7 Online Candle Supply Stores

Candle making has surged in popularity as both a creative hobby and a viable business opportunity. Whether you’re a beginner looking to craft your first candle or an established business seeking reliable suppliers, finding the right online candle supply store is crucial for success. Quality materials directly impact the performance, scent throw, and overall appeal of your finished products. With numerous retailers available, each offering different pricing structures, shipping options, and product selections, it’s important to know which stores best meet your specific needs. This article explores the top online candle supply stores, highlighting their strengths, product offerings, and what makes each one unique in serving the candle making community.

1. Lone Star Candle Supply

Lone Star Candle Supply has established itself as a premier destination for candle making enthusiasts and professionals alike. Based in Texas, this comprehensive supplier offers an extensive range of high-quality materials for both candle and soap making.

Key Features:
– Fast shipping options across the United States
– Comprehensive selection of fragrance oils specifically formulated for candle making
– Educational resources including detailed guides and instructional videos
– Bulk purchasing options for established businesses
– Regular sales and promotional discounts

Lone Star particularly excels in their fragrance oil selection, offering hundreds of scents that have been thoroughly tested for optimal hot and cold throw. Their detailed product descriptions include specific burn testing results, helping crafters make informed decisions about which products will work best for their particular applications.

2. Candlewic

Candlewic positions itself as a premium candle making shop serving customers worldwide. With decades of experience in the industry, they’ve built a reputation for reliability and quality that appeals to hobbyists and established businesses alike.

Key Features:
– Comprehensive selection of waxes including paraffin, soy, beeswax, and specialty blends
– Professional-grade equipment for small to medium production operations
– Extensive wick selection with detailed sizing guides
– Custom fragrance development services for businesses
– Wholesale pricing tiers based on order volume

Candlewic stands out for their technical expertise and support services. Their team includes industry veterans who can help troubleshoot common candle making issues and provide personalized recommendations based on your specific project needs. This makes them particularly valuable for those looking to transition from hobby to business.

3. Wholesale Supplies Plus

Though their name suggests they cater exclusively to wholesale customers, Wholesale Supplies Plus welcomes crafters at all levels. They’ve positioned themselves as a one-stop shop for candle making supplies, with a particularly strong selection of containers and packaging options.

Key Features:
– Extensive selection of waxes, additives, wicks, and molds
– Competitive pricing structure with volume discounts
– Wide variety of containers including unique and seasonal options
– Complementary soap and bath product supplies for diversification
– User-friendly website with detailed product filtering

What sets Wholesale Supplies Plus apart is their excellent selection of containers and packaging materials. For candle makers looking to create a distinctive brand identity, they offer everything from classic mason jars to unique seasonal vessels, along with professional labeling and packaging solutions.

4. Candle Science

Candle Science has built a loyal following among both beginners and experienced crafters for their user-friendly approach and consistent quality. They focus on making candle making accessible while still offering professional-grade supplies.

Key Features:
– Beginner-friendly starter kits and bundled supplies
– Extensive fragrance catalog with detailed performance notes
– Well-documented testing results for fragrance/wax combinations
– Educational content including recipes and troubleshooting guides
– Responsive customer service team

Candle Science distinguishes itself through its exceptional educational resources. Their blog, video tutorials, and detailed guides make them particularly valuable for beginners. Their fragrance oils are also highly regarded for their consistent performance and authentic scent profiles.

5. The Flaming Candle

The Flaming Candle has carved out a niche by focusing on premium fragrance oils and essential oils. They cater to crafters looking for unique scent options and natural ingredients.

Key Features:
– Extensive library of unique and complex fragrance blends
– High-quality essential oils suitable for candle making
– Specialized waxes including eco-friendly and natural options
– Detailed fragrance descriptions with performance notes
– Responsive customer service

The Flaming Candle excels in their fragrance selection, particularly for crafters looking to create signature scents that stand out from mass-market offerings. Their detailed scent descriptions help customers make informed choices, and they frequently offer sample packs to test new fragrances before committing to larger quantities.

6. Nature’s Garden

Nature’s Garden has established itself as a versatile supplier catering to multiple crafting disciplines, with a strong focus on candle making supplies. They offer competitive pricing and frequent sales that appeal to budget-conscious crafters.

Key Features:
– Extensive fragrance catalog with detailed performance information
– Competitive pricing on most supplies
– Variety of waxes including specialty blends
– Complementary soap and cosmetic making supplies
– Regular sales and clearance items

Nature’s Garden is particularly known for their affordable fragrance oils and frequent sales, making them a popular choice for hobbyists and small businesses watching their budget. Their fragrance descriptions include detailed information about performance in different wax types, helping customers make informed decisions.

7. Bramble Berry

While primarily known for soap making supplies, Bramble Berry offers a solid selection of candle making materials with a focus on natural and eco-friendly options. They appeal to crafters interested in creating “clean” candle products.

Key Features:
– Natural and eco-friendly wax options
– Phthalate-free fragrance oils
– High-quality essential oils suitable for candle applications
– Detailed tutorials and project guides
– Responsive customer service

Bramble Berry stands out for crafters focused on creating natural or “clean” candle products. Their selection of phthalate-free fragrance oils and natural waxes appeals to the growing market of environmentally-conscious consumers, and their educational content helps crafters navigate the specific challenges of working with natural materials.

Comparison of Top Online Candle Supply Stores

Tips for Choosing the Right Candle Supply Store

Consider Shipping Costs

As mentioned in several Reddit discussions, shipping costs can significantly impact your overall expenses, particularly for heavy items like wax. Look for suppliers located close to your geographic location to minimize shipping costs. Many experienced candle makers recommend finding local suppliers for wax specifically, as it’s typically the heaviest and most expensive item to ship.

Calculate Total Cost

When comparing prices between suppliers, be sure to calculate the total cost including shipping, handling fees, and any applicable taxes. A supplier with slightly higher product prices might actually be more economical if they offer free shipping above a certain threshold or have more favorable shipping rates to your location.

Test Before Committing

Before placing large orders, especially for fragrance oils, consider purchasing sample sizes to test performance in your specific candle formulations. What works well for one crafter might not perform optimally with your particular combination of wax, container, and wick.

Consider Your Production Scale

Different suppliers cater to different scales of production. Hobbyists might find better value in stores that offer smaller quantities without minimum order requirements, while businesses might benefit from the bulk discounts offered by wholesale-focused suppliers.

Evaluate Customer Service

Responsive, knowledgeable customer service can be invaluable, especially when troubleshooting issues or seeking recommendations. Consider reaching out with questions before placing an order to gauge response time and helpfulness.

Conclusion

The ideal online candle supply store varies depending on your specific needs, budget, and production scale. For beginners, Candle Science offers user-friendly resources and starter kits that simplify the learning process. Professional candle makers might prefer Lone Star Candle Supply or Candlewic for their extensive product selections and technical support. Budget-conscious crafters often find great value at Nature’s Garden, while those focused on creating unique, premium products might gravitate toward The Flaming Candle’s distinctive fragrance offerings.

Many experienced candle makers recommend diversifying suppliers rather than relying on a single source—purchasing wax locally when possible to save on shipping costs, while ordering fragrances and specialty items from online retailers with the best selection and quality in those categories. By strategically combining suppliers based on their individual strengths, you can optimize both cost and quality for your candle making projects.

Regardless of which supplier you choose, the candle making community consistently emphasizes the importance of testing materials and keeping detailed records of your results. This methodical approach, combined with quality supplies from reputable sources, forms the foundation for creating exceptional candles that delight both crafters and customers alike.