What To Do With Used Candle Jars? 20 Things To Do With Recycled Candle Jars

Helen Skeates
Helen Skeates
32 min read

There are many people who wonder what to do with old candle jars once the wicks have been used to their full extent. Transparent soda-lime glass jars, the most common type, can be recycled in their entirety. What to do with candle jars that are no longer needed? Here are some ideas.

Many candles, however, use different types of glass to enhance heat resistance or to add color to the glass to make it more appealing to the consumer. Old candle jars can be utilized around the house before being thrown away or recycled. Here are some creative ways to repurpose outdated candle jars.

Contents

5 easy ways to remove wax from the jar

Container candles’ candle wax is designed to adhere to the jar, making it all the more difficult to remove the final 1/4″ of wax from the bottom. Some of these ways can be accomplished with little more than a hairdryer, freezer, or oven and some water.

To get the best results, it’s important to know the melting point of the wax of your candle, which might vary greatly.

Unlike beeswax and palm, soy melts more quickly. Most commercial candles use paraffin wax, which comes in a wide variety of grades but is generally more expensive than soy.

Check out the rest of this post once you remove the wax so that you can find inventive ways to reuse your jars and wax. Pouring wax down the drain will soon clog your drain and septic system since wax does not dissolve in water.

Recycled Candle Jars: The 5 Best Ways to Reuse Around the House

Wax can be easily removed from containers using any of these methods.

1. Place candle in hot water

The candle is “twice boiled” in hot water to melt the wax into a liquid.

Summary

  • 5-15 minutes is the estimated time.
  • Beeswax and palm wax take longer to melt than other waxes.

Supplies

  • The top of the stove
  • An old-fashioned saucepan (pot)

Instructions:

  1. Bring water to a boil in a pot on the stove.
  2. To prepare the candles, place them in a saucepan and turn the heat on low.
  3. Dispose of the melted wax in the trash or transfer to a new container for future usage.
  4. To remove the wick tab once the wax has been removed, use a utensil.
  5. You can get rid of any adhesive or sticker residue on the bottom of the candle by either soaking it in white vinegar or scraping it off with a tool.
  6. Use hot water and dish soap to thoroughly clean the candle’s interior.

2. Fill candle with boiling water

Using very hot water, this procedure significantly melts the wax, allowing it to solidify into a disk at the top. The internet is full with folks who have done this.

Summary

  • Time to complete: 20 minutes to two hours
  • However, it may take numerous tries to get it just right.

Supplies

  • Measurement glass or teapot

Instructions:

  1. Bring a pot of water to a simmer. Make sure the water is boiling at a rapid pace!
  2. Fill the container to the brim with hot, just-boiled water.
  3. Much of the wax will be melted by the water, which will cause it to rise to the surface.
  4. Wait for the raised wax to solidify into a puck on top of the water before continuing (wax is less dense than water and will float when mixed)
  5. Pour the water out of the wax puck.
  6. If there is still a significant amount of wax remaining, repeat. You can scrape away little quantities with a spoon or use a paper towel and rubbing alcohol.
  7. You can get rid of any adhesive or sticker residue on the bottom of the candle by either soaking it in white vinegar or scraping it off with a tool.
  8. Use hot water and dish soap to thoroughly clean the candle’s interior.

3. Put the candle in the freezer

This technique makes use of the fact that wax contracts when it’s cold and expands when it’s heated, a natural phenomena.

Summary

  • Estimated completion time: 2 – 4 hours
  • It’s possible to spend the night here.

Supplies

  • Freezer
  • a piece of metal (knife, fork, or spoon to remove wick tab)

Instructions:

  1. A few hours or even overnight in the freezer is plenty.
  2. Remove the container from the freezer and immediately begin removing the wax. It should be fairly easy to remove and still be a little brittle when it is done.
  3. Dispose of the melted wax in the trash or transfer to a new container for future usage.
  4. To remove the wick tab once the wax has been removed, use a utensil.
  5. You can get rid of any adhesive or sticker residue on the bottom of the candle by either soaking it in white vinegar or scraping it off with a tool.
  6. Use hot water and dish soap to thoroughly clean the candle’s interior.

4. Liquefy wax with a hair dryer or heat gun

Using heated air, this process dissolves the wax into a liquid state. A hair dryer can be used, although a heat gun is preferable.

Summary

  • 5-15 minutes is the estimated time.
  • Warning: this product might be extremely hot when finished, so proceed with extreme caution.

