Tyler Brooks
Jar candles are a popular candle type, favoured for their non-dripping quality and the fact that they fill a room with fragrance. However, it is important to exercise caution when burning candles in containers, as the glass can crack or explode if too much heat is concentrated at the base of the wick. To avoid this, always place your candle on a heat-resistant surface and extinguish the candle when the wax level gets too close to the bottom of the jar. If you're wondering what to do with your jar candle once it's burned down, you can repurpose the jar or melt and reuse the remaining wax.
What to do with burnout jar candles:
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reuse the wax | Melt the remaining wax and use it in a candle warmer, or make floral wax sachets, fire starters, or new candles |
| Clean the jar | Place the jar in the freezer, then forcefully bang the bottom to remove the wax in one piece. Hand-wash the jar with dish soap and water. Soak the jar in soapy warm water to remove black scorch stains. Use a cotton pad soaked in isopropyl alcohol or Goo Gone to remove sticky adhesive residue |
| Repurpose the jar | Use the jar as a vase, planter, storage container, drinking glass, coin jar, or paint the jar and use it as a decorated votive |
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What You'll Learn
Repurpose the jar for storage
Once you've burned your candle down, you can repurpose the jar for storage. Here are some ideas:
Storage for small items
Use the jar to store small items such as coins, paper clips, rubber bands, or hair ties. Keep it near the front door to drop in your spare change or any other small items you need to grab on the go.
Food storage
If your jar is food-safe, you can use it to store food items such as dry beans, grains, salads, or overnight oats. Just make sure to keep any liquid ingredients at the bottom of the jar to prevent the other ingredients from becoming soggy. You can also use the jar for food fermentation, provided it's made of food-safe glass. Kimchis, sauerkraut, and fire cider are all great options.
Planters
Empty candle jars can also be used as planters for small houseplants or succulents. If your jar doesn't have drainage holes, you can create a small water garden by placing water and clippings from houseplants such as pothos, philodendron, or monstera in the jar. Once the roots grow out, you can pot your clippings in soil.
Beauty products
Upcycled candle containers can be great for storing homemade beauty products such as bath salts, essential oils, or dried herbs for soaking in the bath.
Regrowing food scraps
You can also use candle jars to regrow food scraps like green onions, celery, leafy vegetables, or bean sprouts. Place the scraps in water and let them get a little sunlight.
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Make new candles with the wax
Making new candles from the wax of your old burnout jar candles is a great way to recycle and save money. Here is a step-by-step guide to making new candles with the wax:
Step 1: Removing Wax from the Jar
First, you need to remove the wax from the jar. There are several ways to do this. One method is to place the jar in a pot of simmering water. Bring a small pot of water to a simmer and place your candle jar in it. The hot water will help melt the wax, making it easier to remove. You can also use the oven method by preheating your oven to its lowest setting and placing the jar inside, ensuring you remove any labels or stickers first.
Another option is to use the freezer method. Place the jar in the freezer overnight. The wax will shrink and harden, allowing you to easily pop it out. If it doesn't come out cleanly, use a butter knife to break it into pieces and remove them.
Step 2: Preparing the Wax
Once you have removed the wax, it's time to prepare it for your new candle. Melt the wax in a double boiler or a small pot placed inside a larger pot of simmering water. Ensure that you remove any old wicks, metal wick-holders, or other contaminants. You can also add scents to your melted wax at this stage. Essential oils or old perfume samples can be used to create your desired fragrance.
Step 3: Adding the Wick and Pouring the Wax
Now, it's time to assemble your new candle. Place your wicks in the centre of your chosen candle vessel using double-sided stickers. You can reuse your old candle jars or opt for fresh tins. Slowly pour the melted wax into each jar, leaving at least half an inch of space at the top.
Step 4: Curing the Candles
After pouring the wax, it's important to let your candles cure. Place them in a warm spot so they cool down slowly, preventing them from splitting or cracking. Leave the candles undisturbed for 24 to 48 hours. The longer you wait, the harder the wax will become, resulting in candles that last longer.
Tips and Tricks
- If you're combining the remnants of several candles, ensure they are all the same type of wax.
- Always be cautious when handling hot wax to avoid burns.
- Avoid using a microwave to melt the wax, as the metal wick holders could catch fire.
- You can experiment with different moulds and containers to create unique shapes and sizes for your new candles.
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Use the jar as a drinking vessel
Once you have burned your candle down to about 1/2 to 1/4 inch of wax left, it is time to repurpose the jar. Firstly, you will need to remove the remaining wax. To do this, place the jar in the freezer overnight. Leaving it overnight ensures the wax freezes through. After your candle remnants are fully frozen, flip the jar upside down and hit the bottom with your palm—the wax should fall out cleanly. If it doesn't, use a butter knife to break the wax and remove it in pieces.
