How to Sell Print-on-Demand Candles on Shopify (2025)

Candles are more than just a home accessory—they're a booming business opportunity, especially in the world of personalized products. With print-on-demand candles, you can create and sell custom products without worrying about inventory or upfront costs.

While many entrepreneurs sell print-on-demand candles on platforms like Etsy, Shopify stands out as the ideal platform for long-term growth.

Shopify simplifies this process by giving you the tools to build, manage, and grow your business. In this guide, we’ll show you how to launch a successful print-on-demand candle store on Shopify, covering everything from A to Z.

Why print-on-demand candles?

If you’re considering starting an online candle business, print-on-demand (POD) is one of the easiest and most efficient ways. Here’s why:

No upfront inventory

One of the biggest hurdles for any new business is inventory management. With the print-on-demand model itself, you don’t need to buy or store candles in advance.

You only create products as customers order them, reducing financial risks and storage issues. The POD candle model allows you to customize every element of the products – from the label design to the scents – ensuring your products are unique and tailored to your audience.

A popular choice for gifts and home décor

Candles have evolved beyond being functional items. They are now a beautiful addition to interior design and a thoughtful gift choice. The demand for candles is growing, and the demand for customized products is also rising incredibly, indicating the potential for personalized candles to thrive.

Deloitte research shows that 76% of consumers are willing to pay more for custom furniture, and 77% for personalized accessories and jewelry. Additionally, the global candle market, valued at $12.88 billion in 2022, is expected to grow at a 5.7% CAGR from 2023 onward.

Source: kickflip

As a POD seller, offering customization can help your products stand out in a competitive print-on-demand market.

Unlike other POD products, candles offer massive opportunitites for personalization. The demand now goes beyond basic designs, to include scents, ingredients, and packaging. Print on demand candles can directly influence customer satisfaction, as these factors impact performance and sensory appeal—something that’s harder to achieve with fashion products like t-shirts.

Scents

Along with visual designs, the best print on demand candles offer a wide range of fragrance options. Each scent can also be personalized to fit the individual’s personality or the occasion's significance. For example:

• Lavender, a calming, soothing scent for relaxation or stress relief, is ideal for wellness-focused customers or as a thoughtful gift for someone in need of tranquility.
• Citrus scents like lemon or grapefruit evoke energy and positivity, making them perfect for people looking to brighten their spaces or uplift their mood.
• Vanilla is a comforting and nostalgic scent, often associated with warmth and home, making it a great choice for cozy home decor enthusiasts or as a welcoming gift.
• Aromatherapy scents like eucalyptus or chamomile can be marketed to wellness—or spa-focused consumers who are looking for stress relief or mood enhancement.
• Custom blends can be tailored for special events like weddings, they're personalized to reflect the couple’s preferences.

Source: Taste of Home

Wax types

Wax type is an important factor affecting buying decisions. There are many choices, different waxes offer distinct benefits that appeal to various customer values:

• Soy wax: A top choice for eco-friendly customers, soy wax burns cleanly, lasts a long time, and is biodegradable. Many brands use soy wax to attract people who want natural and sustainable products.
• Beeswax: Known for its gentle honey scent and longer burn time, beeswax candles attract customers who want a high-quality, natural option. However, since beeswax isn’t vegan, it’s not always ideal for eco-conscious buyers who avoid animal products.
• Coconut-soy blends: This is a newer, trendy option because it burns smoothly, is fully plant-based, and holds scents well. Many high-end brands use coconut-soy blends for a luxurious feel and natural appeal.
• Paraffin wax: Paraffin candles are known for vibrant colors and strong scents, making them ideal for buyers looking for bold, affordable candles. However, due to its petroleum base, paraffin is less popular among those who prefer eco-friendly products.

Source: EPHEMERE

Jar styles

Beyond function, packaging can elevate the perceived value of the candle:

• Luxury glass jars give a sophisticated, elegant feel, attracting buyers who want candles as decor pieces.
• Ceramic jars provide a premium, artistic look and retain heat well, which is ideal for eco-conscious buyers seeking durable, stylish packaging.
• Rustic tins appeals to customers seeking a vintage, minimalist look, ideal for gifting or travel.
• Eco-friendly packaging made from recycled materials or refillable containers resonates with sustainability-focused consumers.

