Waxing Poetic
Recently I was at Target (where else would I be?) with John’s sister and we found ourselves meandering down the candle aisle when she asked me for a recommendation. John and I have always liked Method candles (in fact, here’s a reeeally old post about them when three comments was a record for us)- and we like Method even more now that we’ve greened up our home (since their candles are made of soy, they’re a lot less of an air-quality issue than most of the other under-ten-dollar options).
So of course I pointed to the chic little glass Method candles and Emily grabbed two that tickled her fancy. One for the buffet between her living and dining area…
…and one for her kitchen counter:
Aren’t they purty? And here’s the best part… we brainstormed a way that they can keep on giving: by reusing the glass containers as dip jars or little ice cream bowls when the candle is spent. Wouldn’t they be cute with guacamole and salsa or a little bit of mint chocolate chip? I think they’d be effortlessly adorable (and blissfully free), even just stacked on an open shelf somewhere waiting to be used for everything from M&Ms to mixed nuts.
Oh and here’s a tried and true tip for getting the old wax out of a glass candle holder: just stash it in the freezer for about an hour. The ice cold air will cause the wax to shrink up a bit, thereby popping it out of the glass jar, bowl, votive or cup (usually in one easy-to-remove piece). Wax on, wax off. Then just wash them with hot water or run them through the dishwasher to thoroughly clean them before putting food or condiments in ‘em. Easy peasy.
How would you guys repurpose the bowls above? And while we’re on the subject, what are your favorite candles these days? Any soy ones that really light your fire?
Wanna see more of John’s sister’s super fly house? Click here to crash her pad.
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Great idea! I was planning on hitting TARGET on my lunch break already. I’ll just add candles to my list! Thanks.
Those are sooo pretty. I am sucha Target junkie!
My husband works for SC Johnson, and they just came out with a line of Glade soy candles, which I love…
I love the re purposing ideas… in fact your blog has me doing a lot of that around the house lately and rearranging things we already have. I’d also probably hold onto these babies for snacks/condiments or even spare change or on the bathroom counter for decorative soaps. Here’s a great local candle maker near me, also soy products. http://www.colrainmountaincandleworks.com/home1.html
The scents are great, not too strong, just enough – and they burn great, and they look great too!
I’ve yet to see the Method candles here. But I love the shape of the glass bowls!! Your ideas are bang on!! These would be great ona coffee table with any sort of snacks. Or even at a desk, with paperclips of rubber bands inside.
The ones I have been buying lately are from Ikea. A nice, light Vanilla scent in simple clear glass holders. They burn very clean and even, and best of all – they have IKEA prices!!
I would probably use them as a little bowl to hold change or lip glosses and makeup in our bathroom or like you said in the kitchen as regular bowls or they would be a great display peice on a dining table filled with pebbles and a votive candle (soy of course!) I could think of a million things to do with them!
This definitely means I’m either old or a hugely dedicated fan, but I remember reading that original Method Candle post the first time!
Method candles are great — definitely my favorite budget option. I reused by glass dishes in my closet to corral my earrings/rings.
If I’m splurging, I love love LOVE d.l. & co. (especially the Alchemy line). The scents are just so unique and the packaging so fabulously Victorian gothic. I particularly love the Salem candle. Smells like a camp fire.
The bowls have a million uses, but you could also remelt all of that extra wax, put in a new wick and have a “new” candle!
The other thing that takes candle wax off (when in doubt….) is Goo Gone. That stuff is amazing!
I’m definitely headed to Target now! I don’t really like Yankee candles as a whole (they burn way too quickly), but I L-O-V-E their MidSummers Night candle. OMG! It smells so good!!! I can’t find any other scent that even comes close. Any suggestions?
Great idea! I love to re-use things like that. However, a warning — DON’T put the dish in the dishwasher if there are any bits of wax left over, even just tiny ones. I made this mistake with another glass votive–the hot water of the dishwasher liquefies the wax and then evenly distributes it over EVERYTHING else. Ugh! A big pain. So just be sure all the wax is gone before you use the dishwasher.
My sis and law makes her own candles…I exclusively burn hers. She only uses all natural ingredients and buys small goodies from the flea market to use as containers.
Those are terrific! Very pretty. Pretty enough to be a gift, and the possibilities for re-use are endless! Great find!
