So you’ve enjoyed your candle by filling your space up with new aromas - but you’re getting to the last little bit and are wondering what to do next. Well don’t worry we’ve all been there before! We’ve shared our 6 favourite methods on how to up cycle your candle jar and what you can do with the leftover wax.
Did you know candle jars can be reused and repurposed for all sorts of things, and if you don’t have any space for your new jars in your home you can just recycle them at home or at your nearest recycling centre.
Before you look at the different ways in which you can reuse your candle jars you need to make sure you’ve cleaned out all the wax and thoroughly cleaned the glass vessel with warm soapy water. We recommend avoiding the dishwasher if the candle jars have been decorated as this could increase the risk of it flaking off or losing its colour.
If you have stubborn labels, use warm soapy water to get rid of them and if you find that there is sticky residue left on the glass - you can use any oil like vegetable or nail polish remover to get rid of it. All you need to do is get a rag or cotton pad and soak it in oil or acetone, then apply this to the area and it should come right off.
Repurposing Leftovers For Wax Melt
It’s never recommended to burn your candle all the way to the bottom and the reason for this is that the glass vessel itself can become too hot from the flame, and may cause it to shatter if it cannot withstand high heat for too long.
It’s always a sad feeling when you get to the end of your candle and you cannot relight it anymore. When your candle has reached a ½ inch from the bottom you can start thinking about repurposing the wax so the last little bit doesn’t go to waste.
There are different methods to get the wax out of your jar, below are a couple of them:
- Scrape out all the wax from the jar when it’s cooled down and the wax is hard.
- Pour hot water into the vessel and allow the wax to melt and rise to the top of the container. Wait for it to cool before taking this out.
- Use the bain-marie technique and heat the glass jar up so the remaining wax can melt. Remember to use gloves when picking the container up so you don’t burn yourself and then pour to transfer the wax out of it.
Once you’re able to get the wax out of the container you can use the leftover like wax melts and just place it on top of your warmer to continue enjoying the fragrance. If you’re still unsure read our guide on how to burn candles safely.
Reuse Glass Jar To Store Jewellery
After you’ve removed the leftover wax and cleaned the vessel out with warm soapy water you can then repurpose the container for however you wish. One of the most popular ways is reusing the glass for storage options for smaller items.
Types of items your can store:
- Jewellery like rings, necklaces and earrings.
- Cotton puds and pads.
- Hair bobbles, pins, and clips.
- Makeup brushes.
- Keys.
- Spare coins.
Make A New Candle With The Old Glass
No need to buy new containers if you’re wanting to start making your own candles, just reuse your old jars as you know they’re suitable for burning new scents. If you have chosen to reuse your old vessels then make sure you clean the containers thoroughly as you don’t want old fragrances mixing with new ones as you may create a negative chemical reaction which could be damaging to your health and others around you.
Now that you’ve refilled your container you want to make sure it lasts as long as possible because it can be a hassle refilling the pots every few weeks. If you want to know how to make them last longer you can read our 5 top tips to extend the life of your candles.
Paint The Empty Jars To Become Decorative Decor Pieces
This one depends on the type of container your candle was housed in. If it was in a clear glass like our candles then essentially you have a blank canvas for your next latest artwork! You’ll need to make sure the paint you’re using is dishwasher safe so it won’t wash away once you clean it.
Use In Your Tablescape When Hosting Dinner Parties
Like the point above, if you're painting your old candle jars then you can make them suit any aesthetic and one great way to use them that’s not as a stand alone home decor piece is using them within your tablescape design.
Tablescaping has been the new craze over the past year and we can’t get enough of it either! We’ve been seeing people create their own Easter tablescape along with Halloween and Christmas. If you are thinking about painting them then you can create different looks that will fit in with the theme of your new tablescape.
Propagate Your New Plant Trimmings
Another great way to reuse your smaller candle jars when you’ve finished burning them is by using them to propagate new cuttings of a plant. I’ve struggled in the past looking for containers and have even gone through cutting up old water bottles so I can create a vessel small enough. If you’re into burning smaller candles because you love changing the aroma every month then they’ll be the perfect size to start growing your new plant.
Reusing Your Old Candle Jars Can Help To Reduce Environmental Impact
At Mourvier, we will always recommend reusing your candle jars as this helps reduce the overall impact on the environment. Even if you have no use for them, although we doubt it with the amount of different ways we’ve shown you above! Make sure you check to see if you can recycle them as this is another option to ensure you’re not contributing negatively towards wastage.
