What do you do with the leftover wax from all those used scented candles? Recycle it, of course. Christmas candles are a good way to decorate a home for the season, and remelting what you already have costs nothing.
Getting the wax out
The quickest and safest way to reuse candle remains is not to chip at them.
Freezing. Put the container in the freezer for a few hours. The wax contracts and usually pops out in one piece, or breaks free with a gentle tap.
Hot water. Pour boiling water into the jar and leave it. The wax melts, floats, and sets on the surface as the water cools – then lift it off and pour the water away, never down the sink while it still has wax in it.
Wipe the container out and you have both wax and a reusable jar.
Sorting the wax
Worth doing rather than melting everything together.
Keep colours separate – mixed leftovers give a muddy brown. Whites and creams together, then each colour family.
Keep scents separate too, or accept that the result will be an unpredictable blend. Two pleasant scents together are frequently not pleasant.
Remove old wick stubs and any debris.
Melting and pouring
Use a double boiler, or a heatproof jug standing in a pan of water. Never direct heat – wax is flammable and overheating it is the only real hazard in the process.
Melt gently, then pour slowly into your new container with the wick already secured centrally.
The wick is the important part
The decision that most determines whether the candle works.
Too small and it tunnels – burning a narrow well down the middle and wasting the surrounding wax. Too large and it burns hot, smokes, and can crack the container.
Buy wicks sized for your container diameter. Manufacturers publish charts, and reused wax is not worth ruining for want of a few pence of wick.
Cooling
Slowly, at room temperature, away from draughts. Cooling too fast causes cracks and a sunken top.
A dip in the middle is normal with reused wax – keep a little back and top it up once the candle has set.
Making it festive
Containers do most of the work. Jam jars, teacups, small tins, or glasses from a charity shop.
A ribbon, a sprig of greenery tied at the neck, or a strip of hessian turns a jam jar into a gift.
Keep anything decorative well below the flame, or use LED candles for arrangements where decoration sits close.