Supplies

  • Heat gun or hair dryer

Instructions:

  1. If you want to remove the wax’s adhesion to the jar, you don’t need to melt it altogether.
  2. Use a knife or fork to scrape away the remaining solid wax from the jar. The jar may be hot, so proceed with caution.
  3. With a paper towel and rubbing alcohol, clean the inside of the jar.
  4. Remove the bottom wick tab with a tool.
  5. You can get rid of any adhesive or sticker residue on the bottom of the candle by either soaking it in white vinegar or scraping it off with a tool.
  6. Use hot water and dish soap to thoroughly clean the candle’s interior.

5. Melt wax in the oven

A pan is used to collect the dripping wax from the jars.

Summary

  • Aiming for a 10-to-25-minute turnaround
  • Can be a little messy, however you can remove wax from multiple jars at the same time if necessary.

Supplies

  • Oven
  • Tin foil-lined baking sheet

Instructions:

  1. Set the oven to 200 degrees Fahrenheit or low.
  2. Bake the candles inverted on a baking sheet lined with tin foil.
  3. Remove the baking sheet from the oven when the wax has drained out of the jars, which should take about 20 minutes.
  4. Make sure to remove any lumps of solid wax from your containers by using a tool. Using a paper towel and rubbing alcohol, remove any remaining wax from the jars. When handling hot containers, exercise caution and let them cool for a few minutes if required.
  5. Remove the bottom wick tab with a tool.
  6. You can get rid of any adhesive or sticker residue on the bottom of the candle by either soaking it in white vinegar or scraping it off with a tool.
  7. Use hot water and dish soap to thoroughly clean the candle’s interior.

Remove the labels & stickers

If the candle isn’t particularly attractive, it’s probably best to peel off the side label and the bottom safety sticker.

There are a variety of ways to remove adhesive labels from reusable products, so if this method doesn’t work for you, don’t be afraid to try one of these other methods.

1. Soak them in water

Soaking your container in water until the label comes off easily is a tried-and-true way for removing adhesive from it. This usually only takes around 20 to 30 minutes to do.

Simply boil up some water and baking soda in a saucepan on the stove and the label will come right off in a couple of minutes, as it will have deactivated the adhesive quicker because it’s hot.

2. Remove the rest of the adhesives with rubbing alcohol after peeling as much as you can off with your fingers

Labels and stickers’ amazing adhesives are no match for the abrasive power of rubbing alcohol.

Rinse the container with rubbing alcohol to remove any leftover glue. This is the point where you should be left with only the dirty sticky component of the labeling or stickers remaining.

Recycle the candle jar

You’d be wasting your time cleaning the jars if you didn’t have a creative plan for what you’d do with them afterward.

It is not suggested that you use candles for food or drink because of the presence of aroma oils and wax additives. A few DIY projects can be made from your old container, as well.

1. Planter

Succulents and other houseplants can be kept in a repurposed candle holder.

It is important to keep in mind that the bottom of your container or jar won’t have a drainage hole, so if your plant needs a lot of water, you won’t be able to give it much.

Fake plants, in particular, benefit greatly from this concept.

2. Bathroom supply holder

When it comes to storing personal care or cosmetics, antique candle canisters are excellent storage solutions.

You can display products in a jar rather than keeping them in their original packaging. The following are some of the most popular ones:

  • Q-tips and cotton swabs
  • The tweezers or scissors
  • Toothbrushes
  • Pins on BOBBY

Prior to putting any health products in the container, make sure it has been well cleaned with hot water and soap

3. Markers and pens

It’s important to have a good spot to keep your markers and other writing implements. Don’t forget to get rid of any pens or markers that don’t function!

A shoddy pen is unappealing to everyone.

10 Clever Ways to Upcycle Your Empty Candle Jars & Containers - Swoon Worthy | Candle upcycle, Old candle jars, Repurpose candle jars

Reuse the old wax instead of throwing it away

Candles aren’t supposed to be burned past their wax wick. The wick tab usually prevents you from getting that far because the jars grow too hot.

However, no one enjoys throwing away good wax.

There are two options here: either throw away all the wax that has accumulated as a result of your cleaning antics, or… find a way to recycle it.

Candles may not seem to have enough wax in them to make any difference to you, so you may decide to toss them away.

In actuality?

