5 clean candle manufacturers for e-commerce brands in 2024

Introduction

The clean movement has gained significant momentum, advocating for products that prioritize safety, responsible sourcing, and environmental awareness. Clean candle brands align with these principles by offering products made with non-toxic ingredients, cruelty-free practices, and sustainable packaging.

If you’re considering launching a new candle brand, expanding your existing candle business, or adding candles to your product lineup, it’s worth considering the benefits of going clean. Embracing the clean candle movement can set your brand apart in a competitive market and resonate with a growing segment of consumers who are increasingly conscious of the impact their purchases have on their health, the environment, and animal welfare.

Choosing a clean candle factory

When selecting a factory for your clean candle line, consider the following factors:

• Ingredients: Prioritize candle suppliers that use natural, non-toxic ingredients such as soy wax. Soy wax is a renewable resource that burns cleaner and longer than traditional paraffin wax, which is derived from petroleum and can release harmful chemicals when burned. Opt for suppliers that avoid using paraffin wax altogether, as well as synthetic fragrances and dyes, which can contain phthalates and other potentially harmful compounds.

• Cruelty-free: Find a factory that does not test on animals and does not use animal-derived ingredients. While many candles contain animal byproducts such as beeswax, stearic acid, or animal fats, there are vegan alternatives available. Vegan candles typically use plant-based waxes like soy, coconut, or vegetable wax, which are not only cruelty-free but also sustainable and biodegradable.

• Sustainability: Select factories that prioritize sustainable practices in every aspect of their operations. This includes using recycled materials for both the candles and their packaging, which helps reduce the environmental impact and conserves natural resources.

• Transparency: Choose a factory that is open and honest about its manufacturing process and the ingredients used in its products. Transparent factories provide detailed information about where and how their raw materials are sourced, the steps involved in production, and any certifications they have achieved.

Our favorite clean candle factories

1. Laguna Candles

This black women-owned, family-run business in Laguna Beach, California, uses a proprietary coconut wax blend, hand-poured and hand-crafted, with no animal testing, phthalates, parabens, or sulfates.

What sets Laguna Candles apart:

• Proprietary coconut wax blend: Known for its sustainability and clean-burning properties, coconut wax provides an eco-friendly alternative to paraffin wax.

• Hand-poured and hand-crafted: Each candle is meticulously crafted to ensure the highest quality and supports local artisans.

• No harmful chemicals: Free from phthalates, parabens, and sulfates.

• Sustainable and ecologically-sound ingredients: Pesticide-free and sustainably harvested raw materials.

• Cruelty-free: No animal testing or animal-derived ingredients.

• Unparalleled fragrance integrity: Collaboration with a master perfumer for unique, high-quality scents.

• Customization options: Custom colored vessels, screen printing, fragrances, labels, and metal badge labels.

• Eco-friendly packaging: Sustainable packaging options to minimize environmental impact.

• Production and fulfillment: MOQ of 50 units, with sampling costs ranging from $5 to $80 and production time of 30+ days.

• Domestic advantages: Quicker lead times and easier communication for US-based brands.

Pros and cons:

• Pros: Domestic production in the United States, high customization, ethical and sustainable practices.

• Cons: Higher price point compared to some overseas manufacturers.

Contact Laguna Candles today!

2. Unique Custom Candles

This private-label candle company in Los Angeles, California, is Latina and women-owned, dedicated to helping entrepreneurs create high-quality, sustainable candle products.

What sets Unique Custom candles apart:

• Hand-poured craftsmanship: Artisanal approach with small batch production for quality and consistency.

• Premium ingredients: Blend of coconut wax and 100% soy wax for a cleaner, longer-lasting burn.

• Phthalate-free fragrances: Safe, premium-grade fragrances and essential oils.

• Natural cotton wicks: Produce less smoke and soot.

• Supportive partnership: Comprehensive support for launching or scaling candle brands.

• Customization options: Custom fragrances, branded labels, vessel printing, and in-house graphic design services.

• No harmful chemicals: Free from added dyes and synthetic substances.

• Animal-friendly: Cruelty-free practices and no animal-derived ingredients.

• Sustainable packaging: Offers eco-friendly packaging options.