I havent used Method candles yet and before I try them I have a quick question: I see in the pictures they are burning down the center and leaving lots of wax up the sides – does that wax on the sides eventually burn off? (lots of wax left behind is one of my candle pet peeves)
Hey Laura,
Good question. We don’t actually have a spent candle around to check (just one that we started a few weeks ago that looks like Emily’s above) but our memory of the candles is that they burn down pretty well over time (although the wax on the sides takes a bit longer to collapse into the middle and get burned down along with the rest of the candle wax). They’re definitely not like burning a $50 candle, but for the price they’re a great buy. And you can always just get one and see how you like it before investing in one for every room. Hope it helps!
My question is really HOW clean do soy candles burn? I love burning a candle in my office, especially on a gray day. But when I recently got my office ready to paint, I looked up in the corner and was really dark and sooty, which I guess I hadn’t noticed so much before. I was burning what I thought were high-quality candles, but they weren’t soy. So, soy, less grime?
Hey Colorful Life,
Soy candles definitely burn a lot cleaner than others. In fact most eco-warriors support only soy candles since other types can emit a lot of dirty black soot that’s definitely not good for your lungs (or you pet or child’s).
Another far less sooty option would be 100% beeswax candles that are unscented, but if you’re looking for a soothing smell along with the flickering glow- soy candles are definitely the cleanest burning candles of them all! Hope it helps.
xo,
Sherry
I love “Beanpod” soy candles: http://www.beanpodcandle.com/beanpod/ They smell great, burn clean and the company is all about being green. Plus they have lots of options for their candles!
Cute jar idea for the Method ones – I love Method brand!! I love that more places are carrying it since I don’t live near a Target (sad – I know!).
I’m not a big candle person. There smells tend to bother me a bit, but I’m love the little glass dish these come in.
I would probably use on for my nightstand and stash my jewelry in it at the end of the night.
Sorry for the 2nd post, but I just had a suggestion! If you only like the smell of the candle in your office, do what some women at my old office would do: put the candle on a candlewarmer. We couldn’t burn candles at work, but it smelled like they were! Might help with the soot, and if it’s soy, the air quality, too!
Soy Basics is a great brand. Their moto ‘Little Bean. Small Town. Big Idea’ is spot on. They are located in New Hampton, IA. The best part is that there is an outlet center in New Hampton where you can get “mix-ups” for WAY cheap. We swing by the Outlet as oftem as we can to grab great deals! The Lemon scent is a personal favorite.
I have a stash of Yankee Candles that I have had for ages. When I had my girls I stopped burning them for safety reasons. I will give Method a whirl when I use my old candles up.
You could also use the container to store your jewelry if you take it off while you clean.
To store your sponge at the kitchen sink.
Coin/change holder
Make your own candle to put in the container
I’ll keep my eyes peeled for method candles in the store.
I think the little glass bowls would be perfect for storing kosher salt out on the counter. I’m always on the lookout for elegant little finger bowls for this purpose.
Love, love, love the candles! And the first thing that came to mind in repurposing? Office supplies… colorful rubber bands, paper clips, push pins would look so adorable in them! Off to Target!
Well, you’ve seen that I love to reuse candle jars. http://shuttershots09.blogspot.com – I love to add paper and ribbon to them and use them for pen cups and paper clip holders and a lot of other stuff! My favorite soy candle right now is the Yankee Candle Beanswax candle in End of the Line! It smells soooo good! Love it!
Oh…I love a great candle!! One of my faves is Capri Blue Volcano…sumptuous. http://www.decoragora.com/site/574508/page/203986
You can find them at Anthropologie. Not cheap, though.
First of all, I have to say that I <3 your blog! My husband is 1 year away from finishing med school, and that means that we will be saying goodbye to apt life soon! Anyway, I love candles, but we have 2 little kiddos running around and it's not safe. Soooo, just 2 months ago I got introduced to "SAFE CANDLES!" they are called Scentsy. I think a mom created them and they are basically electric warmers that never get hotter than you're body temperature, so you get the scent in your home without the hazard. The warmers are really cool looking too! they are ceramic and some are very cute. http://www.scentsy.net/ check them out here! I feel lots of moms would want to know about this!