If you don’t have a lot of old wax lying around, there are a number of creative methods to repurpose it. Try one of the following three suggestions:

1. New candles

Creating a fresh candle out the old wax is the finest alternative use for it.

Use a large 4-cup measuring glass that you don’t mind “dedicating” to candle production instead of throwing out used wax bits and liquid.

In addition to the candle, you’ll need to purchase a candle wick. Purchase the ones with the metal wick tab already attached to the bottom, which are sold in bulk quantities of 10 or more.

In order to make recycled candles from old wax, there are a few rules that must be followed:

  • The type of wax you’re using isn’t always obvious.
  • You’ll have a harder time picking the proper wick because you won’t be able to experiment with different wick sizes and types.
  • After pouring the wax into the container, you should wait at least 5 to 14 days before burning the candle to allow the wax to harden.

Prepare your ingredients for the new candle by gathering your leftover scraps in a measuring glass and cleaning the old one. Then you’re ready to start creating!

If you’ve never created a candle before, we suggest starting with the double boiler approach.

2. Wax melts

To put it another way, wax melts are small candles without a wick that you melt on a wax warming plate.

If you don’t have a wax warmer, you can only utilize wax melts as samples for your full-sized candles. Old candles can be used to make melts if you have access to a wax warmer or know someone who does. Take heed of these instructions:

  1. Put something small and non-sticky in the silicone or clamshell mold. Alternatively, some people have reported success with using an ice tray made of silicone for this purpose.
  2. You can pour the liquid wax into the mold and wait for it to set if you are taking it from a candle.
  3. Take it out of the mold, and presto! A recycled wax melt!

It is a wax melt if the wax that you took out of the container is solid. To begin, simply lay the wax in a warmer.

Plastic sandwich bags work well for storing wax melts and recovered wax fragments..

3. Wax monster

For outdoor use only, the last method of reusing old wax is recommended.

In a metal or ceramic dish, add all the wax bits and liquid wax.

Whether or not the chunks of reclaimed wax are perfectly matched is irrelevant, because this old approach produces an enormous ball of fuel.

  1. Use a toothpick or skewer to make holes in the wax creature.
  2. Place a wick in the hole.
  3. Put the wax monster outside in a place where it can get hot without causing any harm to the surrounding environment.
  4. Enjoy the ambiance created by the flickering candles.

20 Things To Do With Recycled Candle Jars

To put your newly cleaned candle jars to good use, here are a few suggestions on what to do with them now that they’ve been thoroughly cleaned. In the event that you don’t have a lid for your candle jar, you can simply cover it with plastic wrap or tin foil.

#1 DIY Body Scrub Jars

This DIY body scrub is made by combining granulated sugar with coconut oil and essential oils such as lavender or vanilla extract to create a paste. After that, in the shower, give it a good scrub!

#2 Make A New Candle From Old Wax

Take all of the old wax from the previous candle and put it in a new jar with the new wick and you’re ready to light.

#3 Add New Wax For A New Candle

For a fraction of the price of a candle from a specialty shop, you can buy wax at any craft store and melt it down, put it to an empty container, then insert a wick to make a new one.

#4 Add A Tea Light

When using the candle jar indoors or out, place a tea light inside to produce a beautiful visual impact. If you’d like to go all out, you can even paint the glass of a transparent jar before placing it in the light.

#5 Liquor Glasses

Often fashioned of thick, elegant glass, candle jars are an exceptional vessel in which to serve wine or any other beverage. The more you acquire, the more of an unusual assortment you’ll have to show off at your next dinner party.

#6 Tea & Coffee Holders

Make it easy to grab a cup of tea or coffee by putting it in a jar and keeping it on your counter.

#7 Get the Last of the Smell Out

Do not remove the wax from your candle and lay it on top of a heated stove (but not the element) or even in an open window to get out the last of the scent.

#8 Pens & Pencils

Candle jars are perfect for storing pencils and pens. Then all you have to do is fill it with your preferred writing implements.

#9 Spare Change

Drop your spare change into an empty jar on your dresser or by the front door to avoid losing it. You can either deposit your spare change in the bank or reward yourself to a small treat every month by counting, rolling, and bringing it in.

#10 Candy Jars!

Fill a few jars with your favorite sweets and keep them out on the counter or in the pantry for easy access to a sweet treat whenever you need one.

#11 Toothbrush & Toothpaste Holder

Taller jars are perfect for storing your toothbrush and toothpaste, and you can also use them to clean your toothbrush with a solution of water and vinegar.