Now that the jar is clean, you can use it as a drinking vessel. The glass jars that Boy Smells uses are food safe, but check with your candle's manufacturer if you are unsure whether the jar is food safe. You can use the jar as a tumbler or serve your guests fancy drinks in your favourite candle jars.
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Regrow food scraps in the jar
Regrowing food scraps in a jar is an easy and sustainable way to produce your own food. It is a simple kitchen project that can bring you joy and help reduce food waste. All you need are glass jars or other upcycled containers, water, and a little bit of soil. Here are some common food scraps that can be regrown in jars:
Green onions
Green onions are one of the easiest foods to regrow from scraps. Cut off about 3 inches of the white part of the green onion, ensuring that the roots are still attached. Place the scrap in a jar of filtered water and put it on a sunny windowsill. Change the water every day or so. In about a week, you should have new green onions. You can then transplant the green onions into soil once the roots have grown longer.
Tomatoes
The next time you deseed tomatoes for a recipe, save the seeds. Place the seeds in water and allow them to ferment. This process breaks down the seed coats and kills off germs that may prevent germination. When the seeds sink and separate from the pulp, strain, wash, and dry them. Then, plant the dried seeds in a jar filled with potting soil. Once the sprouts are a few inches tall, transplant them outdoors in a sunny area.
Lettuce and celery
Leafy vegetables that grow in heads, such as lettuce and celery, are some of the easiest scraps to regrow. Cut off the plant's base, which is usually not eaten, leaving about 1 inch of the base. Place the base cut-side up in a jar with about half an inch of water. Keep the jar on a sunny windowsill and change the water regularly. Once roots and new green growth appear, you can transplant the lettuce or celery into soil.
Avocado pits
Avocado pits can be regrown into productive trees. Clean the pit and stick three or four toothpicks into it, evenly spaced about one-third of the way down from the pointy end. Place the pit on a glass or watertight container, using the toothpicks to support it on the rim. Add enough water to cover the bottom half of the pit and refresh the water regularly. Once the pit has roots and a sprout, transplant it to a container with soil, keeping the top half of the pit above the soil line.
Ginger root
Ginger root is another food scrap that can be easily regrown in a jar. If your scrap has a fresh, wet cut, let it dry at room temperature overnight. Then, plant the root scrap about 1 inch deep in a jar filled with soil. Ginger can bear unusual, striking blooms and can be grown indoors for years. When you need ginger, gently pull up one of the roots and leave the rest of the plant to continue growing.
Remember to always use caution when burning candles in jars. Place the candle on a heat-resistant surface and keep it away from anything flammable. Extinguish the candle when the wax level gets too close to the bottom of the jar to prevent the glass from cracking due to concentrated heat. Once your candle has burned down completely, you can reuse the wax in various ways, such as by adding it to a candle warmer or making floral wax sachets.
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Make homemade beauty products
Making homemade beauty products is a great way to repurpose burnout jar candles. Here are some ideas to get you started:
Homemade Balms
You can make your own balms using beeswax or shea butter along with essential oils. Candle tins or jars are perfect for storing and gifting these balms.
Bath Salts and Soaks
Fill your cleaned jars with bath salts or dried herbs for a relaxing soak in the tub. You can even add some essential oils to create a soothing aroma.
Scrubs and Body Butters
Prepare your own scrubs and body butters, and package them in your cleaned candle jars. The lid will give your creation a professional touch, and you can further decorate it with a ribbon or custom label.
Lip Balms
Lip balms are another great option to make with beeswax. You can melt the beeswax, add some natural oils or butters, and pour the mixture into small containers for easy application.
Natural Makeup
Create your own natural makeup products, such as lipsticks or eyeshadow creams, and store them in the small jars. You can experiment with different pigments and natural ingredients to achieve the desired colours and textures.
Remember to clean your burnout jar candles thoroughly before using them for any beauty products. Soaking the jars in hot water can help remove old labels, wax residue, and leftover wicks. Get creative and enjoy the process of crafting your own beauty products at home!
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Frequently asked questions
To remove wax from a jar candle, put the candle in the freezer for a few hours or overnight. Then, flip the jar and bang the bottom with your palm to remove the wax in one piece. If it doesn't come out cleanly, use a butter knife to break it up and remove the wax in pieces. Alternatively, you can melt the wax by placing the jar in the oven at a low temperature or on the stovetop using a double boiler.
Leftover wax from a jar candle can be reused in various ways. You can melt it and use it in a candle warmer, make new candles, or create homemade wax melts. You can also make fire starters by combining the wax with cedar shavings and dried flowers or herbs.
Empty jar candle containers can be reused or recycled. You can use them for storage, as drinking glasses or planters, or for regrowing food scraps. They can also be decorated and used as decorative pieces in your home.
