How to Make Floating Candles and Build Your Creative Candle Startup in US

How to make floating candles

Have you ever tried making candles before? If not, then get ready to craft DIY floating candles. Many people try their best that their candles do not sink halfway and cast a dreamy glow. But they often fail to achieve a long-lasting float. That’s because of irregularity in candle shape, structure, and density. But don’t worry we have a perfect formula for you. Let’s start with required materials.

Essential supplies and Safety tips

To make floating candles, you need to buy the following materials.
Wax: Wax is a basic component of candle making. It acts as a fuel source and burns to create heat and light. For floating candles, it is best to use paraffin wax due to its durable and buoyant nature.
Wicks: Wick is a kind of cotton thread. It carries melted wax through capillary action to the flame. For floating candles, pre-tabbed or wooden wicks are recommended. As they provide stability. Also, the size of the wicks matter, too. If your wax has a higher melting point then use a larger wick. For paraffin wax the melting point is lower so, small-sized wick is workable.
Mold: In floating candles buoyancy is a crucial consideration. Therefore, the mold should be wider from the bottom than the top. A wider bottom prevents the sinking of candles. As for materials, silicon or plastic mold are the most suitable ones.
Apart from these essential supplies, you may need a thermometer, pouring equipment, essential oils, and colorants. Also, observe these safety precautions to avoid any hazard. First, always use the double-boiler method. Second, never leave hot wax unattended.

Step-by-step instructions for making floating water candles

Start by weighing your wax and melting it using the double-boiler method. As this process prevents scorching and curdling. Plus, you can easily control the temperature.
When the temperature reaches °around 170. Keep stirring gently and add your colorant and essential oil.
Pour the hot wax in a mold and place the wick in the center before the wax cools down. Fill the mold to the top as the candles shrink upon cooling.
Let these candles cool down at room temperature for 4 to 6 hours. Upon cooling, take the candles out and trim the wicks to about 14 inches.

Trouble shooting common floating candle problems

Your candle is perfect, the color is good, all ingredients are correct. Yet the candle fails to float. Well, the candle’s sinking is a result of several underlying issues. A common reason is a non-level pouring surface which results in uneven base. The second reason is the use of excess fragrant oil. This affects the wax’s density and the candle sink. Therefore, make sure to follow the accurate fragrance oil-to-wax ratio.

How to build your dream candle startup in the US

Most candle businesses fail not because their product lacks aromatic ingredients. But it’s their flimsy business plan. Manufacturing flawless floating candles is one part. But launching them in the highly-competitive candle market is a whole new ball game. Especially in the USA where a scalable profit comes by mastering your niche, navigating safety regulations, and building a brand story that truly resonates. So, stop wasting time and money on product upgrading. Follow the following steps to build your candle business correctly from day one.

Understand the market for floating candles

Floating flower candles are more of a premium, specialized décor asset than a commodity. Therefore, your startup must focus on consumer demand and the experience economy rather than a typical retail product. For example, in the USA, eco-friendly, non-toxic candles are high in demand. You can customize your candles with natural waxes such as soy or coconut wax and add natural essential oil like lavender to target an eco-conscious audience. In this way you can set your product apart from your competitors and increase market visibility.

Branding and packaging for a premium product

Don’t treat your candle packaging as a mere container to hold the product. More than a box; it’s a stage for an experience. Therefore, it must sell luxury, safety, and elegance. Using custom luxury candle boxes can help you with reinforcing the feeling of ambiance and exclusivity of floating candles. Plus, the flexibility of these boxes allow new startups to build their distinctive brand identity. You can print these boxes with your brand logo, colors and intricate artwork to build recognition. Personalize them with custom features such as tactile finishes, die-cut inserts, and windows. Such premium packaging will make your candles more exclusive and justify the higher price point.

Legal and compliance roadmap for the US market

Navigating the US regulatory landscape to start a business is a daunting task. But it is a necessary step of a business plan which you can’t skip. Before you launch your product, you will need to obtain a general business license from your state or county. Next is the state sales tax permit. And if you are running a home-based business, then a Certificate of Occupancy is mandatory. So, if you want to operate legally in the USA, then get your business federally registered and obtain all these licenses.
For consumers products entering the US market, particularly those with inherent safety consideration like candles. Compliance with federal bodies like Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is the absolute minimum standard. Therefore, to comply with these regulatory bodies, you must customize your candle packaging as per their “Packaging and Labeling Act”. According to the Act, custom Kraft printed boxes must include:

Product identity
Net weight
Manufacturer identity
Safety instructions
List of ingredients

So, if you want to build your business on a foundation of security and legality comply with state’s rules and regulations.

Conclusion

You are now fully equipped with both the creative blueprint for crafting exquisite floating candles and the critical operational map for launching a compliant US startup. If you need help with introducing your floating candles in custom candle boxes. Then, contact us! We can bring your candles to market with our innovative designs that will help your brand stand out from the crowd.