Ask where the candles are actually poured
Many candle brands are sold by companies that broker production to someone else. That adds a layer between you and the people solving your wick problem. Ask whether pouring, labeling and packing happen under one roof, and ask to see it.
Our formulation, pour, packing and shipping all happen on our own floor in Los Angeles, which is why a change made in the morning can be in a test burn the same day.
The questions worth asking
- Minimum order
- What is the real minimum per scent and per vessel, and does it change if you use a custom vessel or custom scent?
- Burn testing
- Is every new vessel, wick and fragrance combination burn tested before production — and will they share what they checked?
- Wax options
- Which wax blends do they run, and can they make a custom blend once your volume justifies it?
- Repeatability
- Once a spec is approved, is it locked so reorders match the first run?
- Fulfillment
- Can they pack to retail and distribution center requirements, or only ship loose cases?
Watch for the vague answers
A manufacturer that cannot tell you its wax system, its testing process or its typical minimum is usually not the one making the product. Specific answers are a good sign that the work is done in-house.
Start with a sample, not a contract
The fastest way to judge a partner is a physical sample in your chosen vessel. How it burns, how it smells across a room and how quickly the sample arrives will tell you more than any sales call.