Repurposing Scented Candles and Jars

For a long time, I've had a bit of an obsession with repurposing scented candles and using the jars for other things. It had been a while since I did it, until just a few moments ago. I have a Huntington Home (from Aldi) jar that once held a black currant and elderflower soy blend scented candle. The jar now holds pencil sharpeners and erasers. I cleaned out a fairly decent smelling Christmas tree scented candle from Big Lots and now it holds three little miniature slinkies, a little keyring given to me by a fundraiser as a "free gift," a gift label and another little craft a second-grade student gave me that I keep as a memento. A larger candle jar held a lovely soy and beeswax Oatmeal, Milk and Honey candle by Milkhouse Candle Co. (est. 2003) I got at the local Ace Hardware store. I cleaned it out and now it contains tea bags. Its delightful design includes a handle to carry it. It was meant, I suppose, to look like a little milk bucket. Anyway, the point is, there are many uses you can find for candle jars besides throwing them in the dumpster, and I like to do that any time I can, especially if they are attractive jars. I don't see any reason why the medium sized Yankee Candle jar that held my favorite Christmas Tree fragrance (balsam and cedar) could not be repurposed as a drinking glass It's just too nice to throw away. It even has pretty pine branches and pine cones painted on it. The added blessing today was that I decided to make wax melts out of the remaining wax in the bottom of the jar. I burned that candle until the little wicks simply would not hold the flame any longer, and then, after the wax cooled, I dug out the little metal disks that held the wick and threw them away; there were two in this one. After removing the metal disks, I put the remaining candle wax in the jar into the microwave for about a minute to loosen it from the jar. I had one of those little wax warmers and I still have quite a few tea light candles, so I just went to work making that happen, and now I will enjoy that wonderful Christmas tree fragrance from the Yankee balsam and cedar candle for much longer than I thought I would when it had burned so low. For a long time, I've had a bit of an obsession with repurposing scented candles and using the jars for other things. It had been a while since I did it, until just a few moments ago. I have a Huntington Home (from Aldi) jar that once held a black currant and elderflower soy blend scented candle. The jar now holds pencil sharpeners and erasers. I cleaned out a fairly decent smelling Christmas tree scented candle from Big Lots and now it holds three little miniature slinkies, a little keyring given to me by a fundraiser as a "free gift," a gift label and another little craft a second-grade student gave me that I keep as a memento. A larger candle jar held a lovely soy and beeswax Oatmeal, Milk and Honey candle by Milkhouse Candle Co. (est. 2003) I got at the local Ace Hardware store. I cleaned it out and now it contains tea bags. Its delightful design includes a handle to carry it. It was meant, I suppose, to look like a little milk bucket. Anyway, the point is, there are many uses you can find for candle jars besides throwing them in the dumpster, and I like to do that any time I can, especially if they are attractive jars. I don't see any reason why the medium sized Yankee Candle jar that held my favorite Christmas Tree fragrance (balsam and cedar) could not be repurposed as a drinking glass. It's just too nice to throw away. It even has pretty pine branches and pine cones painted on it. The added blessing today was that I decided to make wax melts out of the remaining wax in the bottom of the jar. I burned that candle until the little wicks simply would not hold the flame any longer, and then, after the wax cooled, I dug out the little metal disks that held the wick and threw them away; there were two in this one. After removing the metal disks, I put the remaining candle wax in the jar into the microwave for about a minute to loosen it from the jar. I had one of those little wax warmers and I still have quite a few tea light candles, so I just went to work making that happen, and now I will enjoy that wonderful Christmas tree fragrance from the Yankee balsam and cedar candle for much longer than I thought I would when it had burned so low. I also keep lots of plastic containers, so I put the large chunks from the bottom of the jar in that container and will have it for a while. The wax that's in the melter now seems to be lasting a whole lot longer than it did as a candle. If one were inclined, you could also make new candles, which I have not tried, but might like to try sometime. I have never used one as a drinking glass before, but I think it would mostly involve cleaning it really well with soap and very hot water. One online source suggested a double boiler and freezing the jar before washing it. That's another possibility, but I'm not sure all those steps are necessary. I am very happy to have my apartment filled with the lovely fragrance of balsam and cedar complementing my Christmas tree lights. I am very thankful for the smart people who invent such things and I am thankful I was able to find a way to make that wonderful fragrance last so long. I also keep lots of plastic containers, so I put the large chunks from the bottom of the jar in that container and will have it for a while. The wax that's in the melter now seems to be lasting a whole lot longer than it did as a candle. If one were inclined, you could also make new candles, which I have not tried, but might like to try sometime. I have never used a former candle jar as a drinking glass before, but I think it would mostly involve cleaning it really well with soap and very hot water. One online source suggested a double boiler and freezing the jar before washing it. That's another possibility, but I'm not sure all those steps are necessary. I am very happy to have my apartment filled with the lovely fragrance of balsam and cedar complementing my Christmas tree lights. I am very thankful for the smart people who invent such things and I am thankful I was able to find a way to make that wonderful fragrance last so long.