Offering customizable scents, wax types, and stylish packaging helps you cater to niche markets and create a product that aligns with customer preferences, further setting your POD candles apart from competitors.

Source: SandGlowScents

Easy to Start

As mentioned above, the print-on-demand model makes starting a business easy because you don’t need to worry about inventory or production.

For print-on-demand candles, it’s even simpler. With suitable suppliers and a friendly eCommerce platform, you just design your products, and they handle the rest—production, shipping, and fulfillment. You can start quickly with little effort or experience.

Why choose Shopify for your print-on-demand candle store?

When selling print-on-demand products, choosing the right platform can make or break your business.

And Shopify stands out as the best option for several reasons:

Build your brand

Shopify is not just a place to sell products; the platform gives you full control over your brand. You can design your store’s look, create a unique shopping experience, and build a loyal customer base.

With Shopify, your brand isn’t just another listing in a crowded marketplace. Shopify is a comprehensive online business. This means you can customize everything from your website’s layout to the checkout process, offering a personalized shopping journey that builds loyalty.

You aren’t just another product listing on Shopify; you’re crafting a unique online business with your own identity.

Customizable and convertible storefront

Shopify’s customizable themes make it easy to create an attractive and inviting online candle store. You can tailor layouts, colors, and design elements to reflect your brand’s identity, ensuring a cohesive look across all selling channels.

Showcase unique details like candle jars, scents, and eco-friendly packaging to capture shoppers’ attention and enhance your brand’s appeal.

Beyond aesthetics, Shopify provides powerful tools for growth. Its built-in SEO, email marketing, and analytics tools allow you to optimize your store for search engines using relevant keywords like “custom candles” or “eco-friendly candles.”

This not only boosts search rankings but also helps attract organic traffic. With Shopify, you have everything you need to build a strong, recognizable candle brand and reach more customers across multiple channels.

🚀 You might want to read: How to Build a High-converting Shopify Homepage

Multi-channel selling

Shopify allows you to reach your target audience on different channels such as Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and Google. In practice, you can create shoppable posts on Instagram (like advertising posts with the Buy button) or sell directly through Facebook Shop, allowing customers to purchase your customized candles without leaving their favorite apps.

Source: Raffle Press

Marketplace integration

Additionally, Shopify's integrations with Amazon and eBay allow you to expand your POD candle business into these major marketplaces while keeping complete control over branding, inventory, and pricing.

You can sync your Shopify inventory with Amazon or eBay, automating listings and order management. This ensures you tap into their large customer bases without sacrificing your brand identity or packaging, unlike typical third-party sellers.

Easy integrations

Shopify can do much more than just connect with sales channels.

Shopify offers seamless integrations with leading POD candle apps and platforms like Printful, Printify, Candle Builders, and Gooten. These suppliers allow you to streamline operations from product creation to fulfillment and shipping.

Thanks to the Shopify partner system, you can focus on growing your brand. The ease of connecting with these suppliers means you can start selling quickly without worrying about production logistics.

Scalability

As your business grows, Shopify grows with you. From SMBs to large-scale operations, Shopify provides the suitable solutions.

Shopify’s built-in marketing tools, automation options, and comprehensive analytics help you manage and grow your candle business effectively.

Brands like Brooklyn Candle Studio have successfully scaled using Shopify. For instance, Brooklyn Candle Studio started as a small artisan candle brand and, thanks to Shopify’s scalability, now sells internationally with a fully integrated online store.

👉 See the case study on How Shopify helps Brooklyn Candle Studio scale globally.

Source: Brooklyn Candle Studio

📚 Further Reading:

• How to Launch a Thriving Print on Demand Stickers Business on Shopify
• The Ultimate Guideline to Start a Print on Demand Jewelry Business on Shopify
• 6 Challenges of Selling Print on Demand Hats and How to Overcome them

Why Shopify over Etsy for print-on-demand candles?

While Etsy is a popular marketplace for handmade and custom items like print-on-demand candles, it presents challenges for scaling and personalization: 

Source: PixelCut

Selling print on demand candles on Etsy and Shopify is all excellent, but they serve different purposes. Etsy is great for starting and leveraging its built-in audience, ideal for smaller sellers testing the market. However, Etsy's limitations in branding, customer engagement, and rising fees as you scale can make it challenging for long-term growth.

