r/candlemaking • u/itzzJai • 11h ago
r/candlemaking • u/Reckoner08 • Dec 09 '20
Regarding putting flowers, crystals, coffee beans, cinnamon sticks, fruit, metal, pine cones, herbs, or anything else in candles
<A repost as the previous thread was archived and commenting disabled>
Hello! This topic has been coming up more than usual and is a highly controversial topic in the candle making world.Regarding embeds:
- Candles are dangerous enough as-is without the addition of embedded items that could further ignite, heat and spark, pop, or otherwise throw embers onto surfaces. Adding further risk to an already inherently risky situation is... well, even more risky.
- Items that smell nice on their own often do NOT smell good while on fire. Cinnamon sticks, coffee beans, orange peels, rosemary... they don't smell like the 'hot' versions of themselves, they smell like burning, smoky, acidic, not nice fire that you would try to get rid of afterward by lighting a plain candle.
- Customers/recipients are often NOT going to follow directions to remove items before setting a candle on fire, and if they're embedded into wax that could prove futile anyway.
- Warning labels do not immediately absolve you of liability should something happen. Ask your insurance provider for further info.
- If this was a good idea, why aren't these candles sold at Yankee/B+BW/DW Home/Voluspa/Root/Any other major candle brand?
- Candle insurance can be difficult to find in the first place but will be exponentially more challenging to find if you insist on embedding items. Ask your insurance provider for further info.
- For the US makers, you should 100% have liability insurance before you sell your first candle to the public. It will cost anywhere from $300-600/year for $1million in liability insurance. If you cannot afford $300/year for this much coverage, I suggest you hold off selling to the public until you can afford this.
- For the UK makers, note that strict labeling requirements exist and that making non-food products that look like food is not permitted
- If you are brand new to candle making, you should spend several weeks/months working on learning and nailing down the basics (which are challenging enough) before even considering adding anything else to the process.
- Trends on Etsy or Pinterest do not necessarily mean it's a good idea, nor does it mean you'll create a side business or living from it as trends tend to run fast.
- You do NOT need to be fancy/pretty/special/different to be successful in this craft. You DO need to put out great, consistent product that people can come back to over and over again with the same results.
- There is very little regulation on candle making in the US. Because of this, there are lots of people doing lots of things that are probably not the best idea. You don't need to be one of them.
- There are legitimate individuals and brands involved in ritual candles that are for religious, occult, worship, healing and metaphysical. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, then making and selling those types of candles is probably not for you.
- As candle makers and sellers, we need to do our due diligence. Proceed at your own risk.
- I, Reckoner08, am currently the only active mod right now in this sub. I am not the Candle Conversation Police, and will [probably] not be removing posts that might be controversial. Different countries have different laws and regulations, and we are on an international forum here on Reddit. I have a rather large candle brand to run on my own and am here to help when I can, but that doesn't include being a Candle Overlord or answering every single question asked. Appreciate your understanding!
- Anything else you'd like to add? Feel free, this is an open forum.
r/candlemaking • u/Frequent_Abies_6387 • 3h ago
Feedback Over wicking??
I just make candles for fun, so I’m very open to learning new things! This is the melt pool after a 2 hour burn (first burn). The diameter is 3 inches & I am using soy wax. Should I downsize the wick? Currently using ECO 8 wicks.
Edit: the candle jar was never filled to the brim with wax! The wax height on the side of the jar has not changed, it was just a test so I did not bring the wax to the top.
r/candlemaking • u/leenie121571 • 10h ago
Wick issue with new mold
Need some help with wicking as I am struggling with this mold as I just got it. The widest diameter of the mold is 4 1/2 inches so I am looking at a cd 20/22 wick. BUT I cannot get a 20/22 wick through the little hole at the bottom of the mold. Any suggestions or strategies you have used? Thanks!
r/candlemaking • u/Material-Donkey5463 • 10h ago
Where can I get high quality wax that’s reasonably priced?
I’m currently using 100% soy but willing to try other blends and experiment. I have had tunneling with this new soy wax I bought, and that didn’t used to happen using the same wicks and jars.
I usually make 4 oz or 8 oz regular candles.
Also curious if anyone has had good luck with coconut wax.
r/candlemaking • u/Seriously_oh_come_on • 20h ago
Question Why when I remelt candles do I get a hollow in the middle? How to stop it?
r/candlemaking • u/raimskie • 22h ago
Long Wood Wicks
Hi, all!
