Unique Candle Container Ideas for Home Design Trends
The very first candle scent I developed was called Allure. At the time, I owned a retail store that provided kitchen design services, decor, and gourmet foods. The fragrance was a delightful mix of lavender with top notes of pumpkin spice. The smell of pumpkin spice drives men wild according to a study done by Dr. Alan Hirsch, Director of Chicago’s Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Center. I nailed the smell, but my candle container was anything but unique.
I commissioned a candlemaker I found online to produce the candles for my store. Unfortunately, I wasn’t experienced enough to understand the importance of the candle container when I ordered. When I staged the retail display for the candle line, I was disappointed in myself. I had focused too much attention on the scent of the candle and not enough attention on the candle container design.
The trick to finding unique wholesale candle containers at Dollar Tree is to type in the word "glass" and hit the search bar. That's how I found these black and white frosted candle holders with gold rims. Use Coupon Code: BULK (25% OFF shipping for bulk orders).
For the LOVE of UNIQUE Candle Containers!
Fast forward 15 years, I do not own my retail store anymore, but when I see unique candle containers in a store, I immediately want to go smell one! However, I’m drawn to the color, style, and label of the candle container before the smell test. Making candles is a lot like making food. We eat with our eyes first, so chefs focus on taste and presentation. If a candle container doesn’t appeal to my eyes, I’m probably not going to smell it.
Have you ever tried making candles? It’s a fun hobby to pick up, and making a candle with the perfect hot throw (HT) and melt pool makes me do a happy dance. I work with a 1:1 ratio of soy wax and paraffin wax or coconut wax when accessible. For fragrance oil, I add 10 percent of the wax volume.
10 ounces wax X 10% = 1 ounce of fragrance oil
Add fragrance oil after the wax is melted and cooled down to at least 165 degrees.
It can be frustrating choosing the proper wick for the candle containers beyond tea lights and votives. It is trial and error. Wick up? No, wick down! Or maybe Wick up? The wick of a candle when lit is about 750°F. Wicking is trial and error per vessel and per FO. Start making candles using a candle vessel under 12 oz. and master wicking before moving onto more unique candle containers. I recently did a review on my experiences with various candle wax. If you are new to making candles, I recommend reading the section on candle waxes before buying anything. But can we talk candle containers?
I’m always on the hunt looking for unique candle containers. They can be expensive. If you are making candles as a business, candle containers can make or break you. If you are making candles for your home, a unique candle container can enhance your space.
Making Luxury Candle Vessels
First, let’s talk about making candles from a business standpoint. Most chandlers try to keep the cost of their candle containers under $3 to stay competitive. That sometimes means going to the Dollar Store and using similar candle containers as other chandlers. I have a graphic designs background, but even my labels can’t hide a one-dollar jar. Striving to make the candle containers more unique,
I painted, stamped, and created!
How to Make Unique Candle Containers with Paint
Why not paint the candle container? Spray painting the square glass Libby jars is an easy solution for a quick transformation. I prefer flat paint over a semi-gloss finish. Even outdoors, the painted candle container holds up nicely! The bonus of a painted candle container is that it hides all the flaws in a candle.
What Shape Should Your Candle Container Be?
Ideally, you should choose a candle container that has straight sides. It’s better if your unique candle container is wider at the bottom than at the top. The wax tends to burn hotter towards the bottom of candles.
Wooden Lids for Candle Containers
My husband made the wooden lids for the candle containers from scrap wood. The 3/4″ wood was cut into squares using a compound miter saw and curved with a router tool. I can always count on him to sand the wooden candle lids before they reach me! I then finished the wooden candle container lids in soft, Beachwood tones. As an added luxe candle container vibe, wax seals adorn the top of each unique candle vessel.
Secondly, let’s talk about how unique candle containers complement the interior design. I have never counted how many candles I have around my home, but I just counted six in my Great Room. With this in mind, it emphasizes the importance of the candle container’s uniqueness. It also explains my insatiable desire to keep creating new unique candle containers.
Get Your Logo on a Wax Seal
Packaging tip for your unique candle container: A great way to take your candles to the next level is to put your logo on this custom wax seal via Amazon. If you like wax, and I’m guessing you do if you are here, wax seals are really fun to play with!
Recommended Candle-making Wax on Amazon
This luxurious Coconut Soy candle wax is a vegan blend of natural soy and coconut with a superior scent throw!
- Scent Recommendation: 8-12%
- Wax is made in flake form making it easy to use!
Recommended Fragrance Oil for Candles
Watch this Unique Candle Container Idea!
Here is a great solution for a popular candle container found at Dollar Tree. This candle container is budget-friendly but burns too hot towards the tapered bottom. It’s really a bad design for a candle vessel. By filling the bottom of the candle container with sand, you create a stunning visual, save money on candle wax, and produce a more even burn. Check out this gorgeous sand color palette on Amazon. I love the gold shimmer for a holiday candle idea.
Hi I have looked at you pictures and I love the wooden lids that you have and the stamp.
I would
Like to know where you got the stamp from and do you dell the square wooden lids. I am having a hard time finding those that don’t have a high shipping cost.
Hi! Sometimes I will design something and order a custom wax seal through Etsy. A fun wax seal to start with is a blank one. You can get those online too. I have added colored wax and even dried flowers to blank seals. I plan to do a journal on my wax seal creations for candle lids. I think finding a local woodworker to make the wooden lids will be your least expensive route.