Shopify, on the other hand, is the better choice when you’re ready to scale and take full control of your brand and operations. Its customization options, cost efficiency, and scalability make it perfect for growing your print-on-demand candle business.

For the best results, consider using both platforms—Etsy to gain initial exposure and traffic, and Shopify to scale your business, build brand loyalty, and manage operations efficiently.

How to start your Shopify print-on-demand candle store

Starting a print-on-demand candle store on Shopify is straightforward, but ensuring its success requires thoughtful planning and execution.

Here, we’ll walk you through the key steps with insights and expert tips to help you create a professional, scalable business that stands out in a competitive market.

Find the best print on demand candle suppliers

Choosing the right supplier is one of the most critical decisions for your print-on-demand candle business. The quality of your products, shipping times, and customization options depend mainly on the supplier you choose.

Here are some of the top suppliers that integrate seamlessly with Shopify:

Printful

Appearing again as one of the top suppliers of print-on-demand categories, Printful offers sellers an extensive range of products, including candles.

Source: Printful

Known for its high-quality products and reliable fulfillment, Printful is the leading option for print on demand candles and offers a wide range of other customizable items. Printful has global fulfillment centers, ensuring fast delivery times for customers across the world.

Pros:

• High quality: Well-known for top-quality products and professional packaging.
• Global fulfillment: Multiple fulfillment centers, offering fast shipping worldwide.
• Shopify integration: Direct, seamless integration with Shopify for easy store setup.

Cons:

• Higher costs: Printful's premium services come with a higher price tag.
• Limited candle options: Fewer candle varieties compared to niche suppliers.

Printify

Printify is a leading global print-on-demand supplier, known for its customizable products, competitive pricing, and seamless integration with Shopify. What sets Printify apart, especially for POD candles, is the diversity of options they provide compared to other suppliers like Printful.

Source: Printify

With Printify, sellers can offer both scented and unscented candles, with a wide variety of fragrances based on the specific provider. For example, Lumient offers scents like cinnamon vanilla, clean cotton, apple harvest, and sea salt, while The Print Mint features fragrances such as lavender, midnight blackberry, mango coconut, and cashmere musk, catering to different customer preferences and jar styles.

Source: Printify

In addition, most candles available through Printify are made with eco-friendly, non-toxic ingredients, and come in reusable glass vessels. This makes them ideal for vegan and eco-conscious customers, adding an extra layer of appeal to a growing market focused on sustainability.

Pros:

• Supplier variety: Multiple suppliers offer flexibility in pricing, quality, and shipping times.
• Cost-effective: Allows you to choose budget-friendly options without sacrificing customization.
• Scalable: This can easily grow with your business thanks to its supplier network.

Cons:

• Inconsistent quality: Product quality and shipping time may have inconsistent product quality, sometimes different shipping times across different suppliers.

Candle Builders

Candle Builders specializes in customizable candles, offering high-quality wax and diverse print on demand scented candle options. They allow you to create custom labels and packaging, giving you more control over the branding of your products, which is crucial for premium or personalized candles.

Become a specialist in the field Candle Builder offers high-quality ingredients like soy, beeswax, and paraffin wax options. And also among all of the print-on-demand candle suppliers, Candles Builders has the widest range of scents that you can choose for your products: Confort spice, vanilla, sea breeze, pink grapefruit, spiced pumpkin ginger, fresh balsam, Eucalyptus Lavender Herb, etc.

Source: Candle Builders

Pros:

• Candle experts: They specialize in print on demand scented candles and offer a wide range of wax types and scents.
• Full customization: High-quality custom labels and packaging to differentiate your brand.
• Premium products: Uses top-tier materials for candles, ensuring a superior product.

Cons:

• Limited integration: Shopify integration exists but may require more manual setup.
• Higher order minimums: This may require larger orders for certain customizations.

Gooten

Gooten offers a diverse range of print-on-demand products, including candles, and is recognized for its reliable global fulfillment network. Gooten’s international network allows for efficient shipping and fulfillment, making it a strong choice for sellers looking to expand globally.

