Treat the candle as a complete configuration
CBI’s candle market study describes candles as functional and decorative home products. For procurement, the important unit is the complete configuration: wax formulation, fragrance, colour, wick, container and any lid. A visually similar jar does not show whether the internal specification is the same. Use this guide to frame supplier questions and review evidence; it does not certify a candle or report a customer transaction.
Freeze the specification before requesting competing prices
Record the intended fill weight, container dimensions, material, colour, lid construction, fragrance reference and packaging format. Ask the seller to distinguish gross product weight from wax fill weight. Request the proposed wax description and wick specification for this configuration. If fragrances or vessel sizes vary within a range, identify every variant separately. Ask which changes require new sampling. A fragrance name alone is not an approval reference: agree how the actual approved scent sample will be identified and retained.
Use a sample-review matrix rather than a single yes or no
Separate appearance, fragrance preference, workmanship and evidence of safe performance. Record fill consistency, visible surface defects, lid fit, label placement and the condition of the vessel after handling. Obtain representative samples of each configuration that will be ordered. Burning characteristics and safety assessment require an agreed procedure and competent evaluation; a quick personal burn is not a substitute for applicable testing. Ask the supplier for the exact sample identity, test scope and report date, and confirm destination-specific requirements with an appropriate qualified provider.
Control formula and component changes
Agree that substitutions to the wax, fragrance, wick, container or colour are disclosed before production. Establish a revision reference for the approved combination. Ask how the supplier traces component batches to finished cartons and handles retained production samples. A generic statement such as same quality is not an adequate description of a replacement component. For repeat orders, compare the proposed specification with the previous approved record, not just the catalogue SKU. This is especially useful when a label design remains the same while an internal component has changed.
Review label artwork and shipment conditions together
Have the responsible buyer or qualified adviser review mandatory warnings, language and chemical or safety information applicable to the specific product and destination. Do not copy a competitor’s label as proof of compliance. Ask the supplier to propose protection for the jar, lid and surface finish, and describe handling or storage limitations for the actual product. Discuss the transport route and likely temperature exposure with the logistics provider. Obtain carton counts, dimensions, weights and marking details before comparing freight options. This checklist does not provide a universal temperature limit or guarantee that a chosen route will avoid damage.
RFQ template and acceptance record
RFQ: [container drawing and finish]; [wax description and fill weight]; [fragrance approval reference]; [wick proposal]; [lid]; [variant quantities]; [artwork and label-review responsibilities]; [sample/test requirements]; [retail and transit packing]; [delivery location]. Request separate sample, development, product, packing and logistics quotations. Before production, retain the approved sample references and artwork revision, agree change notification, and identify what inspection records will accompany the shipment. These controls make a supplier comparison more useful than a price table alone.