DIY Wax Melts

Sometimes when I step into a Goodwill, I have a clear plan for what I’m on the hunt for. Other times, I let the store and the spirits of thrifters past tell me what I need, haha. On one of my most recent “free range” adventures, I found some cute silicone ice cube trays with fun shapes. When I initially purchased these ice cube trays (at $1.99 each from the Greenwich location) my first thought was that I wanted to be like one of those fancy TikTok people with their multiple ice variations. However, once I got home reality set in: I live in a studio apartment and have a small freezer (sadly, no separate ice freezers here). Never fear though, there are other ways to utilize these thrifted ice cube trays, as molds for DIY wax melts!

One of my must-haves in my apartment is a good, scented candle, especially in a cute glass jar. The drawback to having jar candles though, is that once it gets about a quarter of an inch from the bottom of the jar, it’s no longer safe to burn but there is still leftover wax. When I realized the molds I grabbed would not work for ice, I thought they’d be perfect for upcycling the leftover wax from my favorite, burned-down, candles. Here’s a step-by-step guide to how I made the cutest little wax melts with my thrifted finds:

Gather your supplies

The most important supplies for this task are your jar candles (my favorite are from local business, Lola Candle Company), the silicone molds, a pot, tongs, and something you can grab hot things with (oven mitts, pot holders, or heat resistant work gloves, etc.), and optionally some wax paper.

Steps

1. Fill your pot with water (enough to cover about ¾ of the jar but not enough to fully submerge) and bring to a boil.
2. Remove jar lids if applicable and then place the jar (or jars if your pot is large enough) in the center of the pot.
3. Leave until the wax is fully melted (my 8 oz. jars took about 12-15 minutes but keep an eye on them). I moved the jar around a few times with the tongs to help the process.
4. While your candle wax is melting set up your pouring station. I laid down some wax paper for easy cleanup and then set my silicone molds on top of that.
5. When the wax is melted, carefully remove the wick/wick holder from the bottom of the jar with your tongs.
6. Use heat-resistant gloves to take the jar and pour the now melted wax into the molds. Be careful to avoid spilling as much as you can.
7. Let the wax cool and solidify in your molds.
8. Once fully cooled and solidified, they will slide right out of the molds and be ready to use! You can also store them in a glass container or wrap them in wax paper.

These are great for a wax burner (I thrifted mine for $6 or $7 a few years ago) or to give as a gift! You can also repurpose the jars in multiple ways. I like to fill mine with bath salts and have previously used them to hold small candies. If you’re using Lola Candle Company candles, you can bring your old lids back to the store for a discount on your next purchase as they can be recycled!

Is your next DIY project inspiration waiting for you at Goodwill? Head to your nearest store to find out, happy hunting!