Tips for Finding High-Quality Candles Online from Small Business Candles

In a market flooded with countless candle brands and makers, especially on makersites such as Etsy, finding high-quality candles, can be a little like roulette. Without being able to walk up to a booth or visit a brick-and-mortar candle store, pick up a candle and give it a hearty sniff, then letting your heart tell you whether it's "the one," finding a trustworthy candlemaker online can be difficult. If you bought a dud candle online, you're out the cost of a mid-grade luxury candle without the payoff.

 To make it worse (and at risk of scaring you just a little) there is almost no regulation when it comes to selling candles online other than labeling requirements for candlemakers. Even those aren't consistently followed by industry newbies. A badly-made candle can range from poor performance to serious fire hazard.

(Screenshot of an Etsy page with many candle companies)

 

So why do we keep doing it and not just buy all of our candles from Target? When done right, purchasing candles from small businesses not only supports local artisans but also gives you a product crafted with care and passion, and if you do your research right, you'll get a candle that is better quality, cleaner materials, longer lifespan, and more unique fragrance than your average Bath & Body Works candle (don't get me wrong, I will never not buy Vanilla Bean Noel).

However, discerning quality amidst the variety can be tricky. Use this guide to help you identify key indicators of high-quality candles, ensuring your next purchase brings warmth and delight without disappointment.

 

What to Look for in Small Business Candles to Know You're Getting High Quality 

1. Review the Reviews

We all know reviews can be unreliable (*cough cough, bots*), and customers aren't always the best at communicating when products perform as expected. Still, customer reviews are a unique window to evaluate the quality of a candle, particularly about the performance and safety of the product, which can be critical when finding out whether the candles you're looking at are going to perform up to par.

Tip #1: When reading reviews, don't just look at reviews for the candle you're considering buying-- try looking at reviews across multiple here are some critical terms and issues to look out for:

Tip #2: Look for "Hot Throw" / "Cold Throw"

• Cold Throw: Basically, if you can smell the candle when it isn't lit. A strong cold throw indicates that the candle has been made with a good balance of high-quality fragrance oils and wax, and poured at the right temperature. When you open the lid of the candle or sniff it before lighting, the scent should be pleasant and noticeable.

• Hot Throw: How much you can smell the candle when it's burning. A high-quality candle will maintain a robust and consistent hot throw, filling the (reasonably-sized) room with its intended scent. Poor hot throw performance can be disappointing and suggests the candle may not have been formulated correctly, OR it can mean the customer is burning it in a room way too large to be filled by a tiny candle. 

Understanding these terms helps you gauge the overall scent performance of the candle, which is a crucial aspect of quality.

Tip #3: Look for Tunneling

• What is Tunneling?: Tunneling occurs when a candle burns down the center, leaving a significant amount of unmelted wax around the edges. This can be caused by improper wick size, poor-quality wax, meaning it's coming from an inexperienced candlemaker. OR, it can mean the customer didn't follow instructions and ruined their candle.

(badly tunneled candle)

• Indicators in Reviews: While occasional tunneling can happen even with good candles (often due to user error), consistent mentions of tunneling in reviews suggest that the maker is using the wrong wick for the candle size, or didn't test thoroughly enough. This often points to inexperience or lack of knowledge on the part of the candle maker, or lack of consistency with their materials.

Tip #4: Look for Safety Red Flags

• a) Heat & Explosions: Pay close attention to any reviews mentioning safety issues, such as candles "exploding," cracking glass containers, excessive soot, or causing burns to furniture. These problems indicate serious flaws in the candle's construction and can pose real hazards. A good candle shouldn't get so hot that it burns your furniture, even if it's burning down to the bottom. It should put itself out before it completely runs out of wax-- this is a feature, not a bug! 

• b) Sooting & Flame height: Keep an eye out for mentions of "Sooting" or the flame getting very large. This can mean that the customer isn't trimming their wicks (yes, this is important), but it can also mean the candlemaker used a wick size that is too large. Excessive sooting and big flames can be a fire hazard and can leave black residue on your candle and in your space.

About Quality Control: Reliable candle makers will have stringent quality control processes to ensure their products are safe. A good candlemaker will "chaos burn" a candle, meaning they'll burn it for hours and hours, test the wick to make sure it stays in place, and measure temperature. Consistent reports of safety issues probably mean there hasn't been good enough testing and oversight.

