One of the most viable online businesses is candles either on their own or complementing other products. Candles had a market value of $3.45 billion back in 2018, and it continues to grow due to COVID-19, where people spend more time at home taking care of their mental health. There are plenty of uses for candles, so it is crucial that you know what to look for in the wholesale candle supplier world before committing to any agreements.
1. Know The Type of Candles That You Want To Sell
There are different candles out there, and the choices are endless! Some candles are great for ambiance, such as scented candles, while others offer olfactory benefits. The scent is a crucial part of their purchase decision about three-quarters of shoppers.
The next thing that you need to figure out is the type of candle you would want to sell. The most popular types out there are votives, container candles, and pillars. However, there are plenty more other kinds out there that you can choose to sell. You can sell tea lights, floating candles, tapers, and there is a candle for pretty much everything and anything.
Lastly, you would have to think about the ingredients that you would need to complete your candles. There are soy, beeswax, synthetic, and other different materials that can go into your candles.
It is okay to start with a single type of candle with an idea of expansion in the future. When that’s your plan, make sure that your supplier of choice will have a variety of products that you will need.
2. Candle Wax Type: Important Things to Keep In Mind
There are plenty of ways that you can manufacture candles and tons of ingredients you can use. Having said this, consumers are starting to pay more attention to these factors. Different consumers are becoming more and more aware of what goes into the products that they are using, and demand for organic or natural wax candle products is rising.
Equally, it is important that you are aware of what goes into the products you plan to sell to your customers. The following will talk about the different waxes that you would need to consider purchasing from wholesale suppliers to make sure you have the right candles to sell.
Soy. It is expected to grow 8.5 percent annually through 2025, so soy wax has a high melting point that burns slowly. It is ideal to use with fragrances and color dyes. It is also environmentally friendly since it is manufactured from soybeans. Soy wax is perfect for containers since it doesn’t hold its shape too well.
Paraffin. Paraffin is a more affordable option which is why you see plenty of these types on the market. It is also easy to work with and water-resistant, ideal for floating candles. Now, it is a petroleum by-product, so environmentally conscious customers may stay away from these types of candles.
Beeswax. Another environmentally-friendly choice for the type of wax to use is beeswax. It is also considered to be a cruelty-free ingredient. Beeswax is natural, non-toxic, hypoallergenic, and renewable. Plenty goes into producing this type of wax so that it can be a bit pricier than the other types.
Beeswax is perfect for votives, pillars, sticks, and so much more. If you want to know the other benefits that beeswax candles offer, here’s an article that I have written.
Coconut Wax. Just like beeswax, coconut wax is also renewable. It also holds scent well and burns slowly since it has a low melting point. It is also best for containers and more expensive than the other waxes mentioned here.
Palm Wax. This type of wax is natural and renewable, but the manufacturing process is questioned by many people. Farmers will burn several acres of forest at a time to make sure they obtain the raw ingredients that are needed to produce palm wax as well as other palm-derived products.
When it comes to candle waxes, there is more to it, such as plenty of waxes that have scents in the form of natural ingredients, synthetic concoctions, or essential oils. As I’ve mentioned above, plenty of people tends to go the scented route when it comes to candles since it is used to freshening and deodorizing a room.
For scents, make sure that you look for natural ingredients such as essential oils. They are often added for scent when it comes to candle-making.
Before buying wholesale candle supply, make sure that you know exactly what you need, and you can confidently communicate to your customers what is included in your candle products.
3. Candles Wicks: Some Things You Need to Consider
When it comes to looking for candle wicks, you need to consider a couple of factors. Sometimes these factors tend to be neglected, and if this happens, the functionality of your candle might be affected. The worst that can happen to your candles, if you don’t mind these factors, is they can’t hold enough burn light.
The first thing that you have to consider is the diameter of your candle container or the candle itself. It may be the most vital factor to consider before you go out and order them yourself. Make sure to use a ruler to measure the diameter of your candle so that you will have a reference.
