CandleScience
CandleScience is a privately held e-commerce supplier of candle and soap making materials, serving over 500,000 hobbyist and small-business makers with 300+ fragrance oils, proprietary wax blends, the CleanScents safety program, and the EcoBase multi-format fragrance system.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2005
- HeadquartersDurham, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What CandleScience does
CandleScience Inc. is a private, US-based e-commerce company founded in 2004 and headquartered in Durham, North Carolina, that develops, formulates, tests, and distributes wholesale candle making and soap making supplies. Its product portfolio spans 300+ fragrance oils, candle waxes (soy, paraffin, coconut, beeswax, and proprietary SimplySoy Artisan Wax), candle wicks, containers and molds, soap making bases and cosmetic ingredients, reed diffusers, room and linen sprays, and DIY kits. Differentiated technology assets include the CleanScents program (fragrances avoiding carcinogens, mutagens, phthalates, and California Prop 65 listed ingredients), the EcoBase proprietary fragrance base system enabling a single fragrance to be deployed across multiple product formats, the 3-Leaf Soy Wax Performance Scale, and an in-house lab that conducts performance and safety testing against RIFM and IFRA standards.
The company serves hobbyists, crafters, and small-business entrepreneurs through a self-serve, content-led e-commerce model at candlescience.com, complemented by a physical Durham showroom and a wholesale/bulk pricing program with tiered volume discounts. Revenue is generated primarily through transactional product sales (one-time purchases of fragrance oils, wax, containers, equipment, and kits priced $3-$75 per item) plus the ScentSociety tiered loyalty program that incentivizes repeat purchases. The go-to-market strategy emphasizes educational content, learning resources, business guides, and SEO-driven discovery tools to attract and retain a long-tail maker community that the company reports exceeds 500,000 customers over its 20+ year history. The company is privately held with no disclosed investors, funding rounds, or revenue figures, and is described as founder-owned or closely held.
CandleScience firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CandleScience
- Legal name
- CandleScience Inc.
- Website
- https://candlescience.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2005
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- CandleScience is a privately held e-commerce supplier of candle and soap making materials, serving over 500,000 hobbyist and small-business makers with 300+ fragrance oils, proprietary wax blends, the CleanScents safety program, and the EcoBase multi-format fragrance system.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CandleScience industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Candle Making Supplies
- SIC
- Perfumes, Cosmetics & Other Toilet Preparations (2844)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Candles, Home Fragrance & Diffusers Retail (CRAIACAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Home Fragrance (Candles, Diffusers, Room Sprays) (CRABADAE)
Keywords
Where CandleScience is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Durham
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
CandleScience business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Product Sales: Direct-to-consumer and B2B sales of candle making supplies including fragrance oils, wax, containers, wicks, equipment, and kits. Products sold in various sizes from sample (1 oz) to bulk (5 lb jugs, 25 lb pails).
- Wholesale and Volume Orders: Volume discounts: 10% off 6+ jugs and 15% off 12+ jugs of 5 lb fragrance oils. Backorder option for 25 lb fragrance oil pails. Wholesale pricing available for all customers.
- ScentSociety Rewards Program: Loyalty rewards program where members earn points on purchases (based on order subtotal). Points redeemable for discounts ($5, $10, $15, $25 off). Tiered membership with Member, Artisan (500 points/year), and Luminary (2000 points/year) levels.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard Fragrance Oils - $3.19 to $3.99+ per 1 oz |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Volume/Wholesale Pricing |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | DIY Kits with Free Shipping |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
CandleScience product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CandleScience is an e-commerce business that develops, designs, tests, and distributes wholesale candle making and soap making supplies. Its product catalog spans over 300 fragrance oils, candle waxes (soy, paraffin, coconut, beeswax), wicks, containers, molds, soap bases, reed diffusers, room and linen sprays, DIY kits, and fine fragrance components, sold directly to makers and small businesses via candlescience.com and a Durham, NC showroom.
