When it comes to starting a business it’s important to have the necessary equipment before you start. A candle making business is no exception. When we think of candles we just think of wax and wicks, maybe a jar to put them into but making candles is a little more tricky than pushing a wick into some wax.
Basic Candle making equipment list
- Wax – Popular waxes include soy and beeswax
- Wicks – String or stick type depending on your candle
- Wax Melting pots
- Candle containers – Such as tins or jars, needed for container candles
- Molds – If you are making free standing candles
- Dyes – If you want to make colored candles
- Fragrance oils – Essential oils make great smelling candles
- Packaging supplies
- Measuring instruments – Thermometers and scales are a must
- Marketing – Website, advertising, and promotion, social media, flyers, inserts, tags, etc.
Wax
Wax in bead form is the most convenient method to create soy candles since the beads melt fast, allowing you to pour the candle wax and start your next batch with little effort. This candle is perfect for people who are new to making candles at home.
The Freedom soy wax mix melts nicely in the microwave and needs little equipment, making it an excellent choice for people who wish to make small quantities of candles. If you want to make candles without the mess, try using soy wax beads.
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Once you are familiar with candle making you can look to find wholesale candle supplies which will be cheaper if you are producing large quantities of candles.
Wicks
The natural wax coating on pre-tabbed candle wicks is applied at a high melting point for optimum stiffness and ease of pouring.
Wick holders guarantee that your wicks stay erect and in the center of the container while you are pouring wax into it.
Wicks can be made entirely of natural cotton and braided for all candle types. Citronella wax is used in soy, paraffin, palm, and highly scented wax mixes, among other things.
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Melting pots
Wax containers of standard size can store up to 4 pounds of molten wax. 8 inches in height and 5.5 inches in diameter. This item is ideal for candle-making projects at home.
Their nonstick surface should be nonstick and simple to clean with soap and water. They should have good heat conductivity to aid in the rapid cooling of the wax.
The majority of them feature a heat-resistant handle design that keeps them cold and safe to touch during the heating process.
They should be equipped with a dripless spout, which will allow for more control while pouring a continuous stream of wax without spilling any of the wax.
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Measuring instruments
Thermometer
A thermometer with instant-read characteristics such as a cooking food thermometer will be effective enough to see when the wax is properly heated. Food, sweets, milk, water, and oil may all be heated using a kitchen cooking thermometer.
Cooking thermometers are normally constructed of high-quality waterproof eco-friendly ABS plastic, so it’s straightforward to wash them under running water after you’re done with your candle making.
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Scales
A brushed stainless-steel platform to easily weigh your wax accurately is needed, especially when candle making. The stainless steel allows for easy cleaning.
Tare Functions is a must (zeroing for net weight), as is unit conversion (grams, ounces, pounds, pounds: ounces and milliliters), as working with different suppliers who may use imperial or metric measurements.
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Containers
Jars
Candle jars have a height of 2.82″ and a diameter of 1.9″. offer the ideal container size for tiny candles. Small airtight mason jars are an excellent addition to any table setting, whether at a home party or a business event.
Candle jars should be constructed of high-quality food-grade glass that is BPA-free, recyclable, non-toxic, and preservative-free.
Most candle jars are constructed of lead-free glass, and they should be dishwasher and microwave safe, as well as freezer and oven safe.
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Tins
Candle Tin Jars: are often constructed of high-quality aluminum and have a smooth structure. They may be used as candle-making materials as many times as you like if you provide discounts for returning old tins. Candle tins are preferable over glass for beginner candle makers because they are more durable and forgiving making these candle containers more popular at first.
Candle tins are extremely adaptable and may be reused after the candle has been burned. They may be used as party favors, shop presents, spices and herbs, balms and gels, geocaching, crafts, travel, storage, and other things, or even as a tiny planting pot.
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Molds
Resin molds are constructed of long-lasting silicone with a glossy inner surface; the final resin works are extremely lustrous, non-stick coated, and simple to detach and clean.
Resin molds are ideal for candle manufacturing since they allow for the addition of various chemicals and colors prior to the candle pour to produce unique patterns. You may decorate the silicone mold with beads, glitters, rhinestones, sequins, colors, dried flowers, decorations, or anything else you like.
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Dyes
Color pigments made from epoxy resin (mica) are made from food-grade materials that are devoid of toxins, irritants, and discolorants. Epoxy resins maintain their clarity and vibrancy over time, resulting in longer-lasting and more vivid colors.
Epoxy resin colors are also extremely affordable. A little powder goes a long way and will provide brilliant, dazzling results for your candles.
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Fragrances
Pure aroma oils derived from natural organic plants are often vegan and cruelty-free. Consistent in quality in smell, color, and texture
Perfect for creating scented candles at home and very eco-friendly since oils have stronger fragrances, particularly when combined with candles.
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Packaging supplies
Boxes
Boxes should be the same size as the candle and vertically square to accommodate the round candle. You may need to order larger boxes to accommodate and extra packaging, especially if you are looking to ship glass jar candles, for example.
Check Amazon here for the latest prices of some example boxes and other candle making supplies
Candle making kits
If you are not sure if a candle-making business is for you then you can check out our article on the best candle-making kits. You can invest a few dollars, and have a trial run without it breaking the bank. Then you can see if it’s something you would like to pursue as a home-based business.
Click the link here to check out the kits
If you do want to try a candle-making business then why not check out this free trial from Amazon Audiobooks. You can try this book for a month at no cost to see if it’s right for you.
Marketing
Marketing is almost another website topic in its own right. It’s such a huge, in-depth topic that it will be hard to do it justice in a few paragraphs. At the very least you will need a means of promoting your products and candle making, either through social media or local advertising, depending on your selling strategy.
You will need to promote yourself and your brand too to build customer loyalty and trust. This is best done with compliment slips, discount cards for loyal/repeat customers, and other branded items such as boxes and tags.
Should you decide to go all-in you can build a website and promote your products in your own webshop, whilst this is usually the most lucrative it can often be quite hard work to set up. Luckily there are other options like Etsy but you will need to do your homework regarding branding and prices as you will face more competition.
Inventory
Lastly, something else to consider is storage and inventory. #if you promise fast shipping then you will need enough space to house your products until they are ready for sale. If you have too few candle making supplies then you may actually run out of stock. Make sure you always have enough supplies of specialty items too like your fragrances and essential oils so you can make your full range of products at any time.
Keep track of everything with a candle making supplies list. This will tell you what you need for each product in each line so you can ensure you have adequate supplies for each.
Keep another list of suppliers who offer wholesale candle making supplies and avoid relying on just one, even if the prices are better. Being a loyal customer can often get you priority in the sales queue in times of low stocks so try to look after them in return.
Conclusion
Running your own business will not be a cakewalk, in fact, it will be one of the most difficult things you can ever do, however, for many candle makers, it will be one of the best choices you will ever make. You can be your own boss, giving you 100% job security for life, you can set your working hours and holidays, and the best part is you can decide how much you earn.
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Click here to learn how with our step-by-step guide showing you everything you need to know.