#12 Planter

Small succulents, like cacti, can be grown in an empty jar. It’ll be a lovely addition to a window sill or coffee table.

#13 Hold Lip Balms

Are you addicted to lip balm? Do you have more than you can possibly use, yet you can never manage to locate one when you do? Then, in your bathroom or on your make-up table, use a jar to contain all of your balms.

#14 Hot Chocolate Gift

Empty candle jars can be used in the same way as mason jar gifts, so there’s no need to overlook them. Use it to add marshmallows or cookie dough components to hot chocolate powder. Using twine or colorful yarn, secure a piece of cloth to the top of your jar if you don’t have one.

#15 Hair Elastics

There are a million hair elastics in every woman’s or man’s house. Using these jars as storage receptacles for all of your elastics is a wonderful idea! You’ll never have to look for an elastic again if you keep them in one or two jars.

#16 Toiletries

It’s time to clean up the mess in your medicine cabinet or bathroom counter. If you’re short on time, but still want it to look professional, put cotton swabs in one jar, cotton pads in another, and manicuring supplies like scissors and tweezers in a third jar.

#17 Air Freshener

By filling an empty candle jar about three-quarters of the way with baking soda and adding 5-10 drops of your preferred essential oil, you may make your own air freshener to your specifications (s). You may mix it up to loosen the baking soda and add more essential oil after a week of use to keep the space smelling fresh.

#18 DIY Bath Bombs

Even while making your own bath bombs is a lot of fun, it isn’t the easiest thing to keep them in the house. If you want to brighten up your bathroom, put some in an empty candle jar and keep them there.

#19 Bobby Pins

Bobby pins, like elastic bands, have a tendency to go lost, so store them in a container.

#20 Pet Treats

As much as you deserve a lovely container for your pet’s treats, so do your four-legged friends. In order to keep your pet’s favorite treats fresh and easy to reach, you should put them in a container with a cover.

It’s everything here! There are a plethora of creative ways to use your old candle jars! It would be great if you could tell us in the comments below what other creative ways you’ve used your candle jars.

DIY Succulent Terrarium - Bower Power | Diy succulent terrarium, Succulent planter diy, Succulents diy

FAQs

What are your candles & wax melts made of?

Cedar & ScotchTM candles are manufactured with a proprietary blend of soy wax made from soybeans farmed in the United States and cruelty-free, phthalate free fragrance oils. In addition, the cotton wicks in our candles are flat braided with paper threads that are devoid of lead and zinc.

What are the benefits of soy wax?

Soybeans, the raw material for all soy wax candles, are harvested and processed by farmers all over the world. On the other hand, prior candle producers used petroleum, a non-renewable energy source, to make older paraffin wax candles. Purchasing soy wax candles and melts made from U.S. cultivated soy beans supports the agriculture business, which is critical to the survival of all humans on the planet.

Because soy wax burns at a lower temperature, soy candles typically last 30 to 50 percent longer than paraffin candles of the same size. While soy wax candles can be more expensive than paraffin candles on occasion, their capacity to burn for a longer period of time more than makes up for the price difference.

However, despite the rise in environmental consciousness, many paraffin candle makers have upgraded their chemicals to make their products more environmentally friendly than they were previously. The National Candle Association and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency have both confirmed this.

What are the benefits of using amber glass jars for candles?

Each of our lead-free, amber glass straight-sided round jars has an open top, robust walls, and a reasonably “square” base. When lit, the flickering flame creates a warm and inviting atmosphere.

What are the advantages of utilizing amber glass, or brown glass, instead of clear glass for our candles? Amber glass has the advantage of absorbing the most ultraviolet radiation, which can cause some candles to lose their scent more quickly than other types of glass. Your candle’s fragrance can be protected from light by using amber glass jars. Our metal screw caps, on the other hand, are ideal for preserving your candle from debris and aroma evaporation or just extinguishing it.

What is the purpose of trimming the candle wick and only burning candles for 4 to 5 hours at a time?

A candle’s burn period can be extended by following these simple guidelines. It is easier to melt wax with a longer wick because it produces a greater flame, which burns more quickly than the wick does. So as your candle burns, the flame gets larger, resulting in a faster and faster melting process. Increasing the burn period by trimming the wick and burning for 4-5 hours at a time will help slow down the burning process.

Additionally, burning your candle for about 4-5 hours at a time guarantees that the wax reaches the container’s rim. Because the perfume of a candle comes from the melted wax, not the flame, this should make your candle smell its best when lighted. Additionally, it will keep your candle from “tunneling,” which would otherwise result in a ring of unmelted wax inside the container from the flame.

What if my wax looks like it has “white spots” or is “frosty” on the top?

There are no defects in our all-natural soy candles and wax melts; instead, you’ll find some natural qualities of some soy waxes. A candle’s aroma and burn are not affected by any of these properties.

Why do some natural candles turn yellowish over time?

To put it another way, our candles include no stabilizers or additives of any kind (just wax, fragrance, and a wick). Vanillin, for example, is a component in some scents that can give candles a tan or brown hue.

What if there is beading moisture on top of my candle?

Beads of moisture can accumulate on candles during the summer months. Natural waxes, such as beeswax, have a lower melting point than synthetic waxes (such as paraffin), allowing for the release of moisture that they otherwise could not hold. “Soy sweat,” as it is commonly known, is a natural element that may be readily wiped off or permitted to be absorbed back into the candle as it cools in temperature. Most natural candle producers avoid participating in outdoor summer fairs due of this beading, which does not harm the quality of the candle.

Candles: How to Make Them Safe

  • Please keep an eye on the candle while it is burning.
  • Children and dogs should not be allowed near candles.
  • Always use a heat-resistant surface while burning anything.
  • Do not handle or move candles with liquid (hot) wax on them.
  • In order to avoid smoke or a wick blowing out and causing the candle to burn unevenly, keep the candle burning away from drafts, vents, and ceiling fans.
  • Before you leave the room, be certain the candle is entirely extinguished and the wick is no longer glowing.

What are beard & moustache oils used for?

Using these oils helps to keep facial hair and the skin beneath it hydrated. As a style tool, our oils are also moisturizing for the skin while softening and taming the hair on the beard.

Using the palm of your hand, apply 3-5 drops of beard oil (7-10 for thicker beards) to the skin and the beard. To ensure a uniform distribution of the oil, use a beard comb or beard brush to finish.

What is the ‘Buy-1, Give-$1 Campaign’?

We’ll use the “buy one, give one” business model by purchasing products from this collection. The non-profit environmental charity One Tree Planted gets a dollar for every candle, wax melt, or beard oil sold with the ‘Buy-1, Give-$1’ sticker from Cedar & Scotch.

No affiliation or disclaimer of any kind

The trademarked names, brands, logos, and images associated with One Tree Planted are the property of their respective owners.

How quickly will my order ship?

You can expect your orders to be shipped soon from us. Once your item has been received, it will typically be mailed out within 24 to 48 hours at the most.

You can choose to have your order shipped via USPS Priority Mail or UPS, depending on your preferred method of delivery. Once your order has been shipped, you will be provided with a tracking number. Please be aware that Cedar & Scotch will not be held liable for any shipment delays that may occur for reasons beyond our control (i.e., weather, carrier volume, etc.).

Do you offer free shipping?

Shipping is free on orders of $75 or more, except sales tax (1-3 business days).

Is local pick-up or delivery available?

Bloomington-Normal, Illinois addresses are eligible for free 2-day delivery (with a $50 minimum order, before tax); simply pick the local delivery option at checkout for further details. Those orders received after 4 p.m. CST will be handled on the following business day.

We are unable to provide pick-up services at this time.

Do you offer wholesale or bulk orders of your handmade goods?

Definitely, to put it mildly. Don’t hesitate to contact us at [email protected] if you have any questions regarding stocking Cedar & Scotch products or bulk purchases.

What to do with Old Candle Jars - 20 Ways to Upcycle Empty Candle Jars

Final thoughts

There are a few simple considerations to bear in mind while recycling candles to ensure their safety and responsibility:

  • The metal tab on the wick of a candle should never be microwaved.
  • Do not microwave aluminum tins.
  • Microwaves are theoretically possible, but they also carry a high level of risk due to the unusual heat distribution in containers and the potential for burns when food is removed from the microwave without proper protection.
  • Microwaves should be avoided at all costs.
  • You should be aware that using metal instruments to remove wax or wick tabs may harm the surface of the substance.

Using your candles over and again is a good practice for the environment. In the end, the effort is worthwhile because you’re able to reuse things that might otherwise end up in landfills. And you get to give your candles a new lease on life!

Helen Skeates

Helen Skeates

Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.