With any worthy craft there are bound to be minor troubles. If you spend any amount of time pouring candles, you will eventually spend some time troubleshooting. Here are the most common concerns and complaints about container candles and tips to alleviate some of the frustration all candle makers undoubtedly feel at one point or another. 

While container candles can be made with a variety of waxes, here we’re going to primarily address common issues that arise with the use of paraffin wax as natural waxes sometimes have their own troubleshooting issues to address.
 
One issue is the presence of lines on the inside of the glass. Most often, this problem occurs for one of two reasons. Either the container was not preheated before the wax was poured into it, or the wax was too cool when it was poured. To avoid this issue, try preheating your containers using a heat gun, or your oven on the lowest setting, before pouring into them. Also, try to pour your candles when the wax temperature is between 155 to 175 degrees Fahrenheit (68 to 79 degrees Celsius). 
 
Another common container candle issue is when the flame burns a tunnel down the middle of the candle. Typically, this is caused by one of two reasons.  Most often either the wick used in the candle is too small, or the candle was not burned for a long enough period of time. If you are experiencing tunneling, try using a larger wick size or consider double wicking. 

If this alone does not appear to be the problem, pay attention to the length of time you are burning the candle. The ideal burn time is long enough for the melt pool to form completely across the top of the candle before extinguishing. When wicked properly, this should occur in one to two hours.
 
Another common issue is the formation of discolored splotches on the sides of the candle. Usually, these splotches are the result of either having too much fragrance oil in the wax mixture or from having too much of the wrong type of additive in the wax.

If you believe that fragrance may be the issue, try reducing the amount of fragrance or adding vybar to the mixture to help the wax retain the oil. If you believe that additives are the issue, just remember to always use the least amount of additives necessary to achieve your desired result.
 
If you experience problems with the wick smoking too much when the candle is burning, you may have one of the following issues. The wick you are using may be too large, the wick needs to be trimmed, or the candle is in an area with too much draft. Try using a smaller wick, keep your wick trimmed to about one quarter of an inch, and make sure that there are no drafts where you are burning the candle. Also keep in mind that some waxes do tend to smoke more than others.
 
If your wick will not stay lit, your wick may be too small or you may have used too much dye and/or fragrance oil. If the wick is too small, it cannot consume wax fast enough to keep it above the wax level. Try using a larger wick to correct this. If you believe you used too much dye or fragrance oil, reduce the quantity and try again.
 
When container candles cool, sometimes the tops appear bumpy or rough. If this happens to you, consider placing the candle in the oven on the lowest setting to re-heat the wax. Let it cool again and see if the problem persists. Another technique is to use a heat gun along the top layer of the candle to re-heat it. Again, let it re-cool and see if this corrects the issue. 

If you are still experiencing the problem, consider doing a top pour on the candle. A top pour uses leftover wax from the candle by re-heating it and pouring it over the already cooled candle creating a new, smooth top layer. If you use this technique, be sure to use leftover wax otherwise you’ll have a top layer of a different color.

If your problem is that the top layer of the candle keeps cracking as it cools, then it’s likely that your candles are drying too quickly. Try placing them in a warmer place to cool more slowly, or consider wrapping the containers in aluminum foil so they are insulated and slower to cool.

There are numerous issues that may arise when pouring container candles. If you have other issues not covered here, try searching online candle making message boards to find solutions. Just keep in mind that other candle makers have probably experienced them too, and there is almost always a way to correct the issue if you seek help.
 

The wide variety of specialty candles available in the marketplace has opened the door for the everyday candle maker to try something new and possibly create their own, unique candle line. Specialty candle making is typically reserved for more experienced candle makers, but the option is also there to anyone new to the craft. 
 
Relatively new to the scene, yet becoming increasingly more common, are gel candles. Gel candles are made from a specially processed mineral oil that produces a clear, rubbery texture. Simply put, gel candles have a unique look that resembles a gelatin dessert.

While some candle makers are choosing to produce simple, unencumbered gel candles, others have chosen to go even further by adding non-flammable embeds to their gel candles, giving the appearance of objects suspended in midair. For example, adding fish shaped embeds into a blue tinted gel candle will produce the appearance of fish swimming in water.
 
