Your Start-Up Candle Business Guide: Finding The Right Container and Wick
With literally thousands of products on offer, it can be overwhelming when deciding what to use for your new business. So with that in mind here is our lowdown on how to find the right product for your audience.
Firstly the best step is to find and define your target audience and the gap in the market. If you haven’t done that click here to read our part one article for this guide.
If you have, now you’re at the fun part. Choosing the products that are going to align your business to its customers, and products you love and enjoy using. From containers, wax, scents, wicks, labels and colourings, there is an endless possible roster of exciting products to create.
So, let's break this down product by product.
Jars, containers and holders
Your jar and your label are the physical manifestation of your business, so it's important you pick the right ones. However when you start we recommend trying out a range of containers to see what suits you best.
Your chosen target market will help you to decide what containers to start with. If you’re looking at women aged 25-35, these trend-led individuals will be looking at candles that match home decor trends. Why not look at Amber glass jars, a recent surge in the brown/tan glass colour straight from the 70’s now growing in popularity.
Or perhaps your market is a bit more traditional. Then look to the classic Metro containers, these allow the candle wax, scent and label to shine, while being a perfect choice for coloured waxes or extras such as dried flowers.
If your target market is one for flair, then perhaps you’re best to look at something colourful, such as the Vogue tumbler with the classic wooden lid.
Either way, no matter what you choose, make sure it both makes you happy to work with, and is something you can see poised in the house of your target customer. Our suggestion would be to start off with a few variants, as the wax within and wick may change how you feel about the overall look, so it's good to have options.
Wicks and tricks
Now we get to the heart of the candle, the wicks.
Again, there are a lot of options when it comes to wicks. Here you can go down the route of vegan and sustainable options which we’d recommend, or look to more bulk options.
When it comes to wicks, it's important to buy off local trusted providers who can guarantee the quality of their products. When buying off larger retailers such as Amazon, it can be hard to trust each batch will be the same, and finding credentials across vegan labels can be difficult to confirm.
Choosing the right candle wicks is crucial if you want to avoid candle wick problems and create high-quality candles. I’ll even go so far as to say that the containers, type of wax, and scent you select won’t matter if you use the wrong candle wicks.
So how do you choose the right wick? Consider the following.
The Diameter of the Candle
Luckily, the first step is very easy to figure out. Either pull out a ruler and measure this or read the details for this information before ordering your candle containers.
Fragrance Load and Colour
The second step is to consider the amount of fragrance or colour you are planning to add to the candle. The more colour or fragrance you include the thicker you’ll want your wick to be. Use this fragrance load calculator to help with this step.
Candle Wax Type
The next step involves your candle wax type. Each candle wax type has a different melting point and density. These variances influence the recommended candle wick type, as you’ll see below.
Candle Burn Time
Last but not least, consider the burn time of the wax. Soy wax, for example, has a longer, slower burn time than paraffin wax so a thinner wick may be best. On the other hand, if you intend to burn the candle in short intervals like 1 to 1.5 hours versus the recommended 4 hours, a thicker wick would be advisable in order to form a melt pool quickly across the candle to avoid funneling.
So, when it comes to the right wick it's down you must consider the above, as well as the general style and versatility of the wick. With many to pick from, there are a few popular ones that are worth considering first;
Zinc Core Wicks
These are the most commonly used wick type for many types of candles. They may be used for votives, pillars, and in gel candles. The wire core in the wick helps the wick to remain standing straight while the candle is being poured and when the candle is lit.
Paper Core Wicks
Paper core wicks burn very hot, which yields a large melt pool. Usually used only in large containers.
CD Series Wicks
The CD series of wicks is a favourite among many seasoned candlemakers. These wicks are flat braided with a special paper filament woven around them. This configuration is engineered to promote maximum and consistent burn while ensuring a wick trimming flame posture.
ECO Series Wicks
This series is designed specifically for natural waxes like soy and palm wax. The ECO series is a flat, coreless cotton wick braided with thin paper filaments interwoven for burn stability.
LX Series Wicks
Flat braided cotton wicks, chemically treated with a high melt point wax (212°F). These wicks are designed to reduce "mushrooming" (build up of carbon at the tip of the wick), reduce smoke and soot, and when used properly these wicks are virtually self-trimming.
Wooden Wicks
Wooden wicks are relatively new to the candle making industry. Generally, there are two types of wooden wicks - hardwood wicks and soft wood wicks. You may have seen hard wood wicks available but they don't even compare to the superiority of the soft wood wicks.
With the above in mind you’re well on your way to creating the perfect candle for your market. If you’re still unsure on the process and would like to experiment without picking your own wicks and jars, try our handy starter kit to get you going.
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