How to Recycle Used Candles into Potpourri

Candles that burn to nubs still have their uses.

Candle lovers may be loathe to throw away even the stubs of their old friends, and they're right to hang onto them. Those little odds and ends of wax can still be useful. Recycle those candle ends and make your home, bedroom, office -- or wherever -- smell great, while adding a warm glow.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Used candles
• Zipper top plastic bag
• Hammer
• Towel
• Potpourri burner
• Candy flavorings
• Tea light candles
• Matches or lighter

1. Collect old candles in a central location as you use them up. Any range of colors and scents can be used.

2. Put candle ends in heavy plastic zipper top bag. Cover it with a towel. Hit the pieces with a hammer and break them into small pieces. Pick out the wicks and metal plates that hold the wicks from the broken pieces and discard them.

3. Put the small pieces into the potlike container on the potpourri burner. Insert a tea light candle into the bottom of the burner and heat until the wax melts. Once it is melted, add a couple of drops of your preferred scent of candy flavoring oil -- cinnamon, cherry, vanilla or spearmint. Within an hour, you smell it all through the area it is in.

4. Reuse the scented wax several times, adding new chunks of wax and a drop of scent to replenish the mixture as needed.

Tips & Warnings

• A metal burner tends to be more effective than ceramic ones, which can become too hot and crack.

• Higher quality candles and tea lights, such as soy, burn all the way down while some other types may leave the edges unburned.

• Candy flavoring can be found in craft stores and even in larger grocery stores in the candy making supply area.

• Never put the burner, matches or lighter low enough for a child or animal to reach it.

• Never go away and leave it burning or unattended while burning.

• Don't fill the burner with too much wax or it will overflow when you add the flavor.