When Anthropologie has a sale, I like to stock up on their gorgeous-smelling candles...but then, after the candle burns through, I can't bear to part with the equally appealing vessel housing the wax. So, here's my system for re-purposing my fanciest candles.

1. Melt the remaining wax

Place the candle in a sauce pan filled with enough water to cover the amount of wax left in the candle, then turn your stove on just enough to heat up and melt the wax:

2. Lose the wax

You can either trash the wax or, shown above, you can make another candle. This is an empty Mrs. Myers Clean Day candle jar, and you can purchase wicks to place in the jar, or my preference is to use a coffee-warmer to heat the wax sans flame until the scent wears away.

3. Remove the wick

I'll save disposable chopsticks from takeout or use a plastic knife to remove the wick at the bottom of the candle once the wax is removed. Be careful because the candle holder might still be pretty warm, but the wick (and glue used to attach it) should slide out fairly easily.

4. Clean up

If your candle holder is plain glass, you can toss it in the dishwasher. Otherwise, hand wash the remaining bits of wax with warm, soapy water. I suggest wiping out as much wax as you can with a paper towel first. Than, voila, you have a pretty new thing to put other things in.

Suggestions

All of my makeup brush holders used to be candles.

When I invest in nice candles, I try to think ahead to how they can be reused. I loved this winter-y one, and am keeping it around for the holidays where I can group it with other decorations and fill it with a battery-powered, flameless candle.

And so...

The uses are endless, and it takes some of the sting out of investing in these beautiful pieces. Especially if you have allergies like I do, high-quality candles are a must, so hopefully this gives you some ideas of how to extend their life.

Leave me a comment to let me know how you use your empty candle jars, and thank you for stopping by!

JY