With many candles, the part most worth keeping is the vessel. It has been made with care, and if it is bark it still carries the smell of the material itself.
Keeping it is simple: wait until the candle is completely cool, remove the remaining wax with hot water or by scraping gently, pull out the wick tab, then wash it and let it dry completely before using it for something else.
Three ways to remove the remaining wax
- Hot water: pour hot water into the vessel, wait for the wax to soften and float up, then lift it out. Do not pour wax down the sink.
- Gentle scraping: for a thin layer of wax, use a wooden or plastic spoon and scrape along the wall. Avoid sharp metal tools on vessels that scratch easily.
- Chilling: with some waxes, leaving the vessel in the fridge for a while makes the wax contract so it lifts out in one piece.
With vessels of natural material such as bark, we lean towards gentle scraping and wiping rather than a long soak. Soaking makes the bark take up water and it then takes a very long time to dry again. This is experience from the ZUNGZA workshop with our own vessel line.
What to use the jar for
Things people often choose: holding pens, holding clips and pins, sitting on a desk as a place for rings and keys, becoming a pot for a small plant if the vessel tolerates damp, holding matches, or simply standing empty on a shelf because it looks good. With cinnamon bark vessels, many people keep them beside where they sit, because the dry bark still has a very faint smell when you come close.
If you want to pour new wax into the vessel, know that choosing the right wick for the diameter and for the wax is the hardest part, and getting it wrong means the candle burns crooked or smokes. This is something to do with knowledge rather than by feel.
Do not skip this part
Do not pour hot wax into a sink or a drain, because the wax cools and builds up in the pipe. The right way is to let the wax cool into a solid piece and put it in the bin. The metal wick tab should also be separated out.
A few questions you often send us
What if the jar still carries the old scent
Wash with warm water and a mild detergent, then let it dry somewhere airy for a few days. With glass and concrete vessels, the old smell usually goes completely. With bark, the smell of the material itself remains, and that is not a smell that needs removing.
Is it a good idea to re-pour a candle at home
If you are doing it for fun and accept an uneven result, it is an enjoyable thing to do. If you want a candle that burns evenly and safely, you need the right wick and the right amount of scent, and that part cannot be guessed.
Does ZUNGZA take old cups back
This is something we are considering and there is no formal programme yet. If you are interested, send us a message so we know how many people want it, because that is what decides whether it can be done.