The global candle market is expected to grow from $14.06 billion in 2024 to $20.1 billion in 2030, creating opportunities for entrepreneurs across industries. To take advantage of this growth, many turn to buying in bulk.
A wholesale candle vendor is a business that sells candles or candle-making materials in bulk at lower per-unit prices. Similar to other wholesale products for resale, they let you source inventory affordably and scale more easily.
The right vendor depends on your budget, brand, and business model. A spa might look for premade aromatherapy candles, while a subscription box company might need private label votives or tins to feature in its boxes. An aspiring candlemaker will need a wholesale supplier that stocks wax, jars, and wicks in bulk.
Learn more about how to buy wholesale and discover seven of the best wholesale candle vendors.
Table of contents
7 best wholesale candle vendors
- Faire
- Velavida
- Seventh Avenue Apothecary
- Bulk Apothecary
- Zooby
- Kalamazoo Candle Company
- A Candle Co.
Wholesale candle vendors serve different needs: premade candles, private labels, or raw materials. To help you get started making or selling candles, here are some of the top wholesale candle vendors to explore:
1. Faire
Faire is a wholesale marketplace with more than 100,000 independent brands, including candle makers like P.F. Candle Co., Literie, and Hotel Lobby Candle. If you have a boutique or home goods store, you can use Faire to find and compare small business wholesale suppliers.
A major advantage of Faire is its advanced filtering, which allows you to discover vendors by location, brand values, and lead time.
Faire connects to your Shopify store through an app, making it easy to sync orders with your online shop.
- Best for: Discovering indie candle brands.
- Vendor type: Premade candles, some private and white label options.
- Order minimum: Individual brands set the order minimum. You can use the "low minimum" filter to find suppliers with low MOQs.
- Shipping: Each brand sets its shipping and lead times. Filters let you find suppliers that match your needs.
- Returns: Faire offers free returns within 60 days on first time purchases from new brands.
2. Velavida
Velavida is a candle supplier from Richardson, Texas, that specializes in white and private label candles made with a soy wax blend. With more than 15 containers and 45 fragrances to choose from, you can customize your candles to your heart's content.
This supplier has a low order minimum of 12 candles, so it's possible to test the market on a small scale run before committing to a larger wholesale order.
- Best for: White label candles with a low minimum order quantity.
- Vendor type: White label, private label.
- Order minimum: 12 candles.
- Shipping: 14 to 21 business days.
- Returns: Sales are final, but Velavida will work with you if items arrive damaged.
3. Seventh Avenue Apothecary
Seventh Avenue Apothecary operates out of Tampa, Florida, and specializes in candles and fragrances, including room sprays and fragrance oils. Its candles are 100% soy and come in a range of sizes and scents.
The company's premium, hand-poured candles include classics like pumpkin and lavender, as well as custom blends such as eucalyptus and bergamot or pineapple and ginger. To buy wholesale, fill out an application to become a wholesale partner with the brand.
- Best for: 100% soy wax private label candles.
- Vendor type: Private label, premade scented candles.
- Order minimum: Flexible minimum orders to suit different businesses.
- Shipping: Free shipping on orders over $99. Local pickup available in Tampa.
- Returns: Sales are final, but refunds or replacements are offered for damaged items within seven days.
4. Bulk Apothecary
Headquartered in Aurora, Ohio, Bulk Apothecary has the raw materials you need to create candles, including wax, fragrances, containers, essential oils, and more.
In addition to supplies, Bulk Apothecary also has a line of private label products, including candles, bath bombs, cold process soaps, and other personal care products—ideal if you're not interested in making the candles yourself.
- Best for: Candlemaking supplies and private label products.
- Vendor type: Supplies, private label.
- Order minimum: Order minimum depends on the product. For example, candle wicks come in bags of 100.
- Shipping: Rates depend on weight. Products are typically shipped within one to two business days.
- Returns: You can return unused products within 30 days for a refund.
5. Zooby
Zooby is a Dallas-based wholesaler specializing in promotional products. Its catalog includes candles in a variety of styles: scented and unscented, soy and beeswax, and container candles with aluminum, glass, and ceramic vessels. You can also order corporate candles, making them popular for employee gifts or client swag.
Beyond candles, Zooby offers wholesale complementary items such as apparel, notebooks, and other promotional goods, so you can expand your product mix from a single source.
- Best for: Affordable white label candles.
- Vendor type: White label, premade promotional products.
- Order minimum: Most candles are sold in packs of 50 or more.
- Shipping: Products ship in one to three business days.
- Returns: Contact Zooby for more information.