Next, you have to consider the fragrance load and color of your candles. These factors are mostly taken for granted. However, they are actually also contributing elements that could make your wick not function correctly if you overlook this factor.
The rule of thumb is that more color and fragrance are included in your candle recipe, and the thicker wick will be needed. Also, there are fragrance load calculators that you can use for you to know the proper wick to select.
Third, you need to consider the burning time of your wax. For example, soy wax has a slower burn time while paraffin wax burns faster, so it is appropriate to use a thinner wick for this wax type.
Fourth, there are different types of candle wicks on the market, such as flat wicks, square braid, wooding wicks, and cored wicks. Every type of wick has its own melting point and density that you would have to consider.
Lastly, you would need to consider the size of the wick since it is as important as the type. You need to ensure that the wick sizes will match your container or mold size for safety reasons. For the beginner candlemaker, it is best to use the first wick size that would match your wax and diameter.
So when you have paraffin wax and soy wax 2.50 cm in diameter, it is best to use LX10 wick and ECO1 wick. Then, you can gradually increase the intervals as needed. There are plenty of sources out there when it comes to the wick size charts.
Now, having one size up and down of wooden wicks is advisable to include in your candle suppliers as it will allow you to have a visual representation to test as well as see which wooden wicks would work best during your candle-making project.
Keeping these factors in mind, you can easily choose the right supplies for your candle projects. Take note that it is hard to deny that candlewick is sometimes the least of a candlemaker’s priorities. All you need to remember is good judgment, and smart decisions in picking up the right candle supplies will help you prevent or minimize issues in the future.
4. Fragrances for Your Candle Projects: Things to Keep In Mind
Now, these are oils for an obvious reason in candle supplies. There are fragrance oils that replicate a particular scent, and they can also be original from a recreated new scent. The formulas for these scents can either be composed of natural ingredients (essential oils), synthetic (manufactured chemicals), or even both.
Due to the wide range of scents and affordability, they are often added to candle supplies. Having said this, not all fragrances are created the same way. There will always be plenty of good and bad quality when it comes to scents. Good quality fragrance oils should be phthalate-free.
Below are some of the examples of fragrance oils that are perfect for your candle-making projects:
Very Vanilla Fragrance Oil. Plenty of people are fond of creamy vanilla scents, which makes this scent a popular one. It is best to add this to your candle supply list.
Vanilla Caramel Fragrance Oil. Another vanilla scent is vanilla caramel which is a festive aroma that can be enjoyed by vanilla lovers. It provides a sweet, creamy caramel smell underlaid and synergized with a vanilla aroma.
Cocoa Therapy Fragrance Oil. This scent is a perfect addition to your candle supplies since it provides a chocolatey smell. You can enjoy a calorie-free, sweet treat when you add this to your candle as it can reminisce a chilled cocoa aroma that you would usually have on a cold morning.
Lotus Flower Fragrance Oil. The lotus flower scent is very feminine that is mostly loved by plenty of people. When you add this to your candle supply, you can have more options.
Ocean Breeze Fragrance Oil. This aroma is perfect for your candle-making projects as it is loveable and is suited for men. It is also a unique scent to have on your candle supply list as it provides a feeling of being in a tropical place.
5. Essential Oils: Great Alternative To Fragrance Oils!
A great alternative to fragrance oil is essential oil. It can be the natural alternative that you choose for adding scents to your candle projects. There are some drawbacks to using essential oils for your candles, and knowing these drawbacks can help your know-how as well as when to use them best.
The first drawback is that these types of oils are more expensive compared to fragrance oils. It is understandable since essential oils have a very different manufacturing process than fragrance oils. Considering the resources and equipment alone is a big difference between the two.
Another disadvantage of essential oils is having plenty of aromatic benefits as they give a very faint scent whenever they are used and burned in a candle. There are some essential oils that you are aiming for that need a strong scent. However, it would bring us back to the first disadvantage since it is not cost-effective.
