Now that we have the fourth year of the Things 4 Good 2024 Fall Fundraiser behind us I thought it would be fun to really figure out how much a single candle costs. We’ve sold them for $25 every year. I know that we raise more money than we spend. But I’ve never done the math to figure out what the materials cost per candle. Obviously our labor is free. That is part of the fundraiser.

Most of the items in the candles have a single price. However the vessels and scents vary, and in some cases a lot. The iridescent and metal coated vessels are more expensive. Scents can range wildly in price. I also buy the larger quantities. Here is how the cost breaks down.

Item Cost
12 oz Vessel (12 pack) $4.75 - $5.75
Soy Wax (44 lbs) $3.36
Candle Scent (16 oz) $1.45 - $3.50
Wooden Wick (100 pack) $0.28
Wick Clip (100 pack) $0.12
Candle Label (15 per sheet) $0.23
Warning Sticker (24 in roll) $0.16
Total $10.35 - $13.40

I usually time my orders to get things at a discount with a deal so the real cost is probably $8.28 - $10.72.

For the Things 4 Good sale we cover these costs. All $25 of the donation goes to the charities. But it is interesting to see where the costs are in the production.