What sets Gooten apart is their quality control process. They partner with vetted manufacturers to ensure consistency in product quality, even as you scale internationally. This is particularly beneficial for POD candle sellers who want to maintain high standards while reaching customers across different regions.

Additionally, Gooten’s platform integrates seamlessly with Shopify, providing automation for inventory management, order processing, and shipping, allowing you to focus on growing your business.

Source: Gooten

Pros:

• Global network: Wide-reaching suppliers for international shipping.
• Affordable pricing: Competitive pricing compared to other POD suppliers.
• Diverse product range: Offers additional products if you want to expand beyond candles.

Cons:

• Basic customization: Fewer advanced customization options compared to specialized suppliers.
• Quality variations: Product quality can change depending on the supplier.

🧐 Expert Tip: Match your supplier choice to your business goals. If you're aiming for high-end custom candles, Candle Builders may be the best fit. For broader product options and scalability, Printify or Printful could offer more flexibility. Always test samples to ensure quality before committing.

Design your candles

Personalization is the key to standing out in the POD candle market. Shopify makes it easy to create a wide range of customizable options that appeal to different customers.

Create appealing labels

Labels are the first thing your customers see, so they must align with your brand’s identity. Whether you’re aiming for a minimalist aesthetic or bold, colorful designs, the label should reflect your brand values.

Beautiful labels from print on demand scented candle collection of Gooten - Source: Gooten

Use tools like Canva or work with professional designers to create high-quality visuals that leave a lasting impression.

Offer diverse scent options

The scent is a major selling point for candles.

Offering a variety of print-on-demand scented candles allows you to target different customer preferences, from calming lavender for relaxation to energizing citrus scents.

Different scents offered by Candle Builders - Source: Candle Builders

Research current trends in fragrance preferences to tailor your product offerings.

Choose a suitable packaging

Beyond the candle, the print on demand your packaging speaks volumes about your brand.

Consider eco-friendly packaging options or luxurious boxes that enhance the unboxing experience.

Remember, a memorable presentation can turn a one-time buyer into a repeat customer.

👀 Learn from the best: Top 25 Candle Stores in Shopify

🧐 Expert Tip: Offer limited-edition or seasonal candles (e.g., holiday-themed scents or packaging) to create urgency and increase demand. These exclusive releases can boost sales during key shopping periods like Christmas or Valentine’s Day.

📚 You might also like:

• Top 6 Best Print on Demand Apps for Your Shopify Store
• 5 Best Amazon Dropshipping Suppliers
• 7 Best Dropshipping Suppliers in the USA

Promote your print on demand candles

Build your store

As mentioned earlier, we highly recommend creating your storefront to showcase your candles. For long-term success, it's crucial to build a brand with a strong identity from the beginning. Once your products gain popularity, customers will remember your brand, not just the marketplace they found you on.

Shopify makes it easy to manage every aspect of your business, from product listings to customer interactions. Launch your Shopify store today and start building your unique print-on-demand candle brand.

👀 Need help getting started? Check out our playlist on setting up your Shopify store for detailed instructions.

🎁 Don't have a Shopify account yet? Sign up with us and unlock exclusive deals to get your business off to a great start!

Looking to create a stunning storefront effortlessly? Try Foxify - The Shopify Page Builder!

Why Foxify is perfect for you:

• No coding or web design experience is needed. With Foxify, it's as simple as dragging and dropping elements, then selecting your brand colors.
• High-converting, ready-to-use templates. Foxify offers an extensive collection of professionally designed templates so you can build your print-on-demand candle website in just a few days.
• Boost sales with 40+ upsell and cross-sell features. These powerful extensions help increase your average order value and optimize conversions.
• Advanced reporting and analytics. Easily track your store's performance to make data-driven decisions.
• Effortless localization. Foxify's "magic" translation feature enables you to customize your content for different markets.

Try Foxify for and unlock your print on demand candle storefront today. Click on the banner not to miss our hot discount!

Once your Shopify store is set up, the next crucial step is getting your products in front of potential customers.

Optimize your store

Optimize your store using SEO tips to enhance your visibility on search engines like Google. Here are some practical tips that will help you improve your SEO.

• Optimize product titles and descriptions.

