7 Considerations When Designing Candle Labels
Candles facilitate an experience - one of careful and thoughtful curation designed to affect the senses. What we experience through our senses can invoke a particular emotional response, making your product very influential.
Aside from having the power to transport people through time, a candle’s primary purpose is to influence mood (whether that be of people or space, or both), and that gives it a compelling quality. While scents can influence moods, candle labels and design play a part as well, believe it or not!
Looking at an old-fashioned style label versus a colorful, modern one can influence whether or not a consumer buys the candle. I mean, have you ever stood in the candle aisle at Target for more than 30 minutes trying to find the perfect one to match your home decor? Candle labels absolutely impact a consumer’s buying decision so making sure you have the right design for your brand is key. Let’s take a look at what factors need to be considered when designing your very own candle label.
7 Considerations When Designing Candle Labels That Shine
Spark the Story
With your thoughtfully designed array of scents, consumers will buy your product based on how they think it will make them feel, or how it will transform their space into how they want it to feel.
The same level of specificity and thoughtfulness that went into the creation of your candle needs to apply to its label and packaging. It’s all about facilitating an experience and it starts with the story of your candle’s brand. You want to ask yourself:
- What is the story of your candle’s brand?
- What inspired its inception?
- What images and styles come to mind when dreaming about your candle’s story?
- How do you want people to feel when they look at your product label?
Every little detail matters and each design element we discuss later all comes from the details of the story. Getting clear on your candle’s story makes designing your label so much easier. Then, you can consider going the extra mile by adding personal touches to your label and packaging – giving your buyers that customized feel.
Playing with Fire
Since candles are intended to be ignited, the packaging will need to include required information mandated by the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act (FPLA) and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) standards. I know, boring right? But it is important.
Your primary label needs to include:
- Type of wax used - Soy, palm, gel, natural beeswax, etc.
- The candle weight - Milliliters, grams, or ounces
- Where it was made - U.S.A. Brazil, etc.
- How it was made - Hand-poured, infused with perfume oils, etc.
- Burn time - The amount of time in minutes and hours the wick will burn, which may vary depending on how each candle was made.
In addition, the CPSC requires the label to include information on how to use the candles as safely as possible, as well as lead content and lead compound concentrations.
Because candles always involve the use of fire, The National Candle Association (NCA) also recommends a biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) self-adhesive label because of its intersection of heat resistance, safety, and print quality.
Creating a Lit Label
We’ve already established that your label and packaging ties together your brand. Because really, your brand is just a story communicated through color, typography, style and imagery, label shape and size, and the use of words. Getting clear on your candle’s story will make designing your label so much easier and cohesive.
Take a look at the candle below! How does looking at this one make you feel? Clear mason jars make this a trendy option. The clean, white-label communicates elegance and simplicity while the primary typography choice layers on a feminine and sophisticated edge. The use of several different types of compatible fonts, combined with the label color, shape, and size on the mason jar gives this candle a hand-crafted, farmhouse-style feel.
Transmute Energy with Colors
Color communicates the complexities of your brand’s story faster than any of the other elements you will use. What colors are associated with your brand’s story? Is your brand more uncomplicated and elegant, or is it more bright and happy? Consumers want to buy candles that come with an entire experience: from the scent to the label. They don’t want to buy candles with boring, drab labels!
Check out these two highly contrasting examples. The label on the left includes a bright, vibrant array of colors that will surely earn brownie points from customers! On the other hand, the label on the right has a simple matte black background with white fonts – allowing the light from the flames to illuminate the brand name. This is a great design for anyone that’s looking for a combination of something minimal that still pops!
The Art of Typography To Define Your Brand
The typography you use on your candle should match that of your overall brand. You can use up to 3 different fonts on your label, but they should be compatible and complementary to each other and the brand as a whole. Typography is important because it communicates a particular style that adds to the overall perception of your product and the experience it facilitates.
Check out this Sydney Hale Co. label for inspiration on how to make multiple font styles work for your label.
Don’t Be A Square: Shaping Your Brand Identity
Choosing a label shape can define your logo, for better or for worse. Labels come in a variety of shapes: square, circular, triangular, oval, custom, and rectangular. When choosing a label shape, you will want to think about the size of your products, the container’s shape, and how the shape of the label will work with your logo. The label shape will also influence printability and aesthetics. Not all label designs work well with certain label shapes.
Rectangular labels, in particular, are the most popular label shape. They are the easiest shape to work with for candles because they have the most design space available and are easily transferable to various-sized candles. You can choose squared or rounded corners; the former has a more contemporary look but can easily catch and the latter won’t flag as easily yet have a more traditional appearance.
Last but certainly not least, don’t be shy about adding your logo to your label! Your logo design will need to compliment the label shape you pick, such as a circular logo with a rectangular label. Combined with savvy label design and packaging, you can create a memorable and integrated experience for your customers. They must know your products when they see them, which creates loyalty and trust with your customer base.
Mattify Your Label For the Ultimate Brand Experience
While label shape and size are no doubt important, you should also consider whether giving your label a natural matte look would add to the experience. If your brand has an old-timey, ink on parchment paper, type-writer vibe, tie it all together with a brown kraft label like this one below.
Get Started with Stomp
Now that you know all of the elements that go into designing a candle label, let’s get started! Stomp has a plethora of options for your candle label designs and finishes, including custom, die-cut labels, and glossy or waterproof labels. If you are looking for something extra special, Stomp also accepts special requests such as brown kraft paper or matte finishes! Check out our wide selection of candle labels and start designing the perfect one for your brand.
- Marketing Team