The use of embeds is not only limited to use in gel candles. They can also be used in paraffin and soy. While paraffin and soy waxes are not transparent like gel, the addition of embeds can add texture and color to semi-translucent wax, and are very popular in creating unique and unusual designs in pillar candles. 
 
Another hot trend in the specialty candle market is the production of bakery and food item candles. Candle makers have flexed their artistic muscles by creating candles that look like pies, complete with crust and realistic looking fruit. You’ll see everything from hot chocolate candles poured into cocoa mugs complete with floating marshmallows to candle tarts that look like amazingly realistic muffins and donuts. The possibilities are endless if you have a little bit of creativity - as well as ample time and patience.
 
Yet another rising trend in specialty candles is the popularity of wickless candles. These candles are created for the sole purpose of melting in or on a candle warmer, and will never actually be burned with a flame. Wickless candles can be jar candles, without the wick, made to set on a warmer in their container. The melted wax produces scent, without the need for an open flame.

Another wickless variety is the wax tart. These wax creations are scented wax poured into molds. When they set up they are solid pieces of scented wax that are placed into simmer pots or wax melters to melt the wax.

These wickless options provide the wonderful fragrances of candles but without an open flame, making them perfect for people who have burn restrictions in their living or work spaces. Wickless candles and tarts are increasingly popular in schools, hospitals, dorm rooms, nursing homes and anywhere an open flame is not allowed.
 
Part of individual’s success in the candle industry is their ability to get creative, try something new, and promote their unique creations in the marketplace. While improving on an old standard is always a smart way to grow your business, there is also much room for success in innovation.     

While most candle makers start out making candles as a hobby, many eventually choose to turn that hobby into a full-fledged business. Whether through retailing, fundraising, consignment or wholesaling, there are several choices to expand your business into a valid part-time or full-time enterprise. Here we’ll discuss the topic of wholesaling as an option for building a solid business. 
 
The concept of wholesaling is simple. Basically, you sell your candles to resellers at a reduced price so that they can turn around and sell your candles at a higher price to their own customers.

The way you do this and still make a profit yourself, is that the resellers agree to purchase large quantities of candles in exchange for the reduced price. So while you may be selling your candles at half a typical retail price, you are also selling far more candles than you usually would if you were selling them one at a time.
 
When considering wholesaling there are a few extremely important things that you must keep in mind.

In order to sell profitably at wholesale, your pricing is crucial. You need to determine a reasonable retail price for your candles, and be able to cut that price at least in half to sell them at wholesale.

Most resellers want to be able to charge at least a 100% mark-up (double the wholesale price) to even consider buying from you at wholesale. This means that if they buy it from you for $5.00, they need to be able to sell it to their own customers for at least $10.00. This 100% mark-up by retailers is commonly referred to as a ‘keystone’ mark-up. 

So, if you are going to sell your candles at $5.00 each wholesale, then you need to make sure you are still making a profit on the candle at $5.00.  Ideally, your total costs, including sufficient pay for your time, should be no more than 50% of the wholesale price, with 30-40% recommended.

The most common mistake novice candle makers make is not truly knowing their costs, and setting their retail price too low. This makes it almost impossible to sell at wholesale in the future because they are not charging enough for their time. Don’t sell yourself short. Do your research and see what other candle makers are selling comparable candles for. Then back out your costs and time to make sure that you can afford to set a fair and profitable wholesale price.

There are many ways to go about finding wholesale clients to sell to. You can make personal sales calls to local stores and shops, you can consider hiring sales representatives to do this for you or you can sign a representation agreement with one of the many wholesale showrooms around the country. 

There are also numerous ‘gift shows’ held around the country several times a year where buyers visit for the sole purpose of purchasing wholesale merchandise to resell. These shows can yield great results, but are extremely expensive, and you will need a lot of orders to offset your costs. For this reason, wholesale trade shows are often best left to experienced candle makers that have a substantial promotional budget and the production capacity to fulfill an onslaught of orders.

There are also a number of online wholesale directories available for consideration. Typically, you pay a fee to advertise in their directory, but you receive great exposure to resellers looking to purchase products. Again, if you choose to participate in these directories, make sure that you have the production capacity to meet demand. The last thing you want is to have orders from customers, and not enough finished product to fill the orders, or the ability to produce it quickly.
    
There are many ways to create a successful candle business, and wholesaling is only one of the many ways it may be possible. Explore your options and decide what the best fit is for you and your ultimate goals.