Part of being an eco-friendly consumer means thinking about the full life-cycle of the products you choose to bring into your home. It’s tempting to just throw things away when we’re done. 

But when you remember that this is a planet with limited resources, you realise there is no such place as “away”. The best thing you can do as a consumer is to learn how to reduce your consumption, reuse items where possible, and then responsibly recycle them if they cannot be reused.

In this guide, we’re looking at some of the fun and creative ways you can repurpose your candle jars when they reach the end of their life. We purposefully use decorative and stunning jars for our candles so that you can give it a second life when you’re done with your candle. Here are some of our favourite ways to reuse your candle jars…

Cleaning your jar

If you would like to repurpose your jar, you’ll first need to clean it. Thankfully, we use coconut wax which is incredibly easy to clean out of the jar. Simply soak the entire jar in warm, soapy water and the wax will melt and dissolve. You can then rinse the jar and remove the wick and wick base.

Buy a refill

Did you know that our Kaia Vessel is designed to be refillable? You can purchase a refill that pops right into the vessel, allowing you to continue using the glass jar indefinitely. Choose the same scent, or switch to something new – the choice is yours! You don’t have to choose a refill. You could also clean out the jar and use it to hold tea light candles safely. 

Candle jar storage

You might use it to store small items such as cotton buds in your bathroom. It could also be used for makeup brushes to keep your collection organised. Candle jars also make excellent storage for hair accessories, makeup and small trinkets that might otherwise get lost. 

Water glass or vase

You might find a use for it in the kitchen. It could be reused as a water glass, or as a small vase for single flower cuttings. Fill the jar with battery-powered fairy lights to create a simple centrepiece for your dining table. 

Succulent planter

Clean jars also make excellent planters for small succulents. Simply place some gravel at the bottom of the jar to provide drainage and then top this with a quality succulent-friendly soil. Create a hole and then place your succulent in the jar. Add some soil to the top and pat it down gently. This would make a perfect small gift for a loved one.

Recycle

Our candle jars are made from glass, which can easily be recycled in most areas. We would consider this to be a last resort, as there are so many beautiful and creative ways to keep your candle jar in circulation. If you are unable to find a use for it, then please consider recycling as the final step in your candle’s life cycle.