Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rihanna
We believe in the four R’s and a greener, better future. That’s why every component of our packaging can be reused, recycled, or composted — even the candle vessel. Learn how to reuse candle jars, whether Alcott or others, and find ways to get rid of our packaging that make the most sense for you and the planet.
How to reuse candle jars
It’s easy to reuse candle jars. However, there’s a lot of misinformation out there on best ways to do this. You should never put candle vessels in the microwave. Not only are wick stands often metal, but the container itself is probably not microwave safe. If you want to reuse candle jars, we recommend doing one of the following.
Put them in the oven
The first is great if you have multiple candles or are short on time. It only requires oven mitts you don’t mind getting wax on, an oven, and a rag.
Start by gathering your candle vessels that have 1/4″ of wax left.
Heat your oven to 200 F.
Once the oven is done preheating, pop your candle containers in. If you live on the wild side, put them directly on the rack, We recommend using a cookie sheet to ensure that they don’t tip over.
After five minutes, check that all the remaining wax has melted. When the wax is all liquid, remove the jars with oven mitts on. Depending on the size and quantity of the candle jars, it may take more time.
While still wearing oven mitts, use a rag or paper towels to get rid of the liquid wax. Repeat with clean rags or paper towels until all the wax is removed.
Throw away any paper towels or wash the rags. Don’t pour wax down the drain, as it can cause clogs.
Put them in the freezer
The other method takes a few hours but creates less waste. It requires some Goo Gone or a similar cleaning product, a butter knife, and a rag.
Place your candle vessels in the freezer for a few hours, preferably overnight.
In the morning, use a knife to pop out the disk of wax. This can be thrown away, kept for simple home repairs, or used as a wax melt.
The wick stand will still be on the bottom of the candle vessel, and wax will still coat the vessel. Use your cleaning product and rag of choice to remove both. The knife may be helpful in removing the wick stand, but beware it could scratch the gold on the inside of Alcott candle containers.
We find it’s difficult to remove labels or stickers from candles. For this reason, Alcott candles only include stickers on the bottom of the candle jar. You can leave them without ruining the vessel for whatever you’ve planned for its next life.
Reuse and recycling cheat sheet
We’ve sorted the various items you may receive in your package from Alcott into recyclable, compostable, or reusable categories below. Some items may be in multiple categories. Of course, you should always check with your local recycling facility to confirm it will take all the items.
Recyclable
Box that the candle was shipped in
Any paper products shipped in the package
Honeycomb packing paper
Candle dust covers
Sample scent containers
Metal wick stand
Reusable
Candle containers
Box that the candle was shipped in
Compostable
Packing tape
Honeycomb packing paper
Box that the candle was shipped in only if you removed the shipping label
