Get Three Lives Out of This Candle That Turns Into an Herb Planter

Pretty candle holders make me happy and sad at the same time. Happy, because they’re gorgeous to look at. But sad, because once the wax is gone the holder often ends up in the recycling. Esker stepped into the candle game to change that with this plantable candle.

Now, that doesn’t mean you stick the holder in the ground once the candle has fully burned. It means you use the vessel as a planter—and it comes with everything you need to do so.

Shop Now:Esker Plantable Candle, $85

Upon opening the candle you’ll notice a soil pod and a dust cover. Hold on to both of those and burn your candle as usual.(Luckily, the box is just as pretty as the candle so you can store them in there.)

The candle itself sits in a beautiful terrazzo ceramic vessel. Pops of rust, taupe, and mustard give the holder a vibrant yet earthy feel. The hand-poured wax is a soy-based blend of musky Palo Santo, sweet herbal rock rose, and woodsy cedar notes.

Once you’ve burned through the wax, empty the soil pod into the vessel and add water. The water causes the soil to expand, bringing it to life like one of those little magic washcloths (’90s babies—IYKYK). Then, plant the dust cover into the dirt. The dust cover is made from seed paper that has culinary herb seeds pressed inside.

Erin Marino, director of brand marketing at The Sill, says growing herbs is relatively easy and super rewarding.

“Growing herbs is a satisfying way of exercising your green thumb, specifically because your hard work can save you a trip to the store,” she says. “An indoor herb garden is relatively easy to grow, as long as you have the proper light. They need tons of sunlight—about four to five hours a day. That can be particularly difficult to achieve in the winter. “Usually windows with a south or southwest exposure are ideal, but east or west will work as well,” says Marino. If you don’t get tons of natural sunlight in your space, Marino says a plant light can ensure your herbs are getting enough light.

Once your plant takes off, you can use the herbs for cooking. Andrea Mathis, RDN, an Alabama-based dietitian, says that because herbs are leafy greens, they are packed with nutrients and antioxidants. “There are several herbs that have a significant amount of vitamins A, C, and K,” says Mathis. Which support eye and bone health; boost immunity; and aid bone health and wound healing; respectively. “Some herbs, such as parsley, mint, and oregano, have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects,” she adds.

This candle is truly a sustainable three-for-one deal: a soothing candle, a pretty plant, and herbs for cooking. Give it to a friend (or yourself) as the gift that literally keeps on giving.

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