How to Reuse Old Candle Wax and Tin Cans for a Fragrant Project

If you have candle wax that is left in a jar after the wick has burned down, don't toss it! Give it a new life and recycle it by creating a melting wax burner with a tin can on your stove. You can still use an old candle for a much longer time even if there is only a small amount of wax remaining in the jar.

If you don't have a candle warmer that you can purchase in the store, don't fret, you don't need one. This project is a great frugal idea for creating your own version. In the process you'll be reusing what would have otherwise been thrown out, and helping the environment by doing so.

To get started, you'll need a tin can. You can use any kind of tin can such as one that had vegetables or condensed soup in it. Clean it out thoroughly with soap and water and remove the label.

Some tin cans can have sharp edges once they are opened. Use caution and be careful while you're cleaning them that you don't slice your hand open with these razor sharp cans. If you're not an adult, be sure to ask for your parent's permission and help while working on this project.

Once your can is clean, collect one of your used candles and a spoon. If your candle is in a jar, then you will use a spoon to scrape it out. Depending on how much wax is left in the jar, this might take up to five minutes to scrape it all out. While you scrape, dump the shavings into your tin can.

If your candle is a taper and not in a jar you can also reuse it by melting it in the tin can. Instead of scraping it with a spoon, just set the taper candle down in the tin can. If the candle is too wide for the can, cut the candle in half with a knife. You could also shave down the sides of the candle so that it fits. If you have larger tin cans, such as the ones that you purchase coffee in, then you could use these types for larger candles.

After you've either placed your candle in the tin can or scraped out the wax out of the jar and into the can, you've only got one more step. This is the easiest and most fun because now you can finally enjoy your candle again: just turn the stove burner on the lowest setting, sit the tin can on the burner and allow the wax to melt and the fragrance to fill the air.

Even if you don't have a lot of wax left, this method of reusing your old wax will make its life span much longer than burning it with a wick. The best part about recycling your old wax is that now you can use your old candle jar for something else and you're also reusing tin cans that would otherwise get thrown away.