Custom Candle Labels

Choosing a Material for Custom Candle Labels

Paper labels are the most affordable and suit candles with a natural, handcrafted feel. Uncoated textured papers look especially good on amber glass. They are less resistant to oil and wax, so they work best away from the rim. Vinyl labels are tougher, resist moisture and oil, and stay neat if wax drips down the side. Clear film labels give a no-label look, with only the text and logo visible on the glass, which suits minimalist brands.

Heat matters too. The upper part of a candle jar gets warm as the candle burns down, so the label adhesive needs to cope with that without peeling or bubbling. We use adhesives suited to candle vessels and recommend positioning labels a little below the rim where heat is highest.

If you pour candles in coloured or frosted glass, test your label on the actual jar. A white vinyl label looks crisp on frosted glass, while a clear label can disappear against it. On dark glass, a metallic or white label usually reads best. p2 The material choice mirrors the one on our product labels for retail packaging page.

• Textured paper for a handcrafted look
• White vinyl for durability and bright colour
• Clear film for a minimal, printed-on-glass effect
• Metallic or kraft-look papers for a premium touch

Sizing Labels for Your Vessel

For a wraparound label, measure the circumference of the jar with a strip of paper or a tape measure, and the straight height where the label will sit. Subtract a few millimetres from the height so the label does not touch the curve at the top or base. If you want a gap between the two ends rather than an overlap, subtract that gap from the circumference.

For a front label, measure the flat area you want to cover and leave a margin on every side. For tins, measure the inner flat area of the lid, not the outer rim. If your vessel tapers, send us a photo and the top and bottom diameters, and we will cut a curved label that sits flat.

Allow for the seam on glass tumblers too. Many jars have a faint mould line running down two sides, and a label that crosses it can lift slightly at the edge. Positioning the label between the seams, or choosing a slightly more flexible vinyl, avoids this. p2 The guide to measuring a product explains circumference and taper for round items.

Designing the Scent Range

Most candle brands keep one master design and change the scent name and an accent colour per fragrance. This makes the range look unified on a shelf while letting customers pick out their favourite at a glance. Some use a different illustration per scent, such as a sprig of lavender, a citrus slice or a wave, printed in one or two colours for a clean look.

Gold or copper foil on the brand name catches the light beautifully on glass. Embossing gives texture on paper labels. A matt varnish keeps the look soft and stops reflections in product photos.

Keep the scent name large enough to read from arm's length. Shoppers browsing a candle table scan quickly, and a scent they can read without picking up the jar is more likely to be smelled, and then bought. p2 Gold foil on glass is shown on our embossed and foiled labels page.

Roll or Sheet Labels

Labels on rolls suit candle makers using a label applicator or labelling large batches by hand, because they peel off quickly one after another. Sheet labels suit small batches and makers who label at the kitchen table. Both can be printed in the same designs, and we can split one order across several scent designs.

If you also need warning labels in a set format, or a separate label for wax melts, we can print those alongside your candle labels. Ordering all your labels together keeps colours consistent across products. p1 Warning labels in a fixed format can be ordered as roll labels for small products in the same job.

Wrap a Paper Strip Round the Jar and Mark the Seams

A candle label is sized from the jar, so wrap a strip of paper round the vessel where the label will sit and mark where the ends meet; that is the circumference. Mark the mould seams on the strip too, because a label that crosses a seam lifts at the edge, and say if the ends should overlap or leave a gap. Straight height comes last, measured between the curves at rim and base.

Decide paper, vinyl or clear film by the vessel: paper on amber glass, vinyl where wax may drip, clear on frosted or dark glass only after a test. Send the number of scent designs too, since one order can be split across them. The custom quote arrives by email within one working day, with the minimum set per job.

The free proof shows each label at real size. After approval, printing takes 4 to 7 working days and the rolls or sheets reach UK mainland addresses by free tracked delivery. We print the safety wording you supply without checking it, so confirm it with your adviser. Makers who label wax melts too often add small boxes for wax melts in the same print.