Yes, you can reuse old candles! The most common and effective method is to melt down the remaining wax and repurpose it into new candles.
Here's a breakdown of how to reuse old candles:
1. Preparing the Old Candles:
- Gather your remnants: Collect all the leftover wax from old candles. Remove any debris, such as burnt wicks, dust, or other impurities.
- Sort the wax: Ideally, group waxes by type (e.g., beeswax, soy wax, paraffin wax). Mixing different types of waxes can affect the burn quality and scent throw of your new candle. While not always strictly necessary, doing so yields the best results.
2. Melting the Wax:
- Double boiler method: This is the safest and most recommended method. Place the wax remnants in a heat-safe container (like a glass jar or metal can) and place that container inside a pot of simmering water. The indirect heat prevents the wax from overheating and potentially catching fire.
- Direct heat (use with caution): You can melt wax directly in a saucepan on low heat, but this requires constant monitoring and stirring to prevent scorching or ignition. Never leave melting wax unattended.
3. Repurposing the Melted Wax:
- New wick: Secure a new wick to the bottom of a clean candle container (a votive is ideal). You can use a glue dot or a small amount of melted wax to hold it in place.
- Pouring: Carefully pour the melted wax into the prepared container, centering the wick.
- Cooling: Allow the wax to cool and harden completely. This may take several hours or overnight.
- Trimming the wick: Once the candle is solid, trim the wick to the appropriate length (usually about 1/4 inch).
Tips for Success:
- Add fragrance: If you want to boost the scent of your recycled candle, add a few drops of candle fragrance oil or essential oil to the melted wax just before pouring.
- Cleanliness: Ensure your melting pot, pouring container, and other tools are clean to avoid contaminating the wax.
- Safety first: Always exercise caution when working with hot wax. Wear heat-resistant gloves and work in a well-ventilated area. Have a fire extinguisher nearby in case of emergencies.
- Consider dyes: Candle dyes can be added to change the color of the melted wax.
By following these steps, you can easily and safely transform your old candle remnants into beautiful new candles.