Product overview
CandleScience is America's leading candle making supplier offering a comprehensive, multi-category product ecosystem centered on fragrance oils and candle making supplies. The core portfolio spans fragrance oils (300+ formulations including Fine Fragrance and CleanScent lines), candle waxes (soy, paraffin, coconut, beeswax, and blends), candle wicks, containers, molds, and equipment. The company has expanded into adjacent craft categories including soap making supplies (melt & pour bases, cosmetic bases, colorants), flameless home fragrance (reed diffusers, room sprays, wax melts), and a Fine Fragrance system (EcoBase™ formulation bases, perfume bottles, pumps/sprayers). Seasonal collection-building tools like the Winter Collection Studio enable makers to create cohesive product lines. A loyalty program (ScentSociety) and wholesale/bulk pricing structure serve both hobbyists and business customers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- CleanScents: CleanScents is CandleScience's transparency program for fragrances that avoid carcinogens, mutagens, phthalates, and California Prop 65 listed toxins.
- EcoBase
- SimplySoy
- ScentSociety
Products and services
- CandleScience Fragrance Oils Over 300 phthalate-free fragrance oils formulated and tested for exceptional performance in soy and natural wax candles, including candle fragrances, soap fragrances, and BlendingElements single-note oils for custom blending. Sold in sample to bulk sizes for candle and soap makers.
- Fine Fragrance Oils Eight sophisticated fine fragrance scents (Alchemy, Azura, Fleurette, Nocturna, Sirocco, Solace, Solaia, Tideglass) designed for personal care applications including fine perfumes, body mists, colognes, and skin-safe formats.
- EcoBase Fragrance Base System Proprietary formulation system including Fine Fragrance Base (water-based), Perfume Oil Base (oil-based), and Room & Linen Spray Base (alcohol-based), enabling makers to create multiple product formats from the same fragrance.
- Candle Wax (Soy, Paraffin, Coconut, Beeswax) Comprehensive selection of candle waxes including SimplySoy Artisan Wax, Coconut Apricot Wax, Golden Brands Soy Waxes (464, 444, 415, 454), EcoSoya waxes, IGI paraffin-soy blends, CocoSol Soy Pillar Wax, and beeswax, for container candles, pillars, votives, and tarts.
- Candle Wicks Pre-tabbed and spooled candle wicks including Aroma-Lite Series, CD Series, ECO Series, and LX Series, designed for various container types and wax formulations.
- Candle Containers Wide range of candle jars and containers including Modern Ceramic Tumblers, Sonoma Tumblers, Holiday Jars, Candle Tins, Tealight Cups, and specialty shapes like Tiered Glass Tree Jars and Gatsby Reed Diffuser Bottles.
- Candle Molds Molds for creating pillar candles, votives, and tarts including Seamless Pillar Molds, Flared Votive Molds, and Tart Molds.
- Soap Making Supplies Complete soap making supplies including Melt & Pour Bases (Goat's Milk, HCVS Clear), Cosmetic Bases (Bubble Bath, Lotion, Shampoo Bar, Foaming Bath Butter), Soap Molds, Soap Colorants (Micas), and Additives.
- Reed Diffuser Supplies Reed diffusers including EcoBase Diffuser Solution, Reed Diffuser Bottles in various styles (Gatsby, Square, Cube), decorative Reed Diffuser Sticks, and complete DIY kits.
- Room and Linen Spray Flameless fragrance products including room and linen spray bases and concentrates for creating ambient scenting products.
- Wax Melts and Tarts Flameless candle alternatives including wax melts and tarts for heat-free home fragrance.
- Candle Making Kits DIY candle making kits including SimplySoy Starter+ Kit, Colorburst Reed Diffuser Kit, Noir Reed Diffuser Kit, and various themed kits for beginners and businesses, with free shipping.
- Fragrance Flights Curated discovery kits of eight 1 oz fragrance oils for candle making, soap making, and home fragrance at discounted prices, including themed collections like Gathered Season, In Bloom, and Summer Bliss.
- Fine Fragrance Packaging Glass perfume bottles in frosted, matte black, and amber finishes; coordinating pumps, sprayers, and fine mist sprayers for personal fragrance products.
