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Making Candles from Old Candle Wax

January 12, 2016

Reusing Candle WaxOften after burning those favorite candles, you are left with chunks of leftover wax that often gets thrown away. I have come up with a way to not only recycle the left over pieces, but to make one of a kind candles with thrift store cups, wine glasses, parfait glasses, canning jars, etc. I melt the candle wax and keep costs down from buying those pricey candle kits.

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Total Time: up to 1hr.

Yield: 2 lbs. wax approx. 6 to 8 candles

Link: http://www.hometalk.com/aillausky

Supplies:

  • recycled candle wax
  • tall wicks
  • stock pot
  • clean recycled cans
  • crayons (for color)
  • Popsicle sticks or wooden skewers
  • Optional: essential oil for scented candles
  • water to create a double boiler for pot cans
Reusing Candle Wax
 
Reusing Candle Wax
 
Reusing Candle Wax
 

Steps:

  1. Clean veggie cans that will serve as a double boiler for melting the wax.
  2. I chose to use a stockpot and approximately 2 in. of water. Heat on low.
  3. In each can put pieces you do not mind mixing (if they are scented). Fill can 1/2 to 3/4 full.
  4. Reusing Candle Wax
     
    Reusing Candle Wax
     
  5. I chose to do a color. For this process I used a crayon to tint the wax and added it to the wax while melting the pieces together. To help it along you can use a Popsicle stick or in my case a wooden skewer to blend the color.
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  7. After the wax is blended, a wick is placed in the bottom of your glass or other container. I chose to use the longer wicks with a metal base, held in place with my skewer or Popsicle stick. Pour in wax.
  8. Reusing Candle Wax
     
    Reusing Candle Wax
     
    Reusing Candle Wax
     
    Reusing Candle Wax
     
  9. Let set and harden.

I repeated the process to make gifts for school teachers, as wedding decor, decorative home decor, and "just because" gifts! The possibilities are endless.

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More Solutions

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Silver Post Medal for All Time! 449 Posts
July 12, 2018

Aside from making children's crafts from scraps I also learned how to make a candle souvenir from leftover candles. Here's a sample of a simple souvenir I made from melted candles.

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If you are going to make more pieces for souvenirs you'll just have to buy the raw materials.

Recycled Shot Glass Candle - collage image of five shot glass candles

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March 28, 2005

Make homemade candles with baby food jars. Melt down old candles. Use metal washers for weights tied to toothpicks.

 
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Bronze Post Medal for All Time! 221 Posts
November 10, 2021

Using leftover pieces of candle wax, I created this layered candle.

The completed Potpourri Candle

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Questions

Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.

March 12, 2018

How do I melt the candles that are too low to burn and add to another candle to make a new one?


Answers


Diamond Post Medal for All Time! 1,246 Posts
March 12, 20180 found this helpful
Best Answer

Microwave the little wax that is leftover in a microwave safe dish in minute increments at about half power. Place a wick in a jars.

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Hold on to the wick with one hand and pour the wax into the jar with the other hand. New candle!

 

Bronze Post Medal for All Time! 105 Posts
March 14, 20180 found this helpful
Best Answer

You can do this several ways. If you have a very old pan that you don't care about anymore, you can add all the candles to the pan and heat them up on the stove. You should do this at the lowest heat possible.

Second, you can take an old soup can or larger and put the old candles inside the can. Sit this on a small burner and heat it very slowly to melt the wax.

As long as you have a candle wick you can make any candle you want. If you have some old glasses that you don't use any longer, use a toothpick and tie the wick to the toothpick and place on top of the glass. Now pour your melted wax inside the jar and let it harden.

 
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Bronze Request Medal for All Time! 65 Requests
December 7, 2009

I am making candles from left over candle wax. Does anyone know an alternative way to get rich colour in them apart from buying candle dyes? Many thanks.


Helen

By helen from U.K

Answers

December 8, 20090 found this helpful
Best Answer

Koolaid usually works as a good dye too

 
December 14, 20091 found this helpful
Best Answer

Just pop a wax crayon into the candlewax when melting - you will be surprised at the rich colour that results! I put some essential oil into the wax too, so that I get a lovely smell when they burn.

 
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January 13, 2017

I love to reuse my old candles by melting the leftover waxs together to make a new candle, but as the wax is cooling with a wick in the center, the wax climbs the walls of the candle jar, leaving a big pit in the middle. This does not happen when there's no wick. Any ideas why this happens, and how to prevent it? Thanks in advance!


Answers


Gold Post Medal for All Time! 677 Posts
January 13, 20171 found this helpful

Hold on to the wick with one hand while you slowly pour the melted wax with the other. Put in the refrigerator for 10 minutes.

 

Silver Post Medal for All Time! 255 Posts
January 13, 20171 found this helpful

I have made candles for years, and this is common. I always save back a small amount of wax. After the candle hardens, then I remelt the part I saved back and fill in the wick well.

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I learned this when I took a class in candle making.

 
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November 7, 2021

One of our daily traditions and incredible comforts in this time is to light a candle for Dad every evening in front of a photo of him. At first, my mum and I were spending so much money on the mass amounts of candles. Soon enough, we realized it was best to turn the used candles into new ones. If you enjoy scented candles, follow the additional step to add your favourite aroma. My father's favourite aroma was Jasmine!

The finished lit candle.

9 Archives

ThriftyFun is one of the longest running frugal living communities on the Internet. These are archives of older discussions.

December 7, 2009

My candle recipe uses wax from all types of old candles. I have 1 pillar candle from a store which was made improperly, so it goes out when the melted wax gets too deep.

 
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