P.S
The built in light gives a small candle glow. They are a little pricey, but they smell GREAT and the wax is reusable! so it evens out! :)
I have never used the method candles, but have found a company that uses a light bulb instead of a flame to heat the wax, so it is not burned, just warmed. It is much safer than an open flame especially if you have kids or pets. With 88 different scents to choose from, you’re sure to find one you love. Check it out http://www.scentsy.com/scentsiblegirls
Henri Bendel (sold at Bath & Body Works) makes deliciously smelling candles. I love their Quince one. I also love these Capri candles from Anthropologie, in the Volcano scent. They are by far the most fragrant and my favorite!
http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/catalog/productdetail.jsp?id=39076
and they’ve come out with them in these beautiful jars too!
http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/catalog/productdetail.jsp?isProduct=true&cross-sell=true&color=cor&navAction=jump&navCount=21&parentid=THERES_ALSO&id=570444
I love Pacifica candles but I don’t burn them. My husband is really paranoid about the scents and oils in the candles so I just keep them around with out lighting them. One or two stashed here and there is enough to gently scent a room.
I actually had a candle recommendation that I wanted to share with you guys, but I wasn’t sure how to work it in. So here it is…I ran across some really great, and very thrifty soy candles at Lowe’s. The brand name is Elemental. They are soy blend scented candles made with essential oils. The scent selection is fairly limited (there are only three), but the ones that they do offer have a very clean smell. I can smell them even when they aren’t lit. The labels peel right off so you don’t have to look at any logos. The best part: the price…$1.98 each. At my Lowe’s they are located in the cleaning aisle near the Method products.
Such a great idea on cleaning out the candle-type-bowl. I would have never thought of the freezer! Great idea!
Some of my favorite candles are at Pier1. The rose-scented are my favorite, but my close second is the Amber. Soo wonderful. I haven’t tried the method candles yet. I guess I will have to pick those up on my next trip to Target!
Febreeze has a new candle out that is made of soy and has a cute little wooden lid that goes with it.
Too cute! I normally like to use this type of thing to hold small accessories or little eyeshadow pots when the original objective is accounted for. I think something like that makes great eye candy for a chic little budoir!
Recently, I’ve been getting most of my scented candles at Pier 1. I like the way they burn down not causing a horrid mess!
I love Pacifica candles, and they have soy versions of most of their scents. They’re not super-budget, but they’re fairly inexpensive. I’m obsessed with their Mediterranean Fig scent.
Those candles are the cutest, and thanks for great idea on how to reuse them! :)
I recently read that you should allow candles to burn one hour for each inch of diameter. This allows the entire surface of the candle to get hot and therefore burn down evenly, versus just burning down the middle and leaving wax buildup on the sides. This is especially important the first time you burn the candle. (To answer the question up above…)
Wish I’d been shopping with you guys! :)
Great candle burning tip, Katie! Thanks so much for sharing. I had never heard that before but it totally makes sense!
Wish you were with us too. Soon?
xo,
Sherry
i burn these babies in my home & my house smells like anthro:
http://tinyurl.com/bhx2dn
another favorite of mine is gold canyon candles, they have so many great scents :)
http://tinyurl.com/dkmmc9
check amazon.com for these before you buy them from these stores, you’ll probably get them a couple bucks cheaper – it’s worth a try :)
I have to second the Scentsy comment! I was thrilled to discover them!
I have to ask – is that a driftwood mirror in the background of the first picture? It caught my attention immediately! Whatever it is, I would love to see the whole thing! :)
~Karla
Hey Karla,
It’s actually a faux-driftwood mirror from West Elm. Unfortunately it’s no longer available on their site, but here’s a picture of it from a while back on Decor8. Maybe you can dig it up on ebay? Happy hunting…
xo,
Sherry
My college roommate introduced something to me, and then I shared it with my mom: candle therapy.
Keep a thrift store spoon stashed, and every so often, spend a little time pushing the wax down from the sides where it’s soft but not melted, and not only will your candle last much longer, it is very soothing to play with the wax and hold it over the flame when too much collects on the spoon. And talk about therapy that pays you back in spades, with not having to waste candle wax!
My college roommate always had the Yankee candles in a jar, so she was always doing this. Oh, and thanks for the re-use ideas! I have a couple of these with a Christmas scent in them that I haven’t burned through yet.
