Make Your Candle Habit Less Expensive with These Tips
When crisp weather rolls in, there’s nothing better than a cozy sweater, warm socks and your favorite scented candle. But candles can be expensive and often end up adding to the clutter in your home. If you’re looking for alternative ways to fill your home with cozy smells or just want to replenish your candle collection without spending a ton, we’ve got some tips. So before you rush to buy all those new holiday scents, try these methods to save money on candles.
Look for a Candle Alternative
Essential oil diffusers, reed diffusers and wax melts are all good alternatives for candles and they have their perks. For instance, essential oils are more commonplace nowadays, so they’re more affordable than they used to be. Reed diffusers can last up to six months. And wax melts have some serious reusability. You can also make your own simmer pot. Boiling aromatics like cinnamon, citrus peels, mint, clove and ginger is a cheap and effective way to fill your house with a pleasant scent. After the pot reaches a boil, reduce heat to a simmer (hence the name) for a couple of hours. You can find simmer pot recipes online to get more ideas.
Buy in Bulk
Online retailers like 100 Candles, The Candle Depot and even Amazon offer discounts for buying candles in bulk. If there’s a style or scent you already know you love, why not buy 25 or 50 at a wholesale price? Buying in bulk is also great if you want to save money on candles for wedding decor or party favors. Another money hack? Stop spending too much money on these dumb things.
Check Local Discount Stores
Discount stores like Big Lots, TJ Maxx, Ross, Burlington and Marshalls often have marked down name-brand candles. Just be judicious, because even at a marked-down price, candles at stores like these can sometimes be more expensive than you’d think. You don’t have to spend outside your budget just because a fancy three-wick candle was discounted from $45 to $20.
Buy Off-Season Scents
If you’re a true bargain hunter, you know candles get marked down significantly during season transitions or after major holidays. There’s no shame in buying half-off Christmas-themed candles and burning them throughout the year. Check your local grocery stores or discount stores at the end of December, June, and October for discounts on seasonal candles.
Buy Second-Hand
This tip might not be for everyone, but you’d be surprised how many quality second-hand candles you can find. You can really save on candles by browsing thrift stores, estate sales, garage sales and online. Websites like eBay, Mercari and OfferUp may have affordable second-hand candles in decent shape. Local “Buy Nothing” Facebook groups are another great resource. Search “Buy Nothing” with your city or community name, and check the feed often or make a post asking if anyone has candles they don’t want. You can always disinfect used candles, reuse the wax or place them on a candle warmer if the wick is unusable. Want more money-saving tricks like this? Here are eight more you should try.
Make Your Own Candles
Of course, there’s always the option to save on candles by making your own. All you need is wax (usually in the form of flakes or pellets), wicks, glass containers and fragrance oils or essential oils. Wicks often cost $5 for 100, wax costs around $5 per pound and one bottle of oil can make several candles. Whether you want to save money on candles or try something new, you’ve got plenty of options. If all else fails, you can always try a simple room spray, potpourri or air out the house for 15 minutes per day.
