We get it: while there’s something kind of triumphant about finally finishing a product, it’s tough to part with that gorgeous packaging, especially when your décor has come to love it. So, to save you the “now what do I do with this?” brainstorming session, we’ve put together five super-simple, beautifully sustainable ideas for how to recycle your Bath & Body Works products. Because you know us: we always see the (candle) jar as half full.
Small pops of greenery are the every-season, every-room mood boost—and recycling a candle jar is an easy, more eco-friendly alternative to searching high and low for a brand-new planting pot. We like air plants or succulents—they’re a good size for the containers and simpler to take care of later—but if you have a green thumb, the sky (er, the garden) is the limit. Just grab your empty candle and your favourite planting strategy, and go.
Desks and office spaces are notorious clutter magnets, and a repurposed 3-wick feels so much more special than those utilitarian office supplies. Pens, pencils, paper clips, push-pins…any tiny, runaway-prone item is fair game. We even like upcycling colored-glass jars to add a decorative kick to playrooms and craft tables—or leaving a little bit of wax at the bottom of the candle for an extra pop of colour, texture and fragrance. (Scented markers are a thing after all).
Sure, you could carve a pumpkin, but this upcycling idea is way more fun and fulfilling. And the best part? It’s scary simple. All you really need is an empty 3-wick and some paint. From there, you've got a blank canvas to create anything from a petrifying pumpkin to a frightful feline to whatever creepy creature you can dream up. Pro tip: For a super-smooth finish, we recommend starting with spray paint. Save your brush strokes for those finishing touches. Happy Halloween!
If you’ve got an empty single wick, then you’re halfway to our version of a Mason jar luminary. The other half? Fairy lights! We love battery-operated ones since they give off a nice, enchanting glow (and they’re low maintenance). But depending on the setting, you could also use tea lights—LED or the real deal. Bottom line: Whether you want to add a little moodiness to your patio or put together a crafty housewarming gift, you can’t go wrong here. Bonus points for decorating the jars. Think ribbons, frosted glass spray paint, glass gems, stick-on letters, etc.
That moment when you have an impromptu bouquet of flowers and literally nowhere to put them? A repurposed soap dispenser solves the entire “honey, where we would put that vase?” conundrum. Just rinse your favourite decorative bottle, fill with a little water and tuck the stems into the top. Be careful to balance the height and weight of the flowers with the size of the hand soap itself; less is more here.
But before you repurpose, you need a few beautiful things.
