Repurpose or Refill? What to Do With Your Empty Candles

reativ | repurpose or refill? what to do with your empty candles

You’ve just finished your candle, and it's too good to throw out. The question is, what do you do with it now? While some people repurpose empty candle jars into storage or décor, it's important to know this isn't your only option anymore. At reativ, we believe the most rewarding option is to give your candle a second life — to reuse and refill its original form, back to what the candle jar was intentionally designed for.

 Here’s how the two compare:

Repurpose: A Jar Finds Another Job

Candle vessels are often too beautiful to throw out, which makes repurposing a tempting option. Many people upcycle their jars into:

  • Mini planters for succulents or herbs.

  • Bathroom storage for cotton pads, hair ties, or cotton tips.

  • Desk organisers for pens, brushes, or scissors.

  • Decorative accents with fairy lights or pebbles.

Repurposing can feel creative — but the truth is, your jar was never designed for any of  these. Once it’s holding cotton pads or office supplies, it’s no longer a candle. The ritual, the fragrance, the ambience, the calm — all gone.  

Refill: A Candle’s True Second Life

Refilling, on the other hand, restores your vessel to what it was always meant to be: a candle. It doesn’t just reuse the jar; it brings back the whole experience, and more. 

Here’s why refilling is the better choice:

  • Made for it: Candle jars are designed to withstand heat and flame. Refilling lets them keep doing their original job beautifully.

  • Sustainable by design: Every refill saves another vessel from landfill.

  • Creative self-care: The process of melting, pouring, and lighting connects you to a complementary calming ritual.

  • Fragrance without compromise: Six clean fragrances to choose from on rotation.

  • Endless life: One vessel, infinite refills — it never has to end.

The choice is yours. Repurposing is practical. Refilling is purposeful. One gives your jar a side hustle; the other returns it to what it was designed for: ambiance, light, fragrance, and calm.

At reativ, our refillable candle kits and microwavable candle refills make it easy to give your candles a second life. Whether it’s an empty favourite or our reusable ceramic vessel, every refill is a continuation of the ritual — sustainable, creative, and endlessly rewarding.

Ready to give your candles the life they were made for? Explore our Candle Refills here.

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