2. Wick Placement is Core

The placement of the wick in a candle is more important than many realize. An off-center wick can cause uneven burning, leading to tunneling and wasted wax. When evaluating candles, whether in-store or online, check product photos and descriptions for the following:

• Centered Wicks: The wick should be fairly well centered in the candle. This ensures an even burn and maximizes the candle’s lifespan. If there are multiple wicks, they should be evenly spaced and centered and the layout should make sense in the container they're in. 

• Container shape: Containers that have corners or hard-to-reach surfaces (i.e. squares or oddly-shaped layouts) may be hard for a wick to burn all the way to the edge. Try imagining a 2-3 inch diameter circle around each wick, and gauge whether you think it'll reach every edge of the container. In addition, if the container is tapered (i.e. larger at the top than at the bottom, or vice versa) try to gauge whether the number of/size of wicks might cause an issue as the candle burns down toward the bottom, either getting too farfron the edges, too close together.
  
  
• Wicks under glass: Some containers taper toward the top, such as domed bowls or apothecary jars. Take note of whether the wick sits directly underneath a glass surface, as this can rapidly cause overheating and make the glass crack/burst, or at worst, create a lot of sooting.

3. See Through the Ingredient Transparency

High-quality candle makers are typically transparent about their ingredients and the crafting process. This transparency indicates pride in their product and a commitment to quality and safety. Here’s what to look for:

• Wax Type: Premium candles often use natural waxes like soy, beeswax, apricot wax, or coconut wax. These burn cleaner, and many sources claim they are more eco-friendly and health-friendly than paraffin wax.

• Fragrance Oils: Look for mentions of phthalate-free and non-toxic fragrance oils. These are safer to burn and healthier for indoor air quality.

• Wicks: Cotton or wood wicks are preferable over those with metal cores, which can release harmful substances when burned. Look for mentions of cotton, hemp, or wood in candle descriptions.

Transparency in ingredients and process not only builds trust but also assures you of the product's quality and safety, and can tell you that your candlemaker is educated about the materials they're using.

4. Don't Get Burned by Flammable Additives

Candles adorned with decorative elements like dried flowers, pinecones, or food-grade sprinkles can look beautiful, but they can also pose significant fire hazards. Here’s what to consider:

• Safety Concerns: These flammable materials can ignite and cause the candle to burn irregularly, release soot and/or ash, and possibly even create a surface fire on your candle akin to a grease fire on your stove. These can be extremely dangerous. Knowledgeable and experienced candle makers will avoid these hazardous materials or ensure they are embedded safely within the wax and won’t catch fire. In pillar candles, look for candles with the embeds around the edge that are not meant to melt.

• Alternative Decorations: High-quality candles may use safe, non-flammable decorations such as fire-safe stones or wax-based decorations rather than real dried flowers or flammable elements, or embed the additives in a way that prevents them from posing a fire risk.

5. Check For Experience & Background

Experience often correlates with quality in candle making. Here's how to gauge a candle maker’s experience:

• Company Age: Look for mentions of how long the company has been in business. Established companies have had time to refine their processes and learn from past mistakes. While new companies can also be just as good, and are probably trying hard to build their clientele with lower prices, keep an eye out for a mention of experience.

• Maker's Background: Sometimes, small businesses are started by passionate individuals who may have years of experience in related fields (e.g., perfumery, chemistry). A little research into the maker’s background can provide insights into their expertise. Read their About page and profile!

• Product Evolution: Companies that highlight the evolution of their products or improvements based on customer feedback show a commitment to quality and continual improvement.

6. Gut Check the Vessels

The containers used for candles are not just about aesthetics; they play a crucial role in safety and performance. Here’s what to look for:

• Material Safety: Eyeball the candle vessel to gut-check whether it's made from heat-resistant materials like thick glass, metal, or ceramics. Avoid candles in thin glass or unusual containers like wine glasses, as these can crack or shatter under heat. If it looks suspicious, it might be unsafe. 

• Durability & Design: The vessel should appear sturdy and well-made. Look for any signs of poor craftsmanship, such as rough edges or uneven surfaces. While unique vessels can be attractive, they should also be practical. The design should allow for an even burn and easy access to trim the wick as needed.

