The Complete Candle Making Supplies List
Before your first batch, you need to know exactly what to buy — and what not to over-invest in. This list covers every supply category with tips on quantities and sourcing.
Wax
The main ingredient. Buy in 5–10 kg bags to start. Common choices:
- • Soy wax (GW 464 or similar) — €5–8/kg
- • Paraffin container wax — €3–5/kg
- • Beeswax (cosmetic grade) — €12–18/kg
- • Coconut wax — €10–15/kg
Start with one wax type. Buy 5 kg for your first batch tests.
Fragrance Oils
Use candle-specific fragrance oils. Typical fragrance load: 6–10% of wax weight. Start with 2–3 scents, 100–250 ml each. Cost: €10–20 per 100 ml for quality fragrance oil.
Check the IFRA certificate for each fragrance oil — required for EU commercial sales.
Wicks
Wick sizing is specific to your wax type and container diameter. Wrong wick = tunneling or mushrooming.
- • Cotton wicks (CD, ECO, LX series) for soy and coconut wax
- • Zinc-core wicks for paraffin
- • Wood wicks for a crackling effect
Buy a wick sampler pack first — test 3–4 sizes in your container before committing to bulk.
Containers
Your container defines your candle's identity. Options:
- • Glass jars (apothecary, straight-sided, status jars)
- • Tins (matte, golden, coloured)
- • Ceramic vessels (premium tier)
Start with one size (e.g. 200–250 ml). Buy 50 units minimum to get a reasonable price per unit.
Labels & Packaging
For EU/UK commercial sales, candle labels must include:
- • Fragrance allergens (EU CLP regulation)
- • Safety pictograms
- • Net weight
- • Producer contact details
Start with label paper printed at home or a local print shop. Budget €0.05–0.20 per label.
Equipment
Essential tools:
- • Pouring pot (stainless steel, 1–2 L)
- • Accurate digital scale (0.1 g precision)
- • Thermometer (infrared or probe)
- • Wick centering tool
- • Heat source (induction plate)
Nice to have:
- • Heat gun (for smoothing tops)
- • Extra pouring pots for multiple fragrances
Tracking Your Supply Costs
The biggest mistake beginners make is not tracking per-unit costs accurately. Once you're buying from multiple suppliers at different prices, a spreadsheet quickly becomes unmanageable.
CandleFlow tracks your raw material stock, supplier prices and automatically calculates cost per candle for every batch you run.
CandleFlow
Track your candle business automatically
Recipes, costs, batches, inventory and profit margins — all in one place.
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