How to Reuse Leftover Candle Wax Safely at Home

Leftover candle wax or paraffin can be reused to make small candles. Choose a stable, heat-safe, noncombustible container intended for candle use; a tall, narrow container does not by itself make a candle safer or guarantee a longer burn.

Before You Begin

Melt leftover wax in a dedicated heat-safe vessel using a double boiler. Monitor the temperature and do not exceed the wax supplier's limit. Never heat wax directly over a flame or leave it unattended. Keep water out of the wax, and keep children, pets, and flammable materials away from the work area. The archival photograph below shows a pan on direct heat; do not copy that setup.

Use a wick intended for candle making and sized for the exact wax and vessel. Anchor and center it according to the wick manufacturer's instructions; a wick bar or wooden stick can hold it upright while the base sets.

Once the wick base has set, pour the wax into a heat-safe candle container. Silicone ice-cube or muffin molds may be used only to make a freestanding candle; before burning it, place the finished candle in a stable, heat-resistant candleholder.

Let the candle cool completely. Do not use hot water to release a candle, and do not light it in a shot glass, mug, or other household dish unless it is specifically rated for candle use. Before each use, trim the wick to 1/4 inch. Burn the candle only on a stable, heat-resistant surface, at least 12 inches from anything flammable, and never leave it unattended.

Choosing a Wick

Wick choice depends on the wax, vessel diameter, and candle design. Use a candle-making wick supplied with guidance for the exact project. Do not substitute sewing thread, household twine, splinters, toothpicks, skewers, or oil-soaked wood: their flame behavior and burn performance have not been established for this candle.

Follow the wick supplier's preparation and burn instructions. If a test candle repeatedly smokes, flares, or produces an unstable flame, extinguish it, let it cool, and do not continue using that wick-and-container combination.