Quantifiable outcome
- Trusted by 500K+ makers
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use CandleScience
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
CandleScience technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
CandleScience partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- Avery WePrint LabelsminorOfficial partner for label printing services. Avery WePrint integration allows makers to print professional labels for their candle and soap products.
- Flush PackagingminorOfficial partner for packaging solutions. Flush Packaging collection offers shipping and packaging options for candle makers.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves3 records
Expansion highlights5 records
CandleScience competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Bramble Berry: Bramble Berry is a leading direct-to-consumer supplier of soap making and candle making supplies, including fragrance oils, waxes, molds, and colorants. It is the closest direct competitor to CandleScience in the craft fragrance and home fragrance supplies category.
- Rustic Escentuals: Rustic Escentuals focuses on fragrance oils for candles, soap, and personal care, with comparable product catalog. Smaller but directly overlapping supplier in the craft fragrance space.
- Candles and Supplies: Candles and Supplies is a candle making supplier offering fragrance oils, waxes, wicks, and containers to small businesses and hobbyists. Direct competitor in the same product category and customer segment.
- Nature's Garden: Nature's Garden supplies candle and soap making fragrance oils, wax, and bases with extensive free recipe resources. Directly comparable category, customer base (hobbyists and small candle businesses), and product-led education model.
- The Flaming Candle: The Flaming Candle is a direct competitor in candle making supplies, selling fragrance oils, wicks, wax, and containers to hobbyists and small candle makers. Comparable product catalog and target customer segments.
- Wholesale Supplies Plus: Wholesale Supplies Plus is a direct competitor offering soap, candle, and cosmetic making supplies including fragrance oils, waxes, and bases to both hobbyists and small businesses. Comparable product catalog and B2B/wholesale go-to-market model.
Others
- Lonza (Capsules & Health Ingredients): Lonza supplies specialty ingredients including cosmetic and personal-care formulation bases. Relevant as a potential upstream supplier or competitor in the cosmetic bases segment where CandleScience competes via EcoBase.
Emerging players
- Making Cosmetics: Making Cosmetics supplies ingredients, bases, and fragrance oils for cosmetic and personal care formulation. Comparable insofar as it competes in CandleScience's personal care/cosmetic base and EcoBase fine fragrance expansion territory.
Broad incumbents
- JOANN: JOANN is a national craft retailer offering candle making, soap making, and general craft supplies. Overlaps with CandleScience's hobbyist customer base and competes for the same discretionary craft spending.
- Michaels Companies: Michaels is a large general hobby/craft retailer carrying candle making supplies, soap making supplies, and fragrance oils. Competes via broad assortment and physical footprint rather than specialty depth; potential category-cannibalizing threat.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
CandleScience social profiles
Digital presenceCandleScience financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CandleScience leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
CandleScience funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CandleScience M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about CandleScience
What does CandleScience do?
CandleScience is an e-commerce business that develops, designs, tests, and distributes wholesale candle making and soap making supplies. Its product catalog spans over 300 fragrance oils, candle waxes (soy, paraffin, coconut, beeswax), wicks, containers, molds, soap bases, reed diffusers, room and linen sprays, DIY kits, and fine fragrance components, sold directly to makers and small businesses via candlescience.com and a Durham, NC showroom.
Is CandleScience a public or private company?
CandleScience is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was CandleScience founded?
CandleScience was founded in 2005. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is CandleScience based?
CandleScience is headquartered in Durham, United States, in the North America region.
How does CandleScience make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are wholesale and Volume Orders and scentSociety Rewards Program.
Who are CandleScience's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Bramble Berry, Rustic Escentuals, Candles and Supplies, Nature's Garden, The Flaming Candle and Wholesale Supplies Plus. Lonza (Capsules & Health Ingredients) is listed as an others. Making Cosmetics is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are JOANN and Michaels Companies.
Does CandleScience have an API?
No public API is recorded for CandleScience.
What industry is CandleScience in?
CandleScience's product category is Candle Making Supplies. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAIACAC, Candles, Home Fragrance & Diffusers Retail, with a secondary code of CRABADAE, Home Fragrance (Candles, Diffusers, Room Sprays). Its SIC code is 2844.