PRODUCT TREND: CANDLES

owners a perfect giftable souvenir option to place on the shelf alongside our High Tide glass candles,” says Goodrich.

He has also seen an increase in requests for custom candles from store owners. “It has been fun to collaborate with our store owners to create something special just for their store,” he says.

Unforgettable Aromas

Customization is a popular feature for Sugared Mango. “Customizing the scent to their area has been the trending theme,” says Owner Danielle Sterling. “We have had several retailers choose names relating to their areas or custom scents made just for their clientele. The customers dare to be different and not find the exact candle on their shelves as the competitor down the street.”

Bluffton Candles launched Bluffon State of Mind, Georgia on My Mind, Charleston, Beaufort, and Happy Place candle varieties in 2023.

“Before we offer a line of candle for a store, we research what their branding is all about and work on the scents based on their branding,” says Angie Evangelista, candle maker. “Our retailers and partners are happy with our products — not only the products, but the story behind them.”

The brand exists not only to create candles, bath and body products that evoke memories of Bluffton, South Carolina, “we spread hope and joy in people’s hearts when they are going through difficult times through our products.”

The company also donates to various charitable causes and is moving to a larger space where it can offer candle making events to the public.

Shedding Light On The Subject

Wild Delights launched the Wildlife Collection as a way to capture the magic of amazing wildlife native to coastal places like Florida and the Carolinas.

“This has been a unique selling point for retailers in locations with wildlife attractions, like turtle or manatee season,” says Christina Gray, owner. “Every candle features a story about a native animal with a curated scent to match the area they live. For example, our bestselling Florida Manatee Candle smells like fresh Florida springs, spicy citrus, and seagrass.”

Gray says the candles serve as a connection point through scent to beautiful coastal places people live or visit “which lasts long after the trip is over.”

She adds, “Coastal retailers like the uniqueness of our designs and the sustainable packaging of our classic Whiskey Rocks Glass Candle. The glasses become a special keepsake as they can be reused for drinks after the candle is gone, and our sustainable tube packaging looks clean and polished on shelves and in customers’ homes.”

Various Vessels

Backyard Candles uses elemental designs to create its true-to-life aromatic collections, according to Justin Healy, owner and founder. The company’s bestselling coconut shell candles “offer a unique tropical appeal, are a waste product, so upcycled, and great for the environment — and they float, making them great for your bathtub or a floating centerpiece.”

The company plans to introduce laser engraving. “Private label has been huge for us recently — allowing for your own logo and changing the fragrance name to better appeal to your demographic.”

Alternative options

Small Town Dusk, a family-owned business in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, uses traditional candle making techniques to create fun and unique taper candles that come with a built-in battery-operated LED flickering bulb on a timer. They are hand-dipped in real beeswax for a realistic look and feel.

“We provide customers an alternative taper candle option that is safe, realistic and flameless, while not compromising decorative design, ambiance or quality,” says Joel Boyer, co-owner. “Our seaside retailer customers like carrying our line because it offers customers an alternative to real burning candles. Our candles provide not just ambiance, but also a decorative touch. Retailers incorporate our candles into seasonal and everyday home decor displays.”

The company expanded its beach line in our 2023 catalog after customer requests, adding dolphin, sea horse, starfish and sea turtle designs.

“These designs are great for both beach stores and aquariums,” says Vanessa Boyer, co-owner.

Sea Love’s line of premium soy candles was inspired by “our fond trips around the beautiful USA.” “We wanted to translate that beauty into complex fragrances, creating moments of beauty and joy inspired by coastal living,” says Stacy Miller, founder.

“Each candle label is embossed with our signature seaweed with a name to complement the scent. Each has an eco-friendly seeded dust cover that can be planted for blooms,” she says.

The company’s new premium soy candles have an improved look and feel,