Short answer
Choose a heat-tested jar and the lid made for it, then test-burn your wax, wick and fragrance in that exact jar before you order in volume. Brand the jar by run size: direct UV printing for samples and short runs, screen printing or labels for long runs. Add burn instructions and safety warnings, then pack in boxes or tins made to the finished candle.
The stages
Wax, wick & fragrance
The burn depends on all three together. Some jar suppliers also sell wax and wicks.
Candle suppliers ›Jar & lid
Heat-tested glass or tins, with a lid sized to the jar.
Jars & lids ›Test burns
Burn finished candles in the real jar before any big order.
Branding
Direct UV on the glass for short runs, screen printing or labels at volume.
Printing methods ›Packaging
Rigid boxes or printed tins for gifting, mailers for online orders.
Find Packaging ›
Choose a jar made for heat
A candle jar heats up as it burns, so ask for glass the maker has tested for candles. Ask every supplier what testing their jars have had; ASTM F2179 is one standard used for candle containers. Buy the lid from the same supplier, or test the fit before you order: a lid that is a millimetre out ruins a gift set.
In the UAE, Candlestart sells jars, lids, tins, wicks and wax, and says it has no minimum order; Harfaah sells jars with bamboo lids by the carton.
Test-burn before you scale
Burn several finished candles in the real jar, with the real wax, wick and fragrance load, from lighting to the end. Watch for tunnelling, a flame that is too high, soot on the glass and how hot the jar gets. Change one thing at a time. Most jar and wick suppliers can advise on wick size for a jar's diameter.
Brand the jar
| Run | Usual method | Where to look |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to a few hundred, or names | Direct UV printing on the glass, empty or filled | Print here ↗ |
| Thousands, same design | Screen printing on glass | Screen printing |
| Scents that change | A printed jar plus a small scent label | Label printers |
Safety information on every candle
Put burning instructions and safety warnings on the candle or its pack: never leave it unattended, keep it away from children, pets and anything that can catch fire, trim the wick, and stop burning before the wax runs out. Ask your supplier, or a testing lab, which standards and labelling apply to candles sold in the UAE before you print a large run.
Packaging
Rigid boxes suit gift candles; printed tins from EMIC suit travel and gift sizes; mailer boxes from Al Mufeed suit online orders. Size every box to the finished candle with its lid on.
“Print here” links go to Sun Studio Dubai, a related business.
Production checklist
- Jar, lid and wick chosen and test-burned together.
- Fill height and weight fixed, so labels and boxes can be sized.
- Artwork measured on the real jar, with the print area marked.
- Safety and burn instructions written and placed.
- First order and reorder quantities for jars, lids, wicks and boxes.
Questions to ask suppliers
- Is this jar tested for candles? To what temperature or standard?
- Which lid fits this jar exactly? Is it in stock?
- Which wick size do you suggest for this diameter and wax?
- Do you sell by the piece or by the carton? What is in a carton?
- Can I get a printed sample on my jar before the run?