7. Sniff Out the Fragrance Offerings

The number and variety of fragrances offered can tell you a lot about the candle maker’s approach to quality. When a candle is made, each fragrance can perform  differently even in the same container, and each should be tested within the vessel  to make sure it has consistently-high performance. Look for the following in your search:

• Diverse but Focused Range: A balanced range of fragrances shows that the maker has taken time to perfect each scent. Too few options might suggest limited product lines, while too many (say, 20+) without a long background can indicate a lack of thorough testing OR indicate white labeling.

• Unique Blends: Look for unique and intriguing scent combinations, which often reflect a higher level of creativity and expertise. Makers who craft their own blends demonstrate a deeper understanding of fragrance chemistry. If the maker lists the "notes" of a fragrance, they're more likely to be paying close attention and designing intentionally.

• Google the fragrance names: If a fragrance name catches your attention, do a quick Google search to see how widely it is used. If the same fragrance is offered by many companies, such as "mahogany teakwood" or "sea breeze," it’s more likely to be a stock scent or very common blend. While these can still be pleasant, they lack the uniqueness that custom-blended fragrances offer. While this isn't a problem and can give you great candles, high-quality candle makers often develop their own fragrance blends, resulting in scents you won’t find anywhere else. These unique blends add a touch of luxury and exclusivity to your purchase.

8. Learn to Spot "White Labeling"

• Understanding White Labeling: Products made by one company but sold under another brand. This can indicate the brand doesn’t actually make the candles themselves.
• Phrasing to Look For: Check the safety label or packaging for phrases like “manufactured by [company name]”.
• Implications: While not inherently bad, white labeling can suggest a lack of direct involvement in manufacturing. Discrepancies between claims of handcrafting and label information can be red flags.
  

(White Label Candle product from Vista Print)

Other Quality Factors to Consider 

Understanding Candle Types will help you know what to expect from the candle you're buying

• Container Candles: These are the most common type and are poured directly into glass jars, tins, ceramics, or other containers. Ensure the container is heat-resistant and sturdy.

• Pillar Candles: These are freestanding candles without a container, just hard wax. Check the wax composition for uniformity and the absence of air bubbles, which can cause uneven burning. These are less likely to give you strong scent results, as they're usually designed for decoration and use harder waxes, but can still be scented.

• Taper Candles: These are long, slender candles often used in candlesticks. They should burn evenly without dripping excessively. They usually do not provide fragrance.

The Role of Wax

• Natural vs. Synthetic: Natural waxes like soy, beeswax, and coconut wax burn cleaner and longer than paraffin, which is a byproduct of petroleum refining. Look for candles that proudly state the type of wax used. Paraffin can also be an additive in natural waxes to improve the hot throw, so some candles will list both. If a candle lists a "blend" but doesn't specify what's in the blend, it is more likely to contain paraffin (i.e. "soy blend" or "coconut blend").

• Additives: Some candles contain additives to improve scent throw, burning time, or color stability. These are usually harmless and don't impact the burn in a negative way, but can reduce the percentage of purity of the candle. Look for things like "98% soy" which could hint that there's an additive such as coconut oil, paraffin, or vybar for improved throw, UV inhibitor for color stability, etc.

Environmental and Ethical Considerations

• Sustainability: Check if the candle maker uses sustainable practices, such as sourcing eco-friendly materials, using recyclable packaging, and reducing waste.

• Ethical Practices: Look for information on whether the company supports fair trade practices or contributes to community initiatives. Supporting ethically-minded businesses can enhance your purchasing experience.

Conclusion

Finding high-quality candles from small businesses requires a discerning eye and some research. By paying attention to reviews, wick placement, ingredient transparency, the safety of decorative additives, the maker's experience, vessel quality, fragrance offerings, and the uniqueness of scents, you can ensure you’re purchasing candles that offer both enjoyment and safety.

At Second Life Candles, we pride ourselves on our craftsmanship and commitment to quality. Every candle we create is a labor of love, designed to bring people together through shared experiences and delightful scents. We are constantly working to give you all of the information we listed here to make sure you know exactly what you'll be getting. Check out our collection for our most recent lines and one-of-a-kind candles! 

 

Burn bright!

Julie @ Second Life