• Low MOQ: Minimum order quantity of just 48 units.

• Sampling costs and production time: Sampling costs range from $8 to $64, with production time under 30 days.

• Quick response time: Average response time of just 3 hours.

Pros and cons:

• Pros: Domestic production in the United States, extensive customization, ethical and sustainable practices, supportive services.

• Cons: Higher price point compared to some overseas manufacturers.

Contact Unique Custom Candles today!

3. Smecious

Established in 2000, Smecious is known for its creativity and high-quality products, with a specialization in food mock-up candles.

What sets Smecious apart:

• Specialization in food mock-up candles: Creative, visually appealing designs like donuts, cakes, and sushi.

• Wide range of styles: Diverse array of candle styles beyond food replicas.

• High-quality materials: Premium waxes and fragrances for a pleasant and lasting scent.

• Custom designs and scents: Private label services for unique candle styles and fragrances.

• Low MOQ: Minimum order quantity starting at just 1 unit.

• Extensive production capacity: Large facility with significant production capabilities.

• Global distribution: Experience in handling international orders.

• Sampling and production time: Affordable sampling options ranging from $5 to $45, with production time under 30 days.

• Responsive customer service: Average response time of 10 hours.

Pros and cons:

• Pros: Creative and unique designs, high customization, extensive production capacity, global reach.

• Cons: Longer lead times and potential communication challenges because of overseas production.

Contact Smecious today!

4. Atelier 880

This distinguished candle manufacturer in Chicago, Illinois, combines luxury, craftsmanship, and sustainability.

What sets Atelier 880 apart:

• Hand-poured candles: Small batch production for superior quality and consistency.

• Natural and safe ingredients: 100% domestically grown soy wax and cotton braided wicks.

• Phthalate-free fragrance oils: Natural essential oils and phthalate-free fragrances.

• Custom scents and blends: Unique fragrance blends to reflect brand identity.

• Custom labels and packaging: Extensive customization options for a cohesive product line.

• Eco-friendly materials: Commitment to sustainable materials and minimal environmental impact.

• Cruelty-free and ethical: No animal testing or animal-derived ingredients.

• Low MOQ: Accessible minimum order quantity as low as 1 unit.

• Sampling and production time: Sampling costs from $5 to $500, with production time under 30 days.

Pros and Cons:

• Pros: Domestic production in the USA, high-quality craftsmanship, extensive customization, sustainable and ethical practices, low MOQ.

• Cons: Higher price point compared to some overseas manufacturers.

Contact Atelier 880 today!

5. Ankeshi

Based in Dongguan, China, Ankeshi is known for exceptional craftsmanship and extensive customization options.

What sets Ankeshi apart:

• Custom scents and fragrance library: Vast collection of scents and custom fragrance creation.

• Diverse vessels and packaging options: Wide selection of sizes, colors, and styles.

• Private label and contract manufacturing: Comprehensive services from concept to completion.

• High-quality materials: Premium waxes, including soy and coconut wax.

• Ethically and sustainably sourced ingredients: Commitment to renewable and environmentally friendly materials.

• State-of-the-art production facility: Advanced machinery and efficient production processes.

• Sampling and production time: Affordable sampling options from $5 to $26.99, with production time of 30+ days.

• Global reach and distribution: Experience in international shipping and logistics.

Pros and cons:

• Pros: Extensive customization, high-quality materials, sustainable and ethical practices, low MOQ, global distribution.

• Cons: Longer lead times and potential communication challenges because of overseas production.

Contact Ankeshi today!

Conclusion

Choosing a clean candle factory aligns with the growing consumer demand for transparency and sustainability. By partnering with factories that prioritize safety, ethics, and environmental consciousness, candle brands can contribute to a more responsible and eco-friendly industry.

Pietra makes it easy to navigate this journey. With Pietra, finding the perfect factory for your clean candle brand is a seamless process. Whether you need custom fragrances, sustainable packaging, or ethical production methods, Pietra connects you with top-notch factories that align with your brand’s values and requirements. Additionally, Pietra offers a members-only 3PL service, comprehensive sales and marketing tools, Shopify integration, and more to help you start and grow your clean candle brand.