Candle Packaging Ideas: Top 5 Candle Shipping Dos and Don'ts

Candlemaking is a timeless, expressive art form offering relaxation, warmth, and light to be shared all around the world! The personal and commercial use of candles is rapidly rising, with the U.S. retail sales of candle products estimated at approximately $3.14 billion annually, according to The National Candle Association.

However, whether you're a seasoned e-commerce pro, or an entrepreneur just starting out, shipping candles can quickly become a tricky task!

Most candle vessels are made out of glass or tin, which are easily prone to breakage and denting. Not to mention the temperature- delicate wax each vessel contains! This combination of temperature sensitivity, and fragility can become extremely frustrating when it comes time to ship.

To help reduce the stress, here are Our Top 5 Do's and Don'ts When Shipping Candles:

1. Do - Pack Your Candles Safely

When shipping candles, having durability inside of the box is just as important as having it outside to prevent damage during transit. While most of us are accustomed to using bubble wrap or packing peanuts to protect our fragile products, they have proven to be unreliable, messy, and full of plastic waste.

At Flush, you can select from a variety of candle shipping boxes or customize your own candle packaging guaranteed to make a lasting impression on your customers. Because each box is custom designed to fit the vessel, your candles stay safe and snug during their shipping journey.

2. Don't - Ship Candles in Extreme Temperatures

Candles are very sensitive to temperature changes, and shipping them during extreme temperatures can cause them to melt or warp. Therefore, it is essential to avoid shipping candles during extreme weather conditions.

However, we understand sometimes you can't avoid extreme temperatures, so instead, here is how to avoid temperature damage.

Start by always shipping early in the week to avoid your candles sitting over the weekend in a hot trailer. To keep your candles cool, some may advise freezing candles in advance to prevent melting or warping.

Unfortunately, freezing candles can cause your wax to crack prior to shipping. Instead, try frozen gel packs to maintain a cool temperature around your candles. Be sure to place the gel packs in a sealed bag to prevent condensation from dampening your package or labels!

3. Do - Create an On-Brand Unboxing Experience

As with any brand or business, first impressions matter when shipping candles! From the moment your customer opens their package, you want your brand to stand out and make a lasting impression.

Another great reason to say goodbye to packing materials - no one wants their customer to have to sift through messy packing peanuts to find their candles.

By ending the need for excess packing peanuts, our unique eco-friendly boxes provide the perfect canvas to create a memorable unboxing experience!

You can customize your boxes with labels, stamps, stickers… the possibilities are endless! Check out our customer gallery for inspiration.

4. Don't - Choose a Flimsy Shipping Box

From preventing breakage and denting, to helping insulate, a durable shipping box is crucial when shipping candles.

Delivery drivers are notorious for not handling packages “with care”. There's nothing worse than the disappointment of learning your candles have arrived broken, which can then cost you a small fortune in replacing the product, additional shipping, and potential customer discounts for service failure.

Avoid the stress and cost by choosing a durable shipping box.

5. Do - Provide Various Shipping Options

You may want to consider offering various options such as expedited or priority shipping, especially during the warmer months to avoid warping or melting.

In addition, it's important to always provide customers with an order tracking number so that they can stay updated to know exactly when their candles are delivered to avoid them sitting in undesirable climates or weather.

Don't let shipping hold you back from sharing the warmth and relaxation of candle making with the world. Choose Flush for stress-free candle shipping! With these tips, you can take your candle business to the next level and provide your customers with an on brand experience they won’t forget!