Hi Mimis, Keren here! I hope you're doing well.
One of the questions we hear most is: why do you make candle refills instead of just selling a new candle every time? It's a great question, and the answer is at the heart of everything we do. Every Mimi & August candle is made to be reused. Not recycled someday. Reused, again and again, as part of your home. That single choice shapes almost everything we make, and it's the reason our candle refills exist. So today, I want to share the thinking behind them.
Why Does Mimi & August Make Candle Refills?
We make candle refills because they're the most ecological, the most practical, and the most affordable way to enjoy our candles. Once you own one of our handmade ceramic cups, there's no reason to buy a whole new candle every time. A refill gives you a new scent for less, with none of the extra packaging or waste. Keep the cup, refresh the wax: that's the entire idea behind a reusable, refillable candle.
Reuse Comes Before Recycling
Recycling is good, but it isn't the first step. In the waste hierarchy, the framework used around the world to rank how we deal with waste, reducing and reusing come before recycling. Recycling still takes energy to collect, transport and transform materials. Reusing an object you already own skips all of that.
That's exactly what candle refills do. Instead of a glass jar going to the recycling bin (or, let's be honest, to the back of a cupboard), your ceramic cup stays in use, and only the wax that burned gets replaced.
You Don't Need Ten Candle Jars
One of the quiet problems with candles is how they pile up. If you love candles like we do, you probably already have three or four beautiful cups at home, and honestly, that's plenty. You don't need ten. Candle refills let you keep discovering new fragrances without adding to the stack. Clean out a cup you already own, drop in a refill, and you're set. The collection grows in scent, not in clutter.
Candle Refills Cost Less
A refill costs less than a full candle because you're only paying for the wax and the fragrance, not a brand-new container each time. Our candle refills start at $12, while our reusable candles start at $16. Over a year of regular candle use, that difference adds up, for your wallet and for all the material that never has to be made, shipped, or thrown away in the first place. Spending less and wasting less, at the same time: that's the whole point.
Made to Be Reused, Not Thrown Away
Our vision has always been simple: make things that can be reused over time, instead of things you buy and toss. A candle shouldn't end the moment its wax does. That's why every one of our soy candles is hand-poured into a ceramic cup designed by our co-founder Camille Forcherio. It's beautiful enough to keep, and it's dishwasher-safe and microwave-safe, so it can become a real, everyday object. The refill is what turns that idea into a habit you can live with for years.
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How Our Candle Refills Work
It comes down to three simple steps:
- Burn your candle until about 1 cm of wax remains.
- Clean out the cup. Here's how to remove wax from a candle jar in minutes.
- Drop in a refill in the matching size, and your candle is new again.
Our candle refills fit Mimi & August reusable cups, our Little Ceramic Nest, or any cup or ceramic holder that holds the refill snugly. For the best burn time, always use them inside a container. Burning a refill on a flat, open surface may cause the wax to lose its shape and burn faster.
And if you'd rather keep the cup for your morning coffee, go for it. Our post on how to reuse your candle jar has plenty of ideas.
Which Refill Size Do I Need?
Simply match the refill to the size of your cup:
| Refill size | Fits | Approximate burn time |
|---|---|---|
| 3 oz | Our 3 oz reusable cup | 15 to 20 hours |
| 5.5 oz | Our 5.5 oz cup with handle | 35 to 40 hours |
| 11 oz | Our 11 oz mug | 75 to 80 hours |
Our refills come in many of our favourite scents, including the cozy ones from our Fall/Winter collection like Cafecito and Foresta. To learn more about what's inside every refill, read our guide on soy candles.
Thank you for reusing, refilling, and keeping your cups with us. It means a lot.
See you soon Mimis!
Keren 🌷
Candle Refills: Frequently Asked Questions
Why are candle refills more eco-friendly than buying new candles?
Refills reuse a container you already own, so no new jar has to be produced, packaged, shipped, or discarded. You replace only the wax that burned. Reuse comes before recycling in the waste hierarchy, so over time, that means far less material and waste than buying a complete candle every time.
How much can I save with candle refills?
Our refills start at $12, compared to $16 for a reusable candle, because the price doesn't include a new container. The more often you burn candles, the more the savings add up over a year.
Can I use a refill in a cup from another brand?
Yes, as long as it holds the refill snugly. Our refills fit Mimi & August reusable cups, our Little Ceramic Nest, or any cup or ceramic holder with a snug fit. Always burn the refill inside a container: on a flat, open surface, the wax may lose its shape and burn faster.
How many candle cups do I really need?
For most people, three or four is plenty. Once you own a few cups you love, refills let you enjoy new scents without buying more containers, so your collection grows in fragrance rather than in clutter.
How do I clean my cup before refilling it?
Removing leftover wax takes only a few minutes. Our guide on removing wax from a candle jar walks you through three easy methods: boiling water, the freezer, or the stovetop.