Incorporate relevant, high-traffic keywords like "custom candles," "scented candles," or "personalized candles" into your product titles, descriptions, and meta tags. For example, instead of just "Lavender Candle," use "Custom Lavender Scented Candle – Perfect Personalized Gift". This will help increase your chances of ranking higher in search results and driving more organic traffic.

• Use high-quality images with alt text.

Add descriptive, keyword-rich alt text to every product image. For instance, for a custom candle, your alt text could read: "Eco-friendly lavender-scented custom candle in a reusable glass jar." This not only boosts your visibility in image searches but also enhances your SEO ranking.

• Improve site speed

A faster website leads to better search engine rankings. Use Shopify's lightweight, mobile-friendly themes, and optimize your page load times by compressing images and minimizing JavaScript and CSS files. You can use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to monitor and improve your site’s speed.

• Organize your site structure

Ensure your website’s navigation is easy to follow. Use clean, keyword-optimized URLs such as "yourstore.com/custom-scented-candles" instead of vague URLs like "yourstore.com/product123." This makes it easier for search engines to crawl and index your site, helping you rank higher for specific search queries.

📚 Further Reading:

• A 5-Step Guide to Shopify Optimization to Unleash Your Store's Power
• Shopify Page Speed Optimization Hacks: The Lies They Tell You
• Ultimate Guide to Shopify Image Sizes
• How to Boost Mobile Optimization for Your Shopify Store
• Best eCommerce SEO Audit Checklist: 12 Important Factors

Shopify’s platform has essential SEO tools that allow you to optimize your store more easily. For example:

• Blog: Use Shopify’s built-in blog to write content around topics like candle care, home décor tips, or holiday gift guides, improving your site’s keyword relevance and search rankings.

Source: Shopify

• Google Analytics Integration: Integrate Google Analytics into your store to gain valuable insights into user behavior. By analyzing key metrics such as page views and conversion rates, you can fine-tune your SEO strategy and optimize your marketing efforts to enhance visibility and drive sales.

🎁 Expert Tip: Consider using SEO-optimized themes for improved results.

Minimog theme is an excellent choice for entrepreneurs seeking to optimize their Shopify store for better SEO performance while having a limited budget to start a print-on-demand candle business like yours.

Minimog is grade-A fast, responsive, and SEO-friendly, which means your candle store will load quickly and rank higher on search engines.

Source: FoxEcom

With 85+ high-converting demos, this theme ensures stunning visuals and mobile optimization for a seamless shopping experience and improved search visibility.

🎁 Expert Gifts:

Win the POD candle race with SEO apps built for Shopify:

• StoreSEO - Ultimate SEO solution & image optimizer app to improve your search engine rankings - 30% OFF
• SEOAnt: AI SEO Optimizer - All-in-one SEO booster tools to increase traffic and sales, improve site speed and Google rankings - 30% OFF
• SearchPie: SEO Booster & Speed - Get higher Google rankings & drive more traffic with an all-in-one SEO app - 20% OFF

Start selling

Beyond SEO, leveraging multiple sales channels ensures greater reach and visibility for your print-on-demand candles.

Find your sales channel

• Marketplaces

Leveraging online marketplaces like Etsy offers quick access to a large customer base seeking personalized products, such as custom candles. Integrate your Shopify store with Etsy to streamline operations and manage inventory efficiently.

🚀 Learn how to sell print on demand candles with Etsy and Shopify: Etsy and Shopify: How To Use Both To Grow Your Business (2024)

• Social Media

Social media is a powerful tool for visual storytelling, and candles, with their aesthetic appeal, are perfect for platforms like Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok.

Here’s how to use social media effectively:

• Instagram and Pinterest: These platforms are great for showing high-quality images of how your candles can be used as part of home décor or as personalized gifts. Use popular hashtags like #customcandles or #scentedcandles to reach a broader audience.
• TikTok: Create engaging video content, such as behind-the-scenes candle-making processes or customer unboxing experiences. Short, creative videos can quickly go viral, helping you build brand awareness and reach new customers.
• Collaborate with Influencers: Partnering with influencers in the home décor or gift niche can help introduce your candles to a wider audience. Influencers can showcase your products authentically, encouraging their followers to check out your store.

