So you want to create a custom candle
I’ve been getting a lot of people reaching out lately interested in the process of making a custom candle. And yay! I love that you are interested in that. And I want to set you up with reasonable expectations. I don’t keep a price list available to send over email, because making the custom candle is truly a collaboration. We get take your vision and form something new together.
If creating a custom candle has crossed your mind, I want to share my top 5 questions to start thinking about to see if you are ready to set up a call.
Why do you want to create a custom candle? I think this question is really important and will help figure out if there is something already available that you can source, or if going down the custom route is the right fit for you! I’ve created these for weddings, baby showers, boutiques - everyone has their own reason! I can’t wait to hear why you are interested.
What quantity are you hoping you purchase, and will it be re-occurring? As a rule of thumb, the lower the quantity purchased, the higher the purchase price per unit is going to be. This has to do with sourcing raw materials in small quantities. It’s like going to a small independent grocery store and purchasing an item verses going to Costco and getting the same item at the same cost but in a giant size. It’s not that the independent store is jacking up the price, it’s that Costco can purchase large quantities and pass along the savings to you. Once we figure out if it’s a one time purchase or re-occurring we can figure out if we can source unique and harder to get materials, or if we should opt for something that has a reliable supply train.
What aesthetic do you want to create? From color, to jar size, to accessories - This helps us find your vibe! Do you like lids? Pretty packaging? Easy to ship? We can figure out the things that matter to you. Start saving pictures and inspiration so we can look through it together.
What fragrances are you thinking you’d like to showcase? Fragrance is unique to each person, and I can help coach you to find fragrances that are appealing to many people while also staying in the budget. I use clean burning oils and 100% soy wax and I will never use inferior toxic products to reduce the price.
Are you expecting Aldi or Target prices? What I mean is do you want an extra large candle for under $5 wholesale price? If that’s your goal, I can point you in the direction of some mass produced candles that can achieve that price point. And while that response may feel snarky or harsh, I’ve had a lot of people recently ask me to create them custom candles at an unrealistic price. I will never be able to match the big box stores. What I create is small batch handcrafted goods. I source things at higher prices because I am a small business buying smaller quantities, I am using quality goods which demand a higher price, and everything is made by me. If you follow me or know me, integrity is really important to me, I would never over charge my consumers who are my supportive family and friends. I put in a lot of work this year to understand all the aspects of my products and business, and if we have a starting point of what you want to pay per unit with the quantities, we can backwards plan to make sure we can create something unique and that you’ll be happy with. I like us to think about your wholesale range to purchase in bulk, which can adjust depending on the size, wick type, jar, and accessories (lids, boxes, etc).
Morgan from Revival Furniture Co. has created two custom candles with me in 2023, and shared her thoughts:
Once I was introduced to Erika at Tura Lura Co. and realized how much passion she had behind her work - the creation of my own candles for my shop was so easy. It really elevates my brand to have a product unique to the shop with every single element of my candles hand selected and carefully crafted. Even when I proposed a rough concept idea, Erika immediately guided me through and created something incredible. On top of the creative process, the quality of her products is unmatched - the scents fill a room and my customers keep coming back for more!
If creating a custom candle is something that you have been thinking about, please reach out! I’d love to set up a call with you to explore this further with you. I am booking conversations for August 2023, which is just in time for the fall candle season :)
