Candles add effortless beauty to your decor. They can scent your home with gentle fragrance and provide light when you lose power. However, what do you do with those empty waxy containers? 

These vessels repurpose into dozens of crafty items. Please don’t throw them in the bin. Here are nine ideas for how to recycle candle jars. 

1. Planter 

Do you need the perfect planter to hold those seedlings you sprouted to give to as a gift? Your empty candle jar makes the ideal vessel once you remove the old wax. You can make that job easier by placing the container in the freezer overnight, chipping away the remainder and washing the container with warm, soapy water. 

Start by adding a layer of gravel to give water a place to drain, followed by potting soil and your precious seedling. Finish by adding another layer of decorative rock to keep the soil from drying. 

2. Pencil Holder 

Have you noticed that you can never find a pen when you need one? You know there’s at least a dozen in the junk drawer, but they play a mean game of hide-and-go-seek at the worst times. 

Keep them handy by converting an old candle jar into a holder. This craft can delight your child’s favorite educator for a holiday or Teacher Appreciation Day treat. Cut a piece of construction paper to size and let your little one decorate it before attaching it to the outside of the vessel. 

3. Vacation Memories 

Did your last trip to the beach leave you wishing that you never had to say goodbye to the sand? Why not take a little bit of it with you next time to serve as the base of your vacation memories jar? 

You can repurpose old candle jars to hold small natural mementos like stones and pinecones. Place a photograph as a backdrop, and perhaps add a small electric tea light to highlight your treasures. 

4. Pantry Organizer 

Staples like flour won’t stay fresh for long if you leave the opened bags in the pantry. Plus, you could get ants in your sugar and end up wasting food. 

If you have some old candle jars with lids, you can repurpose them into pest-free containers for your pantry staples. If you have large enough containers, you can keep snacks like pretzels fresher. 

5. Toothbrush or Makeup Holder 

Does your bathroom look like a tsunami of stuff erupted from your drain all over your sink? Leaving brushes laying hither and yon can foster bacterial growth on the bristles, which then transfers to your face, causing pimples. Yuck. 

Why not repurpose your candle jar into a toothbrush or makeup holder? Your sink will look perfectly tidy for when your aunt pays an unexpected visit. 

6. Parfait Jars 

Old candle jars make quaint food containers when you thoroughly wash them and remove the old wax. Their clear sides make them perfect for a parfait. 

You can use yogurt and berries, perhaps with a touch of granola. If you have a sweet tooth, a bit of whipped cream tops off your creation. 

7. DIY Beauty Container 

Do you want to have the perfect spa day at home? Why not make it a complete DIY affair with massage oils and lotions you craft yourself from natural ingredients? 

All you need is a carrier base, such as coconut or argan oil. Add a few drops of your favorite essential oils, and you’ll have the perfect recipe for a relaxing day. 

8. Holiday Snow Globes

If you love snow globes, you don’t have to stick to store-bought designs. You can let your imagination soar with a little confetti and some recycled candle jars. 

You can preserve holiday memories, like that little Santa-shaped favor you got as part of your family dinner on the town. Alternatively, make inexpensive ornaments by using pinecones and other natural details as decorations around which to build your fantasy blizzard. The only other items you need to create magic are water, a few drops of glycerin and glitter. 

9. New Candle 

Finally, what can you do if you find yourself with extra wax and a handful of candle jars to recycle? Why not melt the old material down and make a new candle with it? 

You can melt the old wax for use by placing the jars in a saucepan that you then put inside a larger pot to boil on the stove until the material softens enough for you to pour it. Remove the old wicks using tongs and discard them. Then, place a new wick approximately two inches taller than the height of your jar and pour the melted wax. Viola! What was old is again born again. 

If you like, you can scent your new candle. Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to the blend before it sets. 

Recycle Used Candle Jars With These 9 Ideas 

Please don’t let those old candle jars go to waste. Recycle them instead with one of these nine ideas.