Earth Scents: Tips for Reducing, Reusing, and Recycling your Candles

At The Candle Lab, we try to be aware of the impact we have on our environment, both in our stores and at home.  And while we’re far from perfect, every little bit counts!  We know a lot of you are trying to be a little bit kinder to Mother Nature too, so we asked some of our Scent Stylists for their favorite tips to reduce, reuse, and recycle in their scented lives.  

Start with an empty, clean jar.  When your candle has just a little bit of wax left, use a spoon to scrape out the remainder (soy wax is soft), and then use a paper towel (better yet, a cloth) to wipe off the sides.  Wash with hot soapy water and dry, and viola - an empty glass jar!  Read on for creative ideas put into action at home, work, and even in the grocery store:

In-store
“Have some empty candle jars and aren’t sure what to do with them?  Bring them back to the store and we’ll give you a $1 credit for each jar towards your purchase.  You don’t even have to clean them out beforehand - let us do the dirty work!  We'll reuse them for testing in our lab and/or recycle them.” - Denise, Director of Retail Operations

At home
"Our jars with twist on lids are so useful!  I reuse our mason and black lid jars for making yogurt parfaits - layer some greek yogurt, fruit, and granola and you've got a snack on the go." - Elise, Assistant Manager, Short North

“Place a few drops of fragrance oil in a reusable warmer or directly in your furnace filter for a scent that fills your space perfectly.” - Valerie, Warehouse Production Team 

“Empty jars make the cutest pots for plants!  I use mine to plant succulents and grow herbs like chives and basil.  They are small enough to keep on my kitchen windowsill. If I’m feeling really creative, I’ll even paint the jars!” - Tess, Assistant Manager, Grandview

“When I’m finished with my spa salts, I clean out the jar and then use it for cooking salts.  It looks cute on my kitchen table!” - Lindsay, Director of Operations

“I use mine in the bathroom to hold cotton balls, cotton swabs, and makeup brushes.  Place them on a bathroom tray and your bathroom will feel like one out of a magazine!” - Alex, Scent Stylist, Short North

At the grocery store
“I use my cleaned, empty jars that have a twist-and-seal lid to shop the bulk section of my supermarket.  Simply have the cashier weigh them empty, then fill them up. Saves a bag and you’ll already have your spices and other bulk items in cute containers for your counter - no need to transfer when you get home.” - Danielle, Scent Stylist, Short North

In the car
“Smaller jars are perfect for holding little dog treats!  I keep them in various places around the house and in my car so I can always bribe my dog when I need him to behave” - Elly, Scent Stylist, Short North

At work
“I’m a teacher, and I love using our new jars with etched wooden lids to hold small supplies like push pins, paper clips, and rubber bands.  The kids love the fun designs (bikes, cacti, even sloths!), and I like that everything looks neat and organized.” - Abby, Scent Stylist, Worthington

Have an idea of your own for reusing your scented products?  Please share it in the comments below!