How much do candles cost? The cost of a candle can be approximately $5 to $25 to create your own candles. It’s a rewarding and lucrative venture, but you need to consider the overall expenses to price your candles and make a good profit. The cost to create a candle depends on different factors such as type of container, fragrance, wick, and wax. In this blog, we will discuss the overall cost of candle making for your brand.
How To Calculate Candle Cost
How much do scented candles cost? You need to consider the cost of making candles to get an idea of pricing different candles. Here, we will calculate the approximate expenses to make a candle.
Wax
Wax is an essential ingredient for every candle. It is important to explore the costs of different wax types to calculate the total expenses. Here, we will take a look at the common types of wax and their costs.
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Beeswax: It is a costly option with a range of $6 to $10 per pound. Beeswax has become a premium option for top-quality candles because of its long burn time and organic scent.
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Coconut Wax: It is a natural wax option that is familiar for its strong fragrance throw and smooth finish. The cost of a coconut wax is $3 to $5 per pound.
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Paraffin Wax: One of the most cost-effective options is paraffin wax, which costs $1.50 to $2.50 per pound. It is available globally and easier to work with for the creation of candles. Moreover, it is the most popular wax type for beginners.
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Soy Wax: It is a natural alternative to the paraffin. It is a sustainable option that burns cleaner. This wax costs $2.50 to $4 per pound. Soy wax is more expensive than paraffin wax, but its sustainability justifies its higher retail price in the market.
You need half a pound of wax to create a standard 8-ounce candle. Therefore, the wax can cost $0.75 to $5.
Wicks
Wick is a crucial ingredient in ensuring the proper burning of a candle. The cost of a wick can vary due to size and material. Cotton wicks are used mostly, and they cost $0.10 to $0.30 per wick. Wooden wicks are famous for their rustic feel and cracking sound, costing $0.50 to $1 per wick.
On average, the price of a wick per candle is $0.10 to $1.
Fragrance Oils
Fragrance oils provide the signature scents to the candles. The expense of fragrance oils is $1 to $3 per ounce. Usually, you will only need 0.5 to 1 ounce of the fragrance oil to make an 8-ounce candle.
The average cost of fragrance oil per candle is $0.50 to $3.
Containers
There are different containers with different costs for your candles. Let’s take a look at the popular containers:
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Ceramic Pots: These containers can cost $1.5 to $5 per pot, ensuring an upscaling look for your candles.
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Glass Jars: Glass jars are most ideal options that cost $0.50 to $2 per container depending on the quality and size.
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Tins: Cost-effective and lightweight containers with a cost of $0.30 to $1.5 per tin.
The average cost for a container of candles is $0.50 to $5.
Colorants and Dyes
When you have a plan for coloring your candles, you can purchase the colorants or dyes. These are cost-effective materials, costing $0.05 to $0.10 per candle, depending on the color density.
Labels and Packaging
It is necessary to use custom packaging and labels to brand your candles. The cost of labels is $0.10 to $0.50 per label. However, the packaging material, like bags or boxes, can cost $0.20 to $1 per candle. Therefore, you can use custom luxury candle boxes with logo to present your candles and elevate the brand image.
The average cost of packaging and labeling per candle is $0.30 to $1.50. You can also use a candle cost calculator to calculate expenses quickly.
Additional Costs
You need to account for additional expenses for your candle business start up cost.
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Equipment: It is not a per-candle expense. You can invest in equipment such as a pouring pot, thermometer, and double boiler. These expenses can be divided among the multiple candles.
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Shipping: When you are planning to order these materials online from reliable suppliers, you can also consider the shipping charges in your overall expenses. The shipping cost is $0.10 to $1 per candle. These expenses depen
Total Estimated Cost
To give a better understanding of total cost, you can calculate the expense of an 8-ounce candle in this way:
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Container: $0.50 to $5.00
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Dye: $0.05 to $0.10
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Fragrance Oil: $0.50 to $3.00
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Label and Packaging: $0.30 to $1.50
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Shipping (Materials): $0.10 to $1.00
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Wax: $0.75 to $5.00
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Wick: $0.10 to $1.00
The total estimated cost per candle is $2.30 to $16.60.
How Much Does It Cost To Ship A Candle?
The cost of shipping a candle is $5 to $10, depending on its destination, weight, and size. This cost can vary depending on the shipping method and carrier service. You can use candle shipping boxes to send these candles to your customers.
Why Do Candles Cost So Much?
Candles can cost so much because of the different high-quality factors mentioned below:
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Premium wax
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High-quality fragrance oils
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Unique design options
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Best packaging
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Labor-intensive production
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Branding and marketing
Final Words
The total cost to make an elegant candle depends on the quality and material. You must be ready to spend $2.30 to $16.60 on creating a basic 8-ounce candle. An understanding of costs helps you price your candles and ensure food profitability.
