do some research before attempting to make your own candles to ensure you do so safely.
Another option is to make wax melts, which can be used with a wax burner to fragrance your home. Simply pour the melted wax into a small mould, such as an ice cube tray, and add any desired colouring, essential oils, or decorations. These wax melts can also be given as gifts or used as decorative pieces.
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Make scented sachets or fire starters
If you're looking to reuse the wax from the bottom of a candle, you can make scented sachets or fire starters. Here's how:
Scented Sachets
To make scented sachets, you'll need to melt the leftover wax. This can be done by placing the jar in hot water, or in the oven at a low temperature. You can also place the jar in the freezer, which will cause the wax to shrink and make it easier to remove. Once the wax is removed, you can melt it again using a double boiler technique and pour it into a small mould of your choice. Add a few drops of essential oil to enhance the scent, and place pressed flowers in the wax for a decorative touch. Allow the wax to harden, then remove it from the mould. Your scented sachet is now ready!
Fire Starters
Fire starters are another great way to reuse leftover candle wax. You can create your own fire starters by gathering herbs and spices, breaking them into small pieces, and placing them into the cups of an egg carton. Pack the bottom of each cup with cedar shavings, being careful not to overfill. Melt your leftover candle wax and pour it into the cups, allowing it to harden. These fire starters will help create a cosy glow in your fireplace without the need for kindling.
Other Options
In addition to scented sachets and fire starters, there are other creative ways to reuse leftover candle wax. You can make new candles or tealights, wax melts, or even use the wax as a pest repellent. The jars from your candles can also be repurposed for storage, drinking glasses, or planting small houseplants or succulents.
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Repurpose the jar as a planter or storage container
Once you've enjoyed your candle to the very end, it's time to repurpose the jar! If your jar has a pleasant shape and colour, you can use it as a decorative planter for small houseplants or succulents. Paddywax's candle, for example, comes in an eye-catching ceramic vessel with a drainage hole, making it perfect for this purpose. If your jar doesn't have a drainage hole, you can still use it for planting, but remember that most plants need some form of irrigation to thrive.
You can also use your empty candle jar as a storage container around your home. Clean it well with dish soap and water, removing any black scorch stains by soaking the jar in warm soapy water. If there's any sticky adhesive residue left from a label, use a cotton pad soaked in isopropyl alcohol or Goo Gone to wipe the jar clean. Now your jar is ready to store toiletries such as makeup brushes, cotton swabs, hair ties, and clips. Alternatively, keep an empty jar near the front door to collect your spare change, or use it as a unique way to serve drinks and snacks at a party.
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Melt and reuse the wax to make a new candle
To reuse the bottom of a candle by making a new one, you'll first need to melt the remaining wax. To do this, you can use the double boiler method. This involves placing a heat-resistant bowl or pot over a pan of water. The steam generated by the hot water in the bottom pan will melt the wax in the top pot or bowl.
To use the double boiler method, fill a large pan with water and place it on your stove. Then, place your wax in a smaller pan, glass bowl, or pouring jug and put this inside the larger pan. Heat the water over low heat and let the wax melt slowly. Stir occasionally to ensure even melting.
You can also melt wax in the oven. To do this, preheat your oven to its lowest setting and place the jar inside, making sure to remove any labels or stickers first. Once the wax is melted, scoop it out and reuse it.
Another way to melt wax is in the microwave. Pour your wax into a microwave-safe container, such as a ceramic or glass dish. Place the container in the microwave and heat for one minute at a time, monitoring the temperature until it reaches 80°C.
Once your wax is melted, you can pour it into a mould of your choosing. If you're making a new candle, you can use a tealight cup or a vintage teacup. You'll also need to purchase a wick from a craft store. Cut the wick to size, making it about 2 inches taller than your chosen mould. Knot one end and thread the other end through a wick tab. Then, dip the wick and tab into the melted wax to coat them before pressing the tab to the bottom of your mould.
Finally, pour your melted wax into the mould, stopping about half an inch below the rim. Let the wax stand until it sets, which should take about an hour. To even out the well in the centre, pour more wax into the middle until it's about a quarter of an inch below the rim. Allow your new candle to fully harden before removing it from the mould.
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Frequently asked questions
To remove wax from a jar, you can run hot water over it, place the jar in the freezer, or melt the wax in the oven at a low temperature.
Leftover candle wax can be reused in several ways, including making new candles, wax melts, or fire starters. You can also add essential oils to create scented sachets.
Empty candle jars can be reused as storage containers, drinking glasses, or plant pots. They can also be used for serving snacks or drinks at parties.
