5 great uses for your empty Yankee Candle Jars

There’s nothing quite like lighting a new Yankee Candle, and luxuriating in the fragrance and light it gives off. Our large jar candles deliver up to 150 hours of burn time. That equates to days and days of long-lasting aromatherapy enjoyment, which needn’t stop when the wax finally runs out. Did you know that there are plenty of ways to re-use your Yankee Candle jar when the candle inside it has finished? Read on to discover some of our favourite ways to help your candle jar live on – and how to prepare it for its new purpose.

Reduce, reuse, recycle

Nowadays we all understand the importance of these “three Rs” which promote sustainable living. Reduce refers to minimising the amount of waste we create. Reusing is all about using items more than once. Recycling uses old products in new ways. Being creative with your luxury scented candles is a brilliant way to combine all three, which benefits the environment, diminishes the amount of materials that get sent to landfill, and helps to conserve the earth’s precious resources. 

Understanding upcycling

Strictly speaking, modifying an empty Yankee Candle jar is more of an upcycling process. Different definitions of upcycling exist, but in general, it’s all about taking something that’s no longer in use and giving it a second life and new function. It might sound daunting, especially if you’ve never tried anything like this before. But trust us, all you need is a little time, some patience – and a dash of creativity!

Perfecting the prep

Whatever you have in mind for your Yankee Candle jar’s new lease of life, first of all you’ll need to prep it properly. We promise it won’t take long, and the process is easier than you might think. 

To begin, place your (almost) empty candle jar in a bowl of almost boiling water, to soften the very last remnants of the wax. Take care when you do this, because of the temperatures involved. For obvious reasons, we recommend saving this job for a time and place when small children and pets aren’t present.

Next, using a palette knife or spoon, remove the candle wick and its metal base plate. Then put your candle jar in the microwave, just for 20-30 seconds, or until what little wax remains has liquified. If you’re super keen to reduce and reuse, you could even pour this wax into the central cavity of an unscented candle, if you have any. If not, simply discard (but not down your sink, as that could cause blockages). All that remains is to wash your now-empty jar in hot, soapy water, and allow it to fully dry.

Life after light

There are so many ways to upcycle your Yankee Candle jars, but here are a few of our favourites to inspire you.

Empty candle jars make brilliant holders for make-up brushes. Storing them like this means you can see at a glance exactly which brush you want, and access it instantly. No rooting around crossly in make-up bags, or tipping everything out because you can’t find the one brush you want. Serious make-up mavens could even use multiple Yankee Candle jars to categorise their many different brush types (face, eye, contour, blending etc). 

Upcycled Yankee Candle jars are an excellent way to de-clutter your bathroom. Fill them with cotton buds, cotton pads or cotton wool balls, or with toiletries such as toothpaste. Colourful scented soap bars look super pretty too.

If you’re fortunate enough to have green fingers, you can use your converted Yankee Candle jar to display your plants. If you’re feeling ambitious, why not create a mini herb garden? Just remember to place your plant or seeds inside a nursery pot with drainage holes, before placing it inside your candle jar. This will allow you to remove it easily for watering and facilitate effective drainage.

If, like us, you can never find a pen when you want one, converted candle jars make excellent home office organisers. Use yours to store pens, pencils, rulers, scissors, staplers, Post-It notes and USB sticks – the possibilities are endless.

Transparent Yankee Candle jars are the ideal upcycled setting for battery-operated fairy lights. Simply wind a string or two inside to create a mantelpiece lantern or table centrepiece. Depending on the size and shape of your jar, you could even pop some tealights inside, to prolong its function as a candle holder.

A top-selling trio

We’re known for offering a great selection of some of the best scented candles in the UK. And while we try hard not to have favourites, certain Yankee Candles are just too good not to recommend. When life gets overly hectic, Yankee Candle’s A Calm & Quiet Place is always an excellent choice for some scented self-care. It gives off a subtle, meditative scent that combines notes of gentle jasmine, patchouli and warm amber musk. And if you like to shop by colour, this soft blue hue works especially well in bathrooms and bedrooms.

Another popular pick is our Yankee Candle Lemon Lavender Large Jar Candle. This citrus scent is clean and inviting, and the label would work especially well if this jar was reused as a plant pot.

If you’re longing for warmer weather already, try our Midsummer’s Night Yankee Candle. This masculine blend of musk, patchouli, sage and mahogany smells fresh and clean, and the striking yet versatile black livery is a popular alternative to pastels.

Can’t choose between so many fabulous luxury scented candles? Click here and our specialist Fragrance Advisors will create a free, personalised recommendation for you.