🎁 Expert Tip: Use Shopify’s integration with social media platforms to streamline your marketing efforts. For example, you can set up Instagram and Facebook Shops directly through Shopify, allowing customers to purchase directly from your social media posts.

Implement sale campaigns

Once you’ve defined your sales channels, it’s time to boost sales.

Start by creating attractive promotions, such as discounts or free shipping offers, to entice customers. Make sure to promote these deals across all your sales channels mentioned above, ensuring they are compelling enough to encourage shoppers to click "buy."

Additionally, leverage your storefront and Shopify’s built-in tools to facilitate upselling and cross-selling, allowing customers to discover more products while they browse. These strategies can significantly enhance your print-on-demand candle sales.

• On-page sales campaigns

To maximize your POD candle sales potential, implement effective upselling, cross-selling, flash sales, etc. strategies.

We suggest FoxKit - The All-In-One Shopify Upsells, Cross-sells, & Sales-boosting App

FoxKit is a sales-boosting Shopify powerhouse. With unlimited up-sell, and cross-sell features, you can create efficient sales campaigns right in your storefront. To name a few:

• Countdown Timers: Urge customers to act before time runs out.
• Stock Scarcity Alerts: Push shoppers to buy now with limited stock notifications.
• Cart Countdown: Encourage quick checkouts with real-time cart timers.
• Cart Goals: Motivate customers to shop until they hit their target.
• Sales Notifications: Build trust with updates on recent sales.
• Lucky Wheel: Engage visitors with gamified discount offers.

🎁 Expert Tip: The combination of the Minimog theme and FoxKit will make your print-on-demand candle store drive sales even better.

• Email marketing

59% of consumers say email marketing influences their buying decisions and over 50% say that they buy from email marketing at least once a month.

If you're selling with Shopify, you can start with the Shopify Email App on the App Store. This is not the best tool to implement an email marketing campaign but I bet this is an easy-to-use tool for beginners.

Source: Shopify App Store

In particular, this email app comes with the Shopify Forms and Shopify Flow Apps. The combo of 3 makes it easier for you to nurture and retain your customers with the automation features.

Source: Shopify App Store

Source: Shopify App Store

🎁 Expert Gifts:

• Omnisend: Retain customer audience with easy-to-use email and SMS marketing - 10% OFF
• AiT: Engage customers with loyalty rewards, reviews, membership, email marketing, push, affiliates - 20% OFF
• Adoric: Smart & easy product recommendations & popups to boost your AOV - FREE TRIAL

Retain your customers

To retain customers effectively for your print-on-demand candle business, consider automation strategies:

• Automated Email Flows: Utilize automated emails to enhance customer engagement. Send post-purchase follow-ups thanking customers for their candle orders, requesting reviews, and offering personalized product recommendations based on their previous purchases, like suggesting complementary scents or seasonal collections.
• Discounts: Discounts have been always a great way to capture the hearts of customers. For example, celebrate your customers’ birthdays by sending them a special discount on their favorite candles. This personal touch fosters loyalty and encourages repeat purchases, making them feel valued and appreciated.
• Win-Back Campaigns: Implement win-back emails for inactive customers who may have enjoyed your candles in the past. Offer special promotions, like a discount on their next order or a limited-time offer on new scented candle collections, to rekindle their interest and draw them back to your store.

🎁 Expert Gifts:

• Ako marketing: Boost repeat purchases with a customizable loyalty program - FREE TRIAL
• Loloyal: Turn your shoppers into loyal fans - 50% OFF
• Growave: Tools for reviews, wishlists, loyalty programs, gift cards, referrals, rewards, and UGC - 20% OFF

🔥 Related Articles:

• How to Build a Successful Print on Demand Business in Australia
• The Best Australian Print on Demand Companies for Entrepreneurs in 2025

Conclusion

Shopify has proven to be the ideal platform for candle brands looking to scale using print-on-demand models.

With its seamless integration of tools like automated marketing, customizable product options, and robust SEO features, Shopify helps businesses stand out in a competitive market. By leveraging Shopify’s built-in apps and features, candle businesses can streamline production, personalize their offerings, and drive sustainable growth - all while maintaining brand identity and customer engagement.

Unlock your store's potential - explore FoxEcom's themes and apps to create an irresistible shopping experience that drives sales and builds customer loyalty! Start your journey today!