Made from brittle wax and often stored in glass, tins or fragile candle-holders, candles are susceptible to melt or break during a move. Although this might not be on your immediate list of concerns, candles still need care and attention to arrive at your new home intact. Although each type of candle will have unique packing specifications — based on material, shape, size and container — there is a general process for moving them to your new home.
To pack candles for moving,
- Sort candles.
- Wrap individual candles and candle-holders in protective materials.
- Store in a cushioned box.
- Keep cool and out of direct sunlight.
Remember: the aim is to prevent the candles from softening, changing shape, liquefying or breaking, and for their containers to remain intact.
1. Sort Candles
First things first, sort through your candles and determine which ones you want to keep. If there are candles that have lost their scent or just run out, get rid of them. For candles that you never light, give them to friends or neighbours, or donate, sell or re-gift them prior to the move.
In general, decluttering before you move helps ensure a stress-free move and a fresh start in your new place.
2. Wrap Individual Candles & Holders
Next, you need to wrap the candles – each individual, loose candle should be wrapped in wax paper or bubble wrap. To do this, place the candle on one side of the paper/wrap, and roll inwards, wrapping the candle tight and securing it with tape. This protects their surface, and stops them from melting into one another.
For container candles, wrap them tight in bubble wrap. Glass containers should be particularly well-cushioned.
For tealights, there is no need to wrap these — small and robust candles can be placed in a box.
For taper candles, wrap them individually in tissue paper and bubble wrap, and add extra cushioning when you pack them (towels, crumpled paper, more bubble wrap).
For pillar candles, wrap them in protective materials, and ensure the box you choose is strong enough to hold them.
For candelabras, read our full guide on How to Pack a Chandelier – these are a similar shape, and require a similar process.
3. Store in a Cushioned Box
Once wrapped, it’s time to put them in a box. Because of their delicate nature, candles will need to be packed and stored in a well-organised and cushioned box.
If possible, you should pack different types of candles in different boxes – smaller candles can go in smaller boxes (e.g. shoeboxes), and larger or heavier candles should go in a heavier-duty moving box. Robust taper and pillar candles can often be layered, in rows, at the bottom of a box, with smaller candles stacked on top.
Ensure that you fill empty space, in each box, with packing peanuts or crumpled paper to keep candles from moving and breaking during the move.
Tape the box closed and label it with “FRAGILE” to make sure you, or your removals team, handle it with extra care.
4. Keep Cool & Out of Direct Sunlight
High temperatures can cause your candles to warp or melt. If there is a chance of this, keep them cool and out of direct sunlight.For long moves or extra hot days, you might want to consider an ice box. According to Ethan Greenfield, polystyrene ice boxes are watertight and offer excellent insulation for temperature-sensitive items, like perfume and candles.
And there you have it! Your candles are packed for a safe and secure move. Our last bit of advice? Hire a removals team. An expert removals team can alleviate some of the pressures of moving house.
How to Pack Wax Melts
Wax melts and tarts are a popular alternative to candles, designed to melt in an electric or tealight-fuelled burner. To pack wax melts, keep them sealed in their original packaging to preserve their scent, and to prevent them melting with other melts and scents.
To learn more about our purpose-built storage facilities or removals services, contact Nathan. At Falconers we use meticulous moving techniques, passed down and perfected through generations for over 132 years, to ensure your goods are moved with expert precision and kept in perfect condition. For more expert advice on how to pack, move and store your belongings — or other FAQs on how removals work — check out our blog page.