Awesome! Thanks for the link, Sherry! I’m thinking I may try and make my own! That photo will serve as the perfect inspiration! :)
Wish me luck!
~Karla
As much as I love candles, I got through most of this post telling myself I didn’t need even one more — until I got to the repurposing ideas. You guys are so clever! So at my stop at Target this morning before work, I added a Vanilla Apple candle to my cart. I’m looking forward to the sweet smell, and the sweet little bowl I’ll have afterward. Thanks for another great post and enjoy the snow!
Have you ever thought about making your own soy candles? I’ve helped a friend of mine make soy candles a few times, and it was surprisingly easy… and fun!
That would definitely be fun! And it’s good to hear that it wasn’t rocket science. We’ll have to look up a tutorial and get our candle on. And if we do, you know we’ll tell you all how it goes…
xo,
Sherry
I loved your idea of re-purposing old candle holders. I got so excited that I went a put a jar in the freezer right away. However, I didn’t think about the fact that the jar has a smaller opening than the actual candle inside. Oops! It definitely came away from the sides…but can’t come out at the top. I don’t think this would be an issue if the candle was almost completely burned. But, I hated this scent and so it was about halfway full. Any tips? I hate to throw it away when I had so many ideas for it already!
Hey Jessica,
I’m no stranger to using a screwdriver to remove wax that’s wider than the mouth of the glass. After removing your candle holder from the freezer when the wax retracts and pops away from the sides, use a screwdriver to “cut” the round of wax in half or thirds and then just shake each chunk out of the top of the glass. Just be careful not to poke the wax too hard and break the glass! Hope it helps…
xo,
Sherry
I’ve been eyeing these candles for a while, and finally at the Target on Midlo last night, they were on sale for $4.99!! I snatch up two of them, and I’m already in love with them. They just opened a new Target closer to me but I’m disappointed that I can’t find them ANYWHERE in there, despite it being an even bigger store.
anyways, I think these will make great little ice cream bowls, too. :)
I discovered this trick as a bartender to get the wax out of tea light holders. To get the wax out of them, I would pour hot water out of the coffee maker into the tea light holder and let it sit for a few minutes. The hard wax should literally pop off and float in the water. Whatever is left in the holder you can wipe out with paper towel after pouring out the water. If there is a lot of wax, you may have to repeat the process. This trick always worked great, coming in after boy bartenders without eyes for detail! :)))
Ooh I like it! Thanks for the tip.
xo,
s
I love Method cleaners and need to pick me up a candle because that’s one of their items I haven’t tried yet.
Another idea though, what about oil burners? If you use a 100% cotton wick that may burn just as clean too, right? I don’t know, but I have some of those and I love them. I tend to hate when I buy a candle and can’t smell the candle anymore after I’ve burned it a few times. When you use oil you always smell it when it’s burning no matter the scent choosen.
There are also ceramic rings out there that you can sit on top of your lightbulbs and you drop a few drops of oil into them–I’ve seen them at Bath & Body Works before–and when the light is on the ceramic will heat up thus emitting some scent into the room. Those are perfect for people with cats or children and don’t want to risk a knocked over flame. :)
Hey Sara,
Good idea! We haven’t thought about oil burners but we’ll definitely give them some consideration!
xo,
s
Soy is waybetter than paraffin when burning. I’ll try out the freezer trick to clean out my wickless candle dishes. Thanks!
I think the bowls are cute enough to be filled with some decorative rock to match a rooms decor. I have a very similar bowl filled with small river rock on my bathroom counter. It beautiful.
Right now, I like scentsy wickless candles. Since they only warm the wax, not burn the wax, no lead or soot is release into the air. Much safer.
I have a question i have two empty fabreeze candle holders The ones they just released that look like drinking glasses and have no idea what to do with them. my husband suggested we use them as drinking glasses but not sure if it is safe to do so even after washing them several times. Any advice?
Hmm, we’re not sure. Boiling water would “sanitize them” but you never know if the glass itself has lead or something in it (and isn’t food safe). We’d stick to using them for display purposes just to be safe.
xo,
s
thanks you thats what i initially thought but wanted to make sure. By the way your home is beautiful! You all did a great job.