6. Kalamazoo Candle Company
Michigan-based Kalamazoo Candle Company offers handmade 100% soy wax candles, with a focus on quality, sustainability, and long burn times. Its collections range from classic scents to botanicals, plus novelty options like the "Big Mood" line featuring candles such as "I hate people" and "Fun girl era."
Wholesale buyers can choose prelabeled candles, or work with Kalamazoo's graphic design team to help create custom labels for any of its 56 scents.
- Best for: White label and prelabeled 100% soy wax candles.
- Vendor type: White label, premade.
- Order minimum: Contact for more information.
- Shipping: Custom candles can be ready in three weeks or less.
- Returns: Contact for more information.
7. A Candle Co.
A Candle Co. specializes in private and white label candles, offering more than 150 scents. You can upload your own label designs to be printed on a variety of containers, choose wax colors, and select wick types.
To sample fragrances before committing, order testers for 99¢ each.
- Best for: Customizable private label and white label candles, and ready-made candles.
- Vendor type: Private label, white label, premade.
- Order minimum: $500.
- Shipping: Custom products take two to five weeks (January to August) or four to six weeks (September to December). Ready-made items ship in a few days.
- Returns: Custom orders are not eligible for returns.
How to find and choose wholesale candle vendors
- Choose your business model
- Consider ingredients
- Choose a candle supplier to grow with you
- Weight local vs. international suppliers
- Vet your final candle supplier
Here are some considerations to keep in mind as you explore candle vendors:
1. Choose your business model
Since wholesale candle vendors specialize in different product types, it's useful to know your business model. This will help you find the supplier that best fits your needs. Here are a few options:
Branded candles
Show your expertise as a curator and diversify your product offerings by reselling candles from a recognizable brand. Whether you have a clothing boutique or a bookstore, candles can complement your current offering.
The Strand bookstore sells candles from Literie:
@literiecandle The cutest bookshop for our candles 📚 Go visit The Strand ASAP! #candletok #nyccandles #nycbookstores #thestrand ♬ Cherry - Jordan Susanto
White label candles
White label candles are generic products sold under different brand names. While the logos, branding, and packaging may be unique, the candle is the same. Kalamazoo Candle Company, for example, offers custom label candles for various brands like the American Heart Association and Papa John's.
When you sell white label candles, you don't need to do any sourcing or formulating, but can still put your label on the candle. On the downside, you won't be able to make too many adjustments.
Private label
Third-party companies produce private label candles. However, unlike white labels, private label candles are unique to one brand. This lets you select ingredients and fragrances without formulating the product yourself.
"I am a complete neat freak and the idea of having liquid wax and stuff all over my apartment—I don't even think that crossed my mind, to be honest," Literie Candles founder Erica Werber says on an episode of Shopify Masters. Erica Googled candle manufacturers and found one in Massachusetts that was willing to produce a small quantity of candles.
DIY
You can also create candles from scratch. You'll still need to find a supplier to purchase candle-making supplies like candle wax, jars, and wicks at wholesale prices.
The benefit of formulating your candles is that you have total control over the process. You choose the ingredients, the containers, and the labels.
2. Consider ingredients
Demand for organic and natural wax candle products is rising. So it's important to learn about the products you plan to sell or ingredients you hope to use for your DIY candles.
Paraffin wax
Paraffin is affordable, easy to work with, and good for scented candles. However, it's a petroleum by-product, so environmentally conscious customers may be averse to it.
"Most—if not all—of the really high-end candles on the market have some aspect of paraffin wax in them, which is really not good for you or the environment," Lindsay Silberman, founder of Hotel Lobby Candle, says in an episode of Shopify Masters.
Soy wax
Soy wax has a high melting point, so it burns slowly, making it ideal for fragrance and colored candles. It's also more environmentally friendly than paraffin, since it's from soybeans. It doesn't hold its shape well, which means it works better in containers. P.F. Candle Co. and Hotel Lobby both use soy wax for their candles.
Beeswax
Beeswax is natural, non-toxic, and renewable. It holds its shape well, so it works for standalone candles like votives, pillars, and candlesticks. Because production is labor-intensive, this type of wax can be pricier than other options.
Coconut wax
Coconut wax is renewable, natural, holds scent well, and burns slowly. It has a low melting point, so it's best in containers. Coconut wax is also more expensive than other waxes and is often blended with different types of wax for stability. For example, Literie uses a soy and coconut wax blend.
Many candles also have scents in the form of natural ingredients, essential oils, or synthetic concoctions. Generally, synthetic fragrances and ingredients are less popular, as they can be harmful to the environment and people's health.
3. Choose a candle supplier to grow with you
As your business grows, you'll reach more customers and make more sales, so you'll need a supplier who can handle your current and future needs. If a wholesaler can't keep up, you have to look for new suppliers, which disrupt your business.
