How Do You Repurpose Bath And Body Work Candles?

Repurposing used Bath & Body Works candles is a great way to extend the life of these popular candles, while also allowing you to create homemade products with your favorite scents. There are many benefits to repurposing candles instead of just throwing them away after the wax has been used up.

Some of the main reasons for repurposing BBW candles include:

Cost savings – Making your own products like wax melts, room sprays, etc with used candle wax is very affordable compared to buying them.
Reducing waste – Repurposing candle wax cuts down on how much goes into landfills.
Customization – You can customize products like soy candles and perfumes with your preferred scents.
Gifting – Handmade wax melts or room sprays make great personalized, budget-friendly gifts.
Fun DIY project – Upcycling candles can be a fun, creative hobby and way to make your own signature scents.

With some simple prep and materials, that used up candle can be given new life! This guide will walk through different ways to repurpose those Bath & Body Works candles.

Table of Contents

Gather Materials

To repurpose bath and body candles, you’ll first need to gather the necessary materials. This includes:

Candles – You can use leftover candles from Bath & Body Works, Yankee Candle, or other brands. Choose candles in scents you enjoy since you’ll be repurposing the fragrance. Opt for candles with at least 4 ounces of wax remaining.
Jars – Clean and dry any glass jars with lids to hold your repurposed candle wax. Jelly jars or mason jars work well. Make sure jars are heat resistant.
Wicks – Purchase candle or soap making wicks that are made of cotton or paper. Opt for wicks made specifically for container candles. The wick diameter should match your jar size.
Fragrance oils – If desired, you can add additional fragrance oils to enhance or change the scent of your repurposed candle. Use a small amount of concentrated oil.

In addition to these main supplies, you may also need items like a double boiler, spoon, knife, essential oils, and colorants depending on your projects. Gather all materials before starting to repurpose candles.

Prepare the Candle

Before repurposing your Bath & Body Works candle, you’ll need to clean out any remaining wax and properly prep the jar. Here are the steps:

Remove all the wax from the jar. You can do this by placing the jar in the freezer for 1-2 hours until the wax shrinks away from the sides of the jar. Once frozen, the wax should pop right out. Use a knife to scrape off any excess wax still coating the sides.

Thoroughly wash and dry the empty candle jar. Use hot, soapy water and wash until all wax residue is removed. Make sure to get in the corners and fully clean the entire inner surface. Let the jar completely dry before moving to the next step.

Use a cotton pad soaked in rubbing alcohol to remove any remaining sticker or label adhesive from the outside of the jar. Take your time to gently rub off any remnants of stickiness until the surface is smooth.

Now your candle jar is prepped and ready to be transformed into a beautiful, fragrant creation like a reed diffuser, room spray, or wax melts!

Make Reed Diffusers

Reed diffusers are an easy DIY project that allows you to repurpose old Bath & Body Works candles. They are a great way to scent any room in your home. To make a reed diffuser with a used candle, you’ll need bamboo or rattan reeds, a glass or ceramic container, and fragrance oil.

Start by cutting your reeds to size so they are about 2-3 inches taller than your container. Make sure to cut enough reeds to fully cover the opening of your container. You’ll usually need between 8-12 reeds depending on the size of your container.

Next, pour out any remaining wax from the old candle jar and clean it thoroughly. Add 2-3 ounces of fragrance oil to the container, using a toothpick to stir the oil and incorporate any fragrance oil left over from the original candle. Top up with water, leaving 1-2 inches at the top. Arrange the cut reeds evenly in the container. Keep the diffuser out of direct sunlight and flip the reeds every 2 weeks to distribute the fragrance.

The reeds will soak up the scented oil and water mixture and gently fragrance the space around them. Reed diffusers allow you to repurpose the remaining scent from old candles into a new aromatherapy experience.

Make Room Sprays

Room sprays allow you to refresh any room with your favorite candle scents. They are easy and inexpensive to make. Here’s how:

Gather an empty spray bottle and funnel. You’ll also need distilled or filtered water, fragrance oil, and rubbing alcohol or vodka. Rubbing alcohol or vodka help disperse the fragrance oil in the water.

Fill the spray bottle about halfway with distilled or filtered water. Using a funnel, add 15-25 drops of fragrance oil. Top off with more water, leaving a bit of space at the top.

Add 2 tablespoons of rubbing alcohol or vodka and shake vigorously to blend. Spritz as needed to lightly scent a room.

You can tweak the amounts of fragrance oil and alcohol to suit your nose. Always use a funnel when pouring into the spray bottle to avoid spills.

