With the start of this month, England’s recycling rules have changed which among other things means that candle jars are no longer accepted in kerbside recycling pickups. While my first reaction to the news was outrage, I then turned to solutions to this issue – one of which is to invest in refillable candles going forward. In fact, a few of the candles I already own are refillable – so if you’re not sure where to buy refillable candles for yourself, I’ve rounded up some of my top picks.
The new recycling rules are likely to leave you with several candle vessels that you’re not quite sure what to do with – but there are several ways to reuse old candle jars, whether that’s to store pens (like I’ve done with my pretty Cire Trudon candle jar) or you can buy candle refills from the below listed brands and use them for your existing candle jars.
Alternatively, you can create your own best scented candles and reuse your existing candle jars that way – all you need is soy wax, candle wicks and some essential oils like this Nikura sandalwood and vanilla oil, all available at Amazon. It will also make a lovely activity for the long weekend.
But if you prefer your candles already made - which is fair enough - then these are the refillable candle brands that I recommend.
1. M&S Apothecary
I recently wrote about Marks & Spencer’s Apothecary range as the fragrance of the Apothecary bestsellers is now twice as strong as before. And not only that, the collection’s scented candles are also all refillable. You can either buy a bundle of an already filled candle with one extra refill included or you can buy the refills separately once your candle runs out.
My top pick:
The Calm scent is one of my favourites from the range, blending notes of lavented, cedarwood and orange. And the bundle of the refillable candle with an extra refill is a great value for money!
2. Rituals
Rituals is one of the nation’s most loved home fragrance brands. So I’m sure you’ll be glad to hear that it offers a range of 17 refillable candles, selling separate refills for all of the 17 scents, also known as the Private Collection. Personally, I’m partial to the Royal Tea candle which pairs green tea with fig, moss, citrus and woody notes.
My top pick:
I love tea and its scent so any fragrance that has tea in it is a winner for me. And this 360-gram candle doesn't only smell amazing, it's also very reasonably priced considering the generous size.
3. Pott
Pott is a sustainable candle brand built on the concept of refillable candles. That’s also why the candle jars themselves are extremely well made, crafted from ceramic by UK potters. I own a Pott candle myself and absolutely love it. Its scent is a bit more subtle compared to some of my other candles but sometimes that’s exactly what you want. And I’m a big fan of the slightly rustic look and handmade finish of the jar.
My top pick:
Even though this is not the scent I own, if I was to buy another Pott candle now I'd definitely opt for Heather which pairs tonka with patchouli and cedarwood - a very earthy scent.
4. Dunelm
In all honesty, I was as surprised as anyone when I found out that Dunelm makes refillable candles. They’re part of the brand’s Edited Life range which focuses on a pared-back, minimalist style and the basics of building a lovely home. The range focuses on soothing, spa-like scents and are named accordingly, featuring names like Calm and Restore – similarly to the M&S Apothecary range.
My top pick:
I clearly have a thing for 'calm' home fragrance. But yes, the Calm scent from Dunelm's Edited Life range is my top pick, with notes of lavender, patchouli and cedarwood. And this set of essentially two candles in one is an amazing value for money.
5. Buhn
Similarly to Pott, Buhn is also a UK-based brand of candles centred around sustainability and a refillable model. And it’s also a candle brand I own and love. The candle jars are made from lovely amber-coloured glass, and there are five different candle scents to choose from. I’m currently burning the Rooted candle, which starts off quite light and fresh with ginger, bergamot and juniper berry, but throughout the burn turns more earthy with vetiver and sandalwood.
My top pick:
While Buhn's single candles are currently available on preorder, you can get your hands on a starter bundle straight away, just as I have done. This will get you an already filled candle, two refills, all in the scents of your choice, and branded matchsticks as a bonus.
6. Cire Trudon
Cire Trudon candles are among my favourites. But the entire range is not refillable. However, similarly to Rituals, the brand offers a range of refillable candles named The Alabasters. They are pricier compared to the already high-end core range, which is largely due to the refillable vessel sculpted by hand from single blocks of Spanish alabaster. This is definitely a luxury product – but if you’re looking for a special present or want to treat yourself, I recommend it.
My top pick:
The Alabasters range comes in the same scents as Trudon's core range - so the only difference is the luxurious jar and the refillable feature. And you can't go wrong with the brand's bestselling Ernesto, a smokey scent of leather and tobacco.
7. Diptyque
Much like Cire Trudon, Diptyque also offers a collection of refillable candles – a very exclusive one, as it’s called the Exclusives and that title is reflected in the price. Each of the 270g candles, which is a bigger size than its regular 190g candles, will set you back £208, and refills cost £90. Each of the candles comes in an oval-shaped coloured glass jar with a matching lid, engraved with Diptyque’s branding. They look stunning.
My top pick:
Each of the five fragrances in this exclusive collection comes with a story behind the scent. The Moss Temple candle is inspired by a temple garden near Kyoto, Japan which contains 120 different varieties of moss.
8. True Grace
True Grace is a truly British brand, with many of the company’s scents boasting a very local inspiration. Take English Garden, for example, which would be my scent of choice, blending notes of basil, bergamot, spices and oregano with earthy patchouli, amber and cedarwood. The English Garden candle is also one of the brand’s classic candles, all of which are refillable and you can purchase separate refills for in order to replenish them.
My top pick:
While you can bag True Grace's scented candles and the refills from the brand's own website, they're also available at John Lewis, including this generously sized English Garden candle.
9. MUJI
There are very few things you can’t get at MUJI, the Japanese brand that seemingly has everything you might need. Which includes refillable candles! I’ve never tried MUJI’s refillable candles but I have tried the brand’s home fragrance. I currently use the MUJI geranium essential oil in my Aromatherapy electric diffuser, the Atomiser Connect, and it’s heavenly. So I trust the brand’s candles will be just as great – and they’re really affordable, too.
My top pick:
There are six different refillable candle fragrances to choose from, all of which come in this amber-coloured glass jar with a wooden lid. And while they all sound lovely, I'm currently in the mood for some amber and sandalwood with notes of patchouli and blackcurrant as well.
Which of these are you tempted by?