Here's what to consider when choosing a supplier:
- Maximum order quantities: Just as you want to know if a supplier has a flexible order minimum, you'll also want to learn about maximum order quantities—the highest number of items you can order at once. As your sales increase, make sure they can accommodate larger orders.
- Lead times: Ask how quickly suppliers can produce and deliver your orders. Before you pick a supplier, find out how lead times change depending on the order size.
- Product offerings: Examine a supplier's inventory to decide whether it has a large and varied enough product offering. If you expand in the future, you'll have options.
It's also important to note the seasonal trends and holidays that affect the candle industry and ensure your supplier can fulfill your needs during peak demand. For example, A Candle Co. has longer lead times from September through December.
4. Weigh local vs. international suppliers
Determine whether you want to work with a local or international supplier.
Local suppliers
There are pros and cons to choosing a local supplier. A local supplier will generally have faster shipping times, lower shipping costs, and a smaller carbon footprint. Communication is also easier when you share the same timezone.
Using a local manufacturer is how Literie Candles landed one of its biggest clients—Macy's. "A lot of the brands that they had were produced in China, and so there were supply chain issues," Literie founder Erica says. "They had this enormous customer base that wanted to purchase candles and they were quickly running out of stock." Literie's candles are made in Massachusetts, so the company was able to deliver product to Macy's in a week.
International suppliers
International wholesalers may give you access to a wider, diverse range of products at a lower cost. However, the trade-off with international selling is slower shipping times and additional taxes and tariffs. These import fees, or customs and duties can apply to both the seller and the buyer affecting your margins and pricing.
Each country has its own product classification system, to determine duties and fees:
- US: USITC tariff database
- UK: GOV.UK trade tariff service
- EU countries: Trade market access database
When you research and plan for import fees ahead of time, you'll be able to more accurately determine the profitability of your products.
5. Vet your final candle supplier
Once you narrow down suppliers, ask about the following:
- Samples: Order samples so you can gauge product quality.
- Registration and certificates: Ask for business license/registration, compliance certificates, proof of FDA registration, or other documents that verify legitimacy.
- Current customer references and their contact info: Speak directly with current customers to learn about their experience and search online for reviews. Try keyword phrases like "[supplier name] reviews" and "[supplier name] scam" to uncover potential red flags.
- Policies: Review return and shipping policies to determine if a supplier meets your needs.
Working with a trusted wholesale marketplace like Faire can also give you peace of mind. During its application process, Faire requires wholesalers to include more information about their lead times and products, and you can check out a supplier's rating before committing.
If you don't want to take on the risk associated with traditional wholesale partnerships, consider
Wholesale Candle Vendors FAQ
Do wholesale candle vendors require a resale certificate?
Most wholesale candle vendors ask for a resale certificate or reseller's license number before opening a wholesale account, since it lets them skip charging sales tax on orders meant for resale. Vendors typically collect the retailer's resale certificate number or reseller's license information before the first order so they can safely omit sales tax. Without a certificate on file, some vendors will charge sales tax upfront or decline the wholesale rate, so keep a copy handy along with proof of business registration when applying.
How is buying wholesale candles different from dropshipping candles?
Buying wholesale means purchasing candle inventory upfront and storing it before reselling, while dropshipping has the supplier ship products directly to the customer without you ever holding stock. Wholesale orders typically unlock lower per-unit pricing and more control over packaging, but tie up capital and storage space. Dropshipping avoids upfront inventory costs and warehouse needs, though per-unit prices tend to run higher and branding options are often more limited.
Can you negotiate a supplier's minimum order quantity?
Minimum order quantities aren't always fixed—many wholesale candle vendors will lower them for new sellers testing the market or raise them for buyers ready to scale. Some suppliers publish a set minimum but adjust it case by case, especially for repeat customers or those committing to a recurring order schedule. Asking directly, rather than assuming the listed minimum is final, often opens room for a smaller trial order or a volume discount.
What certifications should a wholesale candle vendor have?
A reputable wholesale candle vendor should be able to provide safety data sheets for wax and fragrance oils, along with documentation showing compliance with flammability and labeling standards such as ASTM candle safety guidelines. Ask for a copy of their business license and any product liability insurance, since this protects you if a defective product causes damage. Vendors unwilling to share this paperwork are worth reconsidering before placing a large order.
Do you need a retail store to buy candles wholesale?
A physical storefront isn't a strict requirement—many wholesale candle vendors approve online-only sellers, marketplace shops, and subscription box businesses as long as you can show proof of business registration or a resale certificate. Some suppliers do ask about where you'll sell the products, whether that's a website, marketplace listing, or brick-and-mortar space, since they want assurance the candles will move through a legitimate retail channel.
