Last updated on March 26th, 2025 at 12:33 am
If you burn candles regularly, you know there’s a lot of excess candle wax that does not get used. With pillar candles that burn down only in the centre, the leftover wax can be considerable. Add the stubs of other candles, and you see the recycling potential for excess candle wax and the making of your own refillable candles.
How to Make Refillable Candles
Once you have learned how to do this (and, you’ll soon see, it’s very easy), you can invest in some attractive glass or ceramic containers to reuse indefinitely. Get creative with mixing colors and making patterns!
Whenever a candle has burned down, stick the holder into a freezer for a few minutes and you’ll find that the wax contracts, making it easy to pop it out of the holder. Set the wax aside, clean any remaining wax residue from the holder, and begin the refilling process again.
You Will Need:
- 1 large coffee can (to melt wax in)
- 1 stock pot (to boil water in)
- 5 lbs container wax
- 1 oz candle scent (optional)
- coloring wax (optional)
- wick tabs
- Glass or ceramic containers
- Candy thermometer
- Something to stir with (you can use kabab skewers, chopsticks, or wooden paint stirrers)
Also see: Decoupaged Candle Holders, How to Make Memory Drip Candles,and Ivy Bowl Candle Lamp.
Project Instructions:
Step 1: Place your glasses out on a flat surface with a protective covering like paper or cling-wrap.
Step 2: Place a wick tab in each glass. Secure the metal tab with tape or a piece of softened wax.
Step 3: Fill your stock pot with several inches of water. Place the empty coffee can in the water bath to create a double boiler. (Place a couple of paper towels underneath the can if you’re worried about damaging the pot.)
Step 4: Put your wax into the coffee pot and turn the heat on the stove to Med/High. Monitor the wax as it melts. Add color and scent if you prefer.
The effect shown in this project was achieved by pouring a small amount of uncolored wax in each glass before adding a small amount of blue coloring.
Allow the temperature of the wax to reach the level recommended on the wax packaging.
Caution:
Step 5: Pour the wax carefully into each glass until it reaches a quarter inch below the top of the glass, and allow to cool.
Depending on the type of wax you buy, you may need to top off the wax a few times (the wax can contract as it cools and form a small “vortex” shape around the wick).
Never leave children alone with candles – and never leave a candle unattended while burning. Please use candles safely!
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