Lastly, due to the aroma difference, essential oils are a bit more concentrated on the essence of a particular plant. On the other hand, fragrance oil has the versatility for you to explore more scents. Here you can replicate the scent of a clam, cool seashore just like the Ocean Breeze fragrance oil.
With all of these said, it would help if you use a diffuser and scented candle that is phthalate-free and paraben-free. Your customers can have a combination of both in a DIY candle, having a small amount of essential oil, and with fragrance oil as the ultimate scent booster.
Just a touch of creativity, there are plenty of ways you can optimize using both oils without compromising their qualities.
6. Find a Supplier: Make Sure They Match Your Target Market
Once you have defined what you are looking for, it is time to find your supplier. There are plenty of places to find suppliers that provide the supplies you need for your candle-making project. It is important that you understand the niche that you are targeting to find the products that will meet your customer’s needs.
If you already have an existing business, it’s most likely that you already know about your customers’ preferences. However, if you are looking to launch a business that is dedicated solely to selling candles, you should look for suppliers that have a variety of candle offerings.
Let’s say you own a salon or a spa, and you want to test the waters by selling candles as your retail component. You have to look for a supplier that focuses their candle on aromatherapy.
If you want to add candles for your subscription boxes, then you want candles that are small and fun such as votives or tin candles that will match the other products you have featured in your boxes.
When you have a good home business, you should select a supplier that focuses on women’s and home accessories brands that offer a collection of different goods.
It is always a good idea to define what you plan to sell and the types of candles that the customers will want to buy before you choose your candle supplier.
7. Long Term Candle Supplier: A Relationship Should Be Built
A long-term candle supplier is a must, especially when you are just starting out with your candle business. It can be easy to focus on what you need at this moment. However, the most successful business owner would consider both present and future needs.
When your business grows, you will make more sales and gain a lot more customers in the long run. It will mean you will need to place big orders with your suppliers and potentially introduce new products. Some suppliers offer candles as an adjacent offering to the main products they sell.
8. Ordering In Bulk Online: The Benefit Of It All
There are plenty of benefits that you can get from ordering your candle supplies in bulk. Aside from saving money, it can also save you time. Here are some of the benefits that you can get from getting your candle supplies online in a wholesale manner.
Different Candle-Making Accessories. When you are making candles for the first time, it is best to buy the basic supplies first. It will allow you to make the candle projects you want without any trouble. Online stores offer plenty of supplies such as wicks, different wax types, glass jars, fragrance oil, spatula, heat-proof container, thermometer, and so much more.
You can order the supplies in bulk online and start your own candle-making projects.
Order The Accessories You Need Any Time. When you buy supplies online, you can purchase them at any time and experience convenient shopping. You can purchase supplies whenever you desire and anywhere in the world. All you need is an internet connection and a phone or a laptop.
Once you get all the supplies you need, you can focus on your candle-making project and finish it as soon as possible.
No Need for A Special Account. Every buyer should get access to discounts and benefits without needing to have a special account. Online stores usually provide the best service to the customer. They have complete candle-making supplies that you are looking for, such as candle jars, wicks, and others for a lower cost.
All you have to do is sign in to the online store to get your shopping started. It will keep you away from the hassle of opening a special account in different online stores.
Get Discounts. Candle-making supplies providers usually offer special deals and discounts on their products. You can check the discount on the product that you like and place the order. When ordering in bulk, you can also get free shipping that will help you save money.
They also offer secure and easy banking methods so that you won’t have trouble paying for your supplies. You can make payments through your credit card, debit card, and other methods from your desktop or mobile phone. Also, they will keep the customer’s personal and banking information safe from any hacker.
Final Thoughts
The beginning journey of candle-making can be overwhelming when you don’t know where to start. Thankfully, there are plenty of sources out there that will answer the questions that you have in mind. Proper research and reliable sources are the keys to making sure you get the right information in finding the right supplier for your candle-making project or business. If you want to know where you can sell your candle products, here is an article I have written for you.
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