Holiday craft fairs can make a maker's year