We are part of the Amazon affiliate program. Affiliate links may be used in this post.
Every time I finish cleaning the house, I light a candle or place one under my favorite candle warmers. There’s nothing like your favorite scent wafting through the air to put the finishing touches on a squeaky clean house. However, I also know how quickly mostly-burnt candles accumulate. Before long, you have a shelf filled with partly used candles that feel too wasteful to throw away.
If you’re trying to be thrifty or have a creative side, don’t toss those candles just yet. There are a few smart ways to reuse or repurpose them.
Use a Candle Warmer
A candle warmer is one of the easiest ways to use a candle after its wick becomes too short to light. These devices gently heat the wax, releasing its fragrance without an open flame. Sometimes I’ll even add some inexpensive scented wax cubes on top of the candle before putting it under the warmer for an added fragrance boost.
Top-down candle lamps work especially well for jar candles because they melt the wax from above. A warming plate heats the container from underneath. Either option can help you get more fragrance from wax that would otherwise go unused.
I have many candle warmers around my house. This one and this one are my favorites.
Make Wax Melts
Leftover scented wax can be turned into wax melts for a warmer, a super efficient way to recycle that barely-there candle.
Here’s what to do: Remove the wax from the candle jar, gently melt it using a double boiler, and pour it into a silicone mold or empty wax-melt tray. Once the wax has cooled and hardened, pop out the pieces and store them in a sealed container.
Avoid heating wax directly in a saucepan or microwave. Candle wax can overheat, and fragrance oils may make it more combustible.
You can combine wax from candles with similar scents, but mixing too many fragrances may produce a scent that is less appealing than expected. Floral scents generally pair well with other florals, while vanilla, cinnamon, and baked-good fragrances are often easy to combine.
Make a New Candle
If you have enough leftover wax, use it to create a new candle. You will need a heat-safe candle container, a new wick, and a way to hold the wick upright as the wax cools.
Melt the leftover wax in a double boiler, secure the wick in the center of the container, and carefully pour in the wax. Allow the candle to cool completely before trimming the wick.
For the most consistent results, use wax from similar types of candles. Combining different waxes may affect how evenly the finished candle burns.
Use Leftover Wax as a Fire Starter (Great for Campers!!)
Small amounts of unscented or lightly scented wax can be used to make fire starters for a fireplace, wood stove for heating a cabin or house, or outdoor fire pit.
Fill the sections of a cardboard egg carton with dryer lint, sawdust, wood shavings, or shredded paper. Pour a small amount of melted wax over each section and allow it to harden. Cut the sections apart once they are cool.
A perhaps obvious disclaimer: Only use homemade fire starters in places intended for wood-burning fires.
Clean and Reuse the Candle Jar
Candle jars make useful storage containers once the remaining wax and wick are removed, especially since many of them have beautiful designs or shapes to begin with. Depending on the size, they can hold cotton swabs, hair ties, office supplies, matches, buttons, or other small items.
One of the easiest ways to remove candle wax is to place the jar in the freezer for several hours. As the wax hardens and contracts, it may loosen enough to lift out with a butter knife or spoon.
Another option is to place the candle jar in a bowl and pour hot water around the outside of the jar. The warmth softens the wax, making it easier to remove. Avoid pouring boiling water directly into a cold glass container, as a sudden temperature change could cause the glass to crack.
After removing the wax, pull out the metal wick tab and wash the container with warm, soapy water. Adhesive residue may come off with rubbing alcohol or a small amount of cooking oil.
