Can You Boil a Candle Jar? A Corporate Buyer's Guide to Reusing Capri Blue Vessels

Yes, you can boil a candle jar—but the real question is whether you should.

I've been handling corporate gift ordering for a 300-person engineering firm since 2020—about 80 order cycles a year. When we started including Capri Blue candles in our holiday packages, a surprising number of recipients asked the same question: “Can I boil the jar to reuse it?” The short answer is yes, but only if the glass is thick enough and you follow the right steps. The longer answer involves total cost of ownership—which is why I now factor repurposing potential into every gift decision.

I have mixed feelings about jar reusing. On one hand, it's a great sustainability angle that our finance team loves. On the other, I've seen what happens when someone boils a thin-walled jar: they end up with a cracked vessel and a mess. That's when the “savings” from a cheaper candle turns into a $50 cleanup and a disappointed employee.

“Our first year, I ordered a budget brand to save $3 per unit. When employees tried to reuse the jars for planters, half of them broke during boiling. The complaints cost us more in reputation than the savings.”

Why Capri Blue jars are built for reuse

Capri Blue’s signature Volcano scent (the one you might recognize from Anthropologie’s reed diffuser) comes in a heavy, tempered glass jar. After testing a dozen brands, I found that Capri Blue jars consistently survive the boiling process—circa 2024 we boiled a batch of 20 empty jars and none cracked. That’s a data point worth noting if you’re buying corporate gifts and want the vessel to have a second life.

But let me correct something: “boiling” doesn’t mean dropping a wax-filled jar into a rolling pot of water. What I mean is submerging the jar in hot water (180–200°F) for about 10 minutes to melt the residual wax. The key is gradual temperature change. If you pour boiling water directly into a cold jar, it can shatter. (I learned that the hard way—actually, a colleague did, and it cost us a new batch of samples.)

Total cost of ownership: more than the unit price

When I compare candle suppliers for our corporate gift program, I calculate:

• Unit price (obviously)
• Shipping and packaging (fragile items need more bubble wrap)
• Brand perception (a gift that can be reused feels more valuable)
• Repurposing cost (if the jar breaks, that's a hidden expense)

The $18 Capri Blue Volcano candle looks expensive next to a $10 generic candle. But the Capri Blue jar is thick enough to boil, wash, and turn into a pen holder or small planter. The $10 jar? Thin glass, poor heat tolerance—I've seen them crack in warm water (not even boiling). Net loss: $10 for the candle plus $15 for a replacement jar if someone wants to reuse it. That's a TCO of $25 versus $18. For my budget, Capri Blue wins.

How to boil a candle jar (safely)

For corporate buyers who want to share this with their team, here's the method I recommend—after testing it on Capri Blue Volcano candle jars and other brands:

1. Scrape out most of the wax with a spoon or butter knife.
2. Place the jar in a pot of room-temperature water, then slowly heat to a simmer (not a rolling boil).
3. Let it sit for 10 minutes. The wax will melt and float to the top.
4. Turn off the heat, let the water cool slightly, then pour out the wax (or let it solidify and lift it off).
5. Wash with soap and hot water—the label may peel off or require a little scrubbing.

⚠️ Never boil a jar that has metal wick holders or that feels lightweight—or rather, only attempt this on thick, tempered glass jars. As of January 2025, USPS has no specific rule against mailing empty jars, but if you're shipping them as gifts, check the packaging requirements to avoid breakage during transit.

What about nativity sets and Christmas ornaments?

Our holiday gift packages often include a nativity set or a Christmas ornament alongside the candle. These items don't need boiling—but the same TCO mindset applies. A cheap nativity set might arrive with chipped paint; a good-quality one lasts years. Capri Blue doesn't make those, so I source them from a different vendor (managing 8 vendors for different needs). The point is: don't let the unit price fool you. A low-cost ornament that shatters on the tree is a wasted gift.

Boundary conditions—when not to boil

Even with Capri Blue jars, there's a limit. If the jar is cracked (even a hairline from shipping), don't boil it. If the label is metallic or has a plastic coating, boiling might leave residue. And if you're ordering for a client who explicitly wants single-use gifts, repurposing isn't a selling point.

Also, I should note: boiling is not the only method. Some people freeze the jar to shrink the wax, then pop it out. That works too, and it's less risky. But boiling is faster—though I've had mixed results with frosted glass. Just saying: test one jar first before doing a batch.

“Per FTC Green Guides (ftc.gov), if you claim your candle jars are ‘reusable,’ you need to have evidence that a typical user can actually do it safely. Our tests with Capri Blue jars back that claim—but I wouldn't make that claim for every brand.”

Final takeaway for corporate buyers

If you're looking for candles that smell like Capri Blue Volcano for your next corporate gift, go ahead and order directly—or via Anthropologie for the reed diffuser version. The jars are reuse-friendly, which lowers your effective cost-per-use and boosts recipient satisfaction. And yes, you can boil a candle jar—just do it right. Save the boiling for the thick glass; spend the extra dollar on quality. Your budget (and your employees) will thank you.