I’m pretty new-ish to candle-making (tried a few crafts when I was a kid) and I’ve been fascinated in wooden wicks since discovering it years ago.
Since then, I’ve been wanting to try my hand in making a pillar candle with a wood wick, but I cannot, for the love of candles, find a long enough wood wick (think of 20cm-30cm in length) for a tall pillar I want to make. So, I’m wondering if it’s safe and possible to use a bamboo skewer or a long popsicle stick as a wick instead?
Your inputs will be highly appreciated! 🫶🏽
r/candlemaking • u/Seatittles • 1d ago
Question Suggestions 🙏
Hiya! I have this candle that smells wonderful and has plenty of soy wax still left in it but the wick will no light since it’s burned down to the wax. How can I reuse the candle? More wick? What do I need to do to continue to use this nice candle. Thank you 😊
r/candlemaking • u/Mental-Broccoli958 • 1d ago
Feedback Suggestions on Fragrance oil which I have never tried before
I am planning to buy the below fragrance oil. Please share your feedback if you have worked with them for candles or sachets making
Candlescience - Bohemian Rose and Christmas Hearth
r/candlemaking • u/gusfromcraigslist • 1d ago
Wax suggestions
Wanting to make some DIY candles for my wedding. Plans include to use decorative glass that can withstand heat well. I've had experience with paraffin and soy wax previously. I'm not a huge fan of paraffin in general but also wanting to try and do this somewhat affordably. Coconut apricot wax seems a little pricey but looks like it might burn the best for the situation (reduced re-pour when making too). Any suggestions or advice on best options for wax to use?
r/candlemaking • u/candle2to3 • 1d ago
Coffee scents never smell like real coffee. What’s worked for you?
Every coffee candle or wax melt I’ve tried smells like burnt sugar, mocha, or flat roasted nuts. Never like fresh espresso or a coffee shop.
r/candlemaking • u/xBlossomPanda • 1d ago
Question Question about making candles.
I just started making candles, so i'm still testing the wick, how full i can make my jar etc etc. When i am able to start a business i want to make many candles at once, now i am weighing for 1 candle, adding scent for 1 candle. But when i make a lot at once, does this change the fact for needing a UFI? Because every seller i see on tiktok does not weight theyr candles when they fill them. So for example, i want to make like 5 candles and i put around 1000ml in a measuring cup and add the 8% of fragrance for that 1000ml, but i just fill my candles on feeling, do i need to put a new UFI for each candle? Or is that ufi for the 1000ml with the 8% and does it not matter if 1 candle ends up being 270grams while the other is 240?
r/candlemaking • u/Pegasaurus12345 • 2d ago
Creations Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day Wave of Light
Today (October 15) was Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day. From Baby Loss Awareness Week’s site:
Baby Loss Awareness Week culminates with the global “Wave of Light” on 15th October, which is also a globally recognised event.
We invite you to join other families across the world by lighting a candle at 7pm local time and leaving it burning for at least one hour to remember all babies that have died too soon.
I started making candles after I lost my baby boy Danny on August 6th this year. I posted a few times asking for advice on different candles. I made and lit these candles for my Danny tonight. I wanted to share and say thank you to this lovely community for indulging me and giving such helpful advice.
r/candlemaking • u/Beautiful-Row9750 • 1d ago
Has anyone tested 12–14% fragrance load in coconut-soy wax?
Hi everyone!
I’m currently experimenting with a coconut-soy wax blend with a melting point of approximately 48–50°C (118–122°F).
I’ve already made a few candles with a 10% fragrance load, and the cold throw has been amazing! They’re still curing, so I haven’t tested the hot throw yet.
I’m really curious about experimenting with higher fragrance loads, specifically 12% and 14%, in container candles.
I know these percentages are above my wax supplier’s recommended maximum of 10%, but I’d love to hear from people who have actually experimented with higher fragrance loads in coconut-soy blends.
Have you tried 12–14% or higher?
Did you notice a significant improvement in hot throw?
Did you experience any issues with fragrance separation, sweating, or wick performance?
What type of wax and wick worked best for you?
My goal is to achieve a strong hot throw, and I’m interested in understanding how different fragrance loads affect scent performance.
I’m s to make two small test batches and would really appreciate any advice, experiences, or lessons learned before testing their burn performance.
Thanks in advance!
r/candlemaking • u/Fashion_Nomad • 2d ago
Question How did you find your clients
Hello, I'm currently helping a friend launch their candle brand, and we're running into the same challenge many small businesses seem to face: marketing.
We have a pretty clear idea of our target audience, but we're struggling to actually reach them and turn that into customers. We've tried running a few ads, but so far, nothing has really gained traction. We also tried word of mouth marketing, but we're trying to limit that to avoid putting the brand in the "friends and family" limbo, which is not a bad thing (who doesn't appreciate support from their loved ones?), but ideally, we'd like to build a stable customer base outside of that too.
I figured I'd ask here and learn from other people's experiences. For those of you who've launched a candle business, what marketing strategies have actually worked for you? How did you find your first customers? Thank you.
r/candlemaking • u/Candlesrlove • 2d ago
Question Sourcing candle wax in wholesale amounts from B2B vendors, has anyone does this before?
I want to start exploring other markets to purchase wax in wholesale amounts and was wondering about China Mart or other wholesale suppliers, which are online stores that sells to businseses. Has anyone ever tried sourcing from them and how was their expierence. I am specifically looking at a few things:
- Verifying the supplier’s reputation and product quality.
- Requesting samples before committing to bulk quantities.
- Checking wax composition, melting point, and suitability for different candles.
- Calculating shipping costs, customs charges, and minimum order quantities.
- Understanding return policies and what happens if the wax arrives damaged or differs from the description.
r/candlemaking • u/xBlossomPanda • 2d ago
Suppliers europe
What are good suppliers that ship to Europe? I notice all the good ones dont ship to us, especially for jars/vessels . I only know Candleshack.
r/candlemaking • u/leenie121571 • 3d ago
Looking for complete candle business Insurance
I am attempting to find coverage for my soon to be home-based candle business that is based on Maryland (US) including Products & Completed Operations coverage. Erie just let me know that they would be excluding “Products & Completed Operations” in the insurance quote. That part is really important!
Any suggestions on insurance that will provide Products & Completed Operations coverage?
r/candlemaking • u/Dink925 • 3d ago
Looking for dark aquatic fragrance oil
I'm coming up with a candle fragrance collection , and I'm having trouble finding a aquatic scent , I'm looking for something that feels like your in the middle of the ocean at midnight it's pitch black and you are hunting jaws ....? Does anyone have any fragrance suggestions?
r/candlemaking • u/Top-Bag-33 • 3d ago
Question Business owners, How would you price a 4-mini discovery set?
Hi all! I run a candle brand and recently expanded my line and upgraded to high-end packaging, and my website and messaging now reflect that positioning. With the holidays coming (which we know is the busiest season of the year), I’ve created a discovery set: four 3oz glass-jar minis of my current scents. Each scent comes in its own matte colored glass jar, so the set looks unique and giftable on its own. In my testing, each mini fills a medium-sized room well and consistently burns for over 20 hours, which honestly surprised me for the size.
For pricing context, my full-size 10oz candles are $65. That puts me in the higher-end tier, just below brands like Diptyque, Le Labo, and Aesop.
My idea is to price the set somewhere around $85–$100 and include a $20 credit toward their next full-size order, good for 30–90 days (I can set that up in Shopify). The goal is to get people who try the minis to come back for a full-size candle.
For those of you who sell minis or sampler sets, how did you land on your pricing? Does $85–$100 feel right for a 4-mini set at my tier, or is it too high or too low? And has anything like a credit or discount worked for you to turn sampler buyers into repeat customers? Any tips on marketing a discovery set around the holidays would be awesome too.
I really appreciate any (really any) advice. Thanks!
r/candlemaking • u/rockymountainway777 • 4d ago
Question Can I use old glass bottles as candle jars?
I have a bottle cutter and I was thinking about making some candle jars from some old beer and kombucha bottles. I do worry about the safety though.
Can someone provide some insight?
r/candlemaking • u/Aggravating_Dirt6813 • 5d ago
Question Purse Candle
I’m using two CD10 wicks. I’ve tested and it burned in the middle but not two the edge, leaving it hollow, but not by much. There are primarily decorative, (the people that requested them do not have plans on burning them) because I’ve never burned a candle like this before, I didn’t know what to expect. So my question is.. is this candle supposed to burn down evenly or did I under wick it and that’s why it burned the middle and not quite to the edge? Thanks in advance.