Make Scented Soy Candles

One of the most popular ways to repurpose used Bath & Body Works candles is by making your own scented soy candles. Soy wax is an all-natural, environmentally-friendly alternative to paraffin wax. It’s easy to melt, blends well with fragrance oils, and results in a smooth, long-lasting soy candle.

To make soy candles with your Bath & Body Works candle:

Start by purchasing soy wax flakes or soy wax melts. Look for pure, 100% soy wax without added paraffin.
Add several ounces of soy wax to a heat-safe glass or metal container. Avoid using plastic which can melt.
Melt the soy wax over low heat, either in a double boiler on the stove or using a candle/wax melter.
Once melted, add a few drops of essential oils or candle fragrance oils for scent. Aim for 1-2% fragrance oil by weight.
Stir gently to incorporate the scent evenly into the soy wax.
Carefully pour the melted soy wax into glass jars or other candle containers.
Allow the soy candles to fully cool and harden before use. Trim wicks to 1/4″ before lighting.

Soy candles made this way burn cleanly, don’t emit any toxic substances, and provide aromatherapy benefits from the scent. It’s a guilt-free way to continue enjoying your favorite Bath & Body Works fragrances.

Make Wax Melts

Making wax melts with used Bath & Body Works candles is an easy DIY project. The process involves melting the wax from the candle, adding fragrance, and pouring the wax into silicone molds to create melts.

Start by removing the wicks from the candles and breaking them up into smaller chunks. Place the candle wax pieces in a heat-safe glass measuring cup or bowl. Put the container with the wax chunks in a pot of water to create a double boiler. Heat the water until the wax fully melts.

Once melted, add 10-15 drops of essential oils or fragrance oil for every 1 cup of wax. You can use the same scent as the original candle or mix it up and create your own custom aroma. Stir well to fully incorporate the fragrance.

Prepare the wax melt molds by spraying them lightly with cooking oil. This helps the melts release cleanly. Pour the melted wax into the molds, leaving about 1⁄4 inch of space at the top. Allow the wax melts to fully set and harden before removing them from the molds.

Store leftover wax melts in an airtight container. Enjoy aromatherizing your space by placing a melt in your wax warmer as needed.

Make Solid Perfume

Making solid perfume is a great way to repurpose the fragrance from Bath & Body Works candles. To start, you’ll need some beeswax, a carrier oil like coconut or jojoba oil, and the fragrance oil from the candle. Here are the steps:

Cut off the top of the candle and scrape out around 1-2 tablespoons of wax, trying to avoid collecting the wicks. Place the scraped wax in a glass measuring cup or jar and add 2-3 tablespoons of a carrier oil.

Place the measuring cup in a saucepan with about an inch of water (a makeshift double boiler). Heat the mixture over medium-low heat until the wax melts completely. After the wax has melted, remove from heat.

Next, add about 1/2 teaspoon of beeswax and stir until it’s fully incorporated. You can adjust the amount of beeswax to change the consistency if needed. Add 10-15 drops of fragrance oil from the original candle and stir again.

Pour the mixture into containers like small tins or jars. Allow it to fully cool and harden before using. Apply the solid perfume directly to pulse points like wrists, neck, and behind the ears. Enjoy your custom, homemade solid perfume!

Make Reed Diffuser Solution

The reed diffuser solution is easy to make at home with just a few simple ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need:

Distilled water
Vodka or rubbing alcohol
Essential oils or fragrance oils

Simply combine the water, alcohol, and oils in a glass bottle. A good ratio to use is:

1 cup distilled water
1⁄4 cup vodka or rubbing alcohol
15-25 drops essential oils

The vodka helps diffuse the oils and the water allows the fragrance to last longer. You can adjust the number of drops of oil depending on how strong you want the scent. Add more oil for a stronger aroma.

Be sure to use a tightly sealed bottle and give the mixture a good shake before each use. Insert the reed diffuser sticks and enjoy the lovely scent!

Tips and Ideas

Here are some tips and ideas for repurposing your Bath & Body Works candles:

Storing

Store your repurposed products in airtight containers to help preserve the scent. Glass jars or metal tins work best. Keep products away from direct sunlight which can cause the scent to fade faster.

Gifting

Repurposed candles make great gifts! Wrap wax melts or room sprays in cellophane and tie with a ribbon. Place solid perfumes or reed diffusers in a gift bag or basket. Add a handmade label with the scent name.

Labeling

Label your repurposed products with the original scent name and ingredients. You can buy printable labels or make your own with cardstock and decorative scissors or punches.

Decorating

You can decorate plain containers holding your repurposed products to match your home’s decor. Add burlap, lace, or scrapbook paper around glass jars. Use decorative duct tape on metal tins. Tie raffia or twine around necks of bottles.