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Writer's pictureKristine Hurd

10 Creative Ways you Can Re-use or Re-Purpose A Candle Jar


White candle jar painted with blue and silver alcohol ink with a silver lid
Hand Painted Candle By Kristine Hurd Fine Art


After all the wax has melted, you may be wondering what you can do with the leftover candle jar (especially a beautiful hand painted jar like the one above). Once you've cleaned out the old wax there are many different ways you can re-use or re-purpose the jar, as I have listed below:


Remove the Leftover Wax from the Candle Jar

Before you do anything else, you'll need to remove any leftover wax in the container. There are 3 ways to do this:

  1. For candles made of wax with a low melting point (like soy wax which is what all my candles are made of) the wash & go method is the easiest. Remove as much of the leftover wax as possible with a knife, then just fill the container with soap and water and let it sit for a few minutes before scrubbing the inside clean.

  2. Fill a bowl with boiling water and gently sit the candle jar in it for a few minutes. The heat will soften the wax and you can then pour the wax out and was the jar using warm water and soap.

  3. Place the candle in the freezer for a couple of hours and then use a butter knife to pop the frozen wax out of the container.

SAFETY NOTE: Never use a microwave to melt the leftover wax. The wick holder that holds the wick in place is made of metal and we all know you shouldn't put metal in the microwave as it could ruin your microwave or even start a fire.




empty candle jar with wick in metal holder



If the wick holder is stuck after you have removed all the wax, slip a sharp knife underneath it to pop it out.


Ways to re-purpose and re-use a candle container

  • Use it as a small planter. Just remember that there will be no drainage so you'll either want to add a layer of small rocks at the bottom of the container, or plant a low moisture plant like a succulent.

succulent in candle jar with rocks on the bottom

  • Use it as a bud vase. Weather you fill it with real or faux blooms, a candle container bud vase will make a beautiful addition to your décor.

roses in a bud jar made from a candle holder

  • Leave it by the front door, or wherever your spare change typically ends up (maybe the laundry room? haha), and use it to collect spare change.

spare change in a candle jar

  • Use it as a stylish container for holding candy.

lollipops in a candle jar with a lid

  • Use it as a classy and elegant toothbrush and toothpaste holder.

candle jar as a toothbrush holder

  • Use it as a place to keep hair accessories like hair elastics, barrettes, and bobby pins.

hair accessories, barrettes, hair elastics, bobby pins

  • Use it for storing cotton pads, cotton balls or cotton swabs.

two jars holding cotton swabs and cotton balls

  • Use it to store your makeup brushes and keep them within reach on the vanity.

used candle jar holding makeup brushes

  • Use it as a pretty pen and pencil holder.

candle jar on a desk being used as a pencil holder

Use it to store coffee grounds or loose tea leaves (if it has a lid like mine do)


tin of loose tea with lid


There you have it! 10 different ways to give your empty candle jars new life! Let me know in the comments below which idea appeals to you the most.

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