Once you’ve practiced making a few candles, you may consider starting a business. Candle making is a skill that not everyone possesses but, when done correctly, can lead to an extremely profitable business. However, you must be extremely careful where you get your wax flakes from when you first start. Each source will have a variety of materials to choose from, but some companies from the web may sell you “high-quality wax,” which is actually a cheap material that may even be dangerous.
For the best wax, you need to do your research. Firstly, understand what kind of wax flakes your company will focus on. Here is where you can get different waxes.
- Soy Wax- Candlescience.com
- Beeswax- Bulkapothecary.com
- Palm Wax – Local art stores, Walmart, or Micheals
Although you can get soy wax or beeswax at your local art stores, you will not find it in large quantities good for running a small business. There are also a few places you should avoid buying from online.
It’s important to source from a company that is trustworthy. You want to know where the wax is coming from and feel confident that the wax will make high-quality candles. Shopping at places like Wish.com and AliExpress.com will not be your best option for several reasons. Once you find what you’re looking for, you can start your candle-making business.
How To Tell If a Website Is Legit
Before you place an order on a random website, you will want to research the company. You need to make sure the website doesn’t contain any red flags and that the actual business selling the products is legit.
Here is how you can tell if a company is legit before purchasing wax flakes.
- Check out the physical location. Even if they are online stores only, all retailers will have headquarters or main warehouse somewhere. Candlescience.com is based out of Durham, NC, and Bulkapothecary.com is based out of Aurora, Ohio.
- Check Google ratings. If a store does not have a Google rating or any form of review, it can be a red flag. People have either been avoiding purchases or they’re really new. If a company is new, it doesn’t always mean their wax is bad, but you can test it out with a small quantity first.
- Check for a business license. Some companies will have it right on their website, but most companies will also show you if you ask. If they cannot supply you with a business license or show some form of proof, it may be a fraudulent website or store.
You can do as much research as you like on a company before making a purchase. Even if it is a legit company, you can start off with a small order to test the wax. Buying one pound from a new source is a good way to see if the wax meets your expectations. Once you are satisfied, you can place a bigger order for your candle company.
Best Places to Buy Candle Wax
Candle-making has been a trend in the last few years, and because of that you may find a local store that sells wax flakes in bulk. This is one of the easiest ways to find high quality wax flakes and ask questions before buying it. If this is not an option for you, check out these two websites.
Candlescience.com
This website is one of the most trusted websites to buy soy wax, and they are based out of North Carolina. Their target customers are those who are professional business owners, hobbyists, or other candle-makers looking for the best soy wax. They have high ratings and great customer service.
Bulkapothecary.com
This company is perfect for those looking to buy bulk beeswax as well as fragrances for candles. Their products are perfect, and they ship from Aurora, Ohio, where their physical business is. Keep in mind that shipping does take a while, depending on where you live in the United States.
Places To Avoid Buying Candle Wax
Unfortunately, not every business is trustworthy, and that can make it hard to order wax flakes online. There are two big places you should avoid buying candle wax from. The prices always look good, but the price will match the quality of wax. Budget is something that every small business owner has to focus on, but going for the cheapest option may not help you receive the greatest ROI or return on investment when it comes to wax flakes.
Wish.com
Sometimes Wish has the best stuff for really cheap, but not when it comes to wax. There are tons of different sellers through this app, and it can be hard to find a trustworthy source, especially when there are no reviews on the material you’re purchasing. It is best to stay away from this app, even if they’re known for handing out materials for a dollar or two.
AliExpress.com
This website works with thousands of sellers who provide the lowest prices like Wish. This seems like a great deal, but it is super hard to identify the quality of the materials which you are purchasing. Unless you know the quality, where it’s coming from, and if the website is secure, you should never place an order. These websites can easily get hacked and leak your business information, and you may receive low-quality items in return.
What Objects Can You Put In Your Candles?
What To Look for In Good Candle Wax
Soy wax candles provide several benefits, including a longer burn period, the absence of ugly black soot, and a reputation as a desired, organically produced product. Unsurprisingly, soy candles account for more than half of today’s candles. But how can you tell if the wax is good? How do you choose soy wax? For the best results, you need to consider these things:
What Are You Making?
