Scented candles were arguably the “it” Christmas present last year with homegrown chandlers offering both familiar and unique scents that took over our Instagram feeds (and shelf space). But what happens when you reach the end of the wick?
If you’re facing a surplus of empty or near-empty scented candle jars, here are a few things you can do with them that don’t include chucking them in the garbage bin.
Ask for a refill
If you ask nicely enough, some brands—like A&C Handcrafted—can give you a refill on the scented candle you bought (or received). Not all chandlers do this, but it’s always worth a try. They might even throw in a little discount on your refill. If not, at least you tried to help cut down on packaging that might end up in a landfill.
Sterilize it and use for food storage
You can never have too many jars at home, especially if you’re prone to leftovers. Instead of going out and buying disposable plastic containers, sanitizing and reusing your candle jars is a more environment-friendly way to maximize its use. Here’s a handy tutorial on how to sanitize them for food storage.
Use it as an all-purpose container
Storing small items can be finicky, especially if you live in a controlled disaster zone. Empty scented candle jars are perfect for keeping small items because they’re easy on the eyes and can pass for decor. Here’s a bonus tip: if you keep losing small items, place them in that candle jar that holds sentimental value so you’ll never forget where you kept them.
Make a DIY chandelier
Being handy with power tools is a requirement for this one—but if you’re willing to invest time, energy and some elbow grease for a DIY project, you can actually turn your old scented candle jars into a chandelier. It’s definitely not as easy as it looks, but if you have the time and patience, it’ll be something you’ll be proud of.
Reuse it to salvage the last quarter of your scented candles
The worst thing about scented candles is that you can’t really use the last bit of wax in your jar. According to the instruction packet most scented candles come with, you should retire your candle when you hit the bottom quarter of your jar.
If you have a bunch of candles of the same or similar scent profiles, you can salvage and turn them into a new candle with the help of this Nolisoli Homemade episode. If you don’t, that’s okay. You can try experimenting with different scents you like and make a hybrid one. You never know, you just might create your latest favorite scented candle.