If you are making tea lights or container candles, you should use soy wax. If you are making other types of candles that need structure on their own, you will not want to use soy wax at all but instead, opt for beeswax or another type of wax that will provide a solid structure without a container.
Are You Adding Fragrance?
One of the drawbacks of soy candles is that they can be harder to add-in fragrance. However, with the right soy wax, it can be easier. High-quality wax and high-quality fragrance will help you achieve the perfect candle, but you’ll need to measure correctly. The only way to ensure it is high quality is by making a candle and testing it for fragrance.
Understand the Appearance of Wax?
If you want to ensure that the soy wax is natural, you should make a candle and watch it burn. The candle will look slightly lumpy compared to candles made out of paraffin wax. Why? Because it is natural. This is one of the best ways to tell that you ordered high-quality natural wax flakes. It can also be a good selling point for those who want natural products in their homes.
Recognizing the Quality of Your Handmade Candles
Distinguishing between excellent and terrible candles only based on the look may be rather challenging. As consumers, we are often swayed by price. We often overlook the fact that inexpensive frequently equates to low quality. Sourcing high-quality wax is the first step in making luxurious or well-made candles, but how else can you identify the quality of your candles? It is important to understand quality because you can use these selling points to make sales. Here are some ways to ensure your candles are high-quality.
Focus on Burn Time
The candle’s burn time must be indicated on the container. The burn time is mostly determined by wax and the wick. If they are balanced properly, the candle will burn properly. If this is not the case, the spark plug will not burn for the anticipated amount of time.
Look At the Size of the Flame
The candle’s flame must be the perfect size for the candle you make. The optimal length is between 1 and 1.5 cm, depending on the size of the candle. Too lengthy a flame often results in soot development and causes the candle to burn too quickly. A tiny flame is mostly blue and produces little atmosphere or heat.
Less Soot
It is hard to limit all of the soot, but a well-made candle will have less soot. If the flame is too large, it will increase the amount of soot. Focus on the wick, flame size, and soot to ensure you are selling high quality products.
Final Thoughts
Before purchasing any bulk items, you will want to make sure the company is legitimate. Once you have verified that the company is trustworthy, place a small order to test the wax, and make a candle. This will help you determine if you can make a high-quality candle from the wax. Then you can place a bulk order for wax flakes.
What Do Consumers Love Most About Candles
Related Questions
What kind of wax can high-quality candles be made from?
There are tons of materials to choose from. You can choose from paraffin, soy, and beeswax to get high-quality candles, but as long as you focus on the results, you can choose any wax or mix various types.
Is beeswax better than soy wax?
Both types of wax are great choices, but they have slight differences. Beeswax will emit a natural-looking flame that is more of a yellow-orange, like the sun. Soy wax will emit a whiter flame. You will need to figure out which one you like best.
Is soy wax or beeswax more expensive?
In general, soy wax will be cheaper to buy and use. However, even though beeswax is more expensive, it is great for people with allergies.
Looking to start your own candle making business, check out my startup documents here
Please note that the contents of this blog are for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. Any action taken based on the information provided in this blog is solely at your own risk. Additionally, all images used in this blog are generated under the CC0 license of Creative Commons, which means they are free to use for any purpose without attribution.
Meet Shawn Chun: Entrepreneur and Candle Business Fan.
I’m a happy individual who happens to be an entrepreneur. I have owned several types of businesses in my life from a coffee shop to an import and export business to an online review business plus a few more and now I create online candle business resources for those interested in starting new ventures. It’s demanding work but I love it. I do it for those passionate about their business and their goals. That’s why when I meet a candle business owner at a craft fair, farmers market, retail location or anywhere else I see myself. I know how hard the struggle is to obtain and retain clients, finding good employees all while trying to stay competitive. That’s why I created Candle Business Boss: I want to help candle business owners like you build a thriving business that brings you endless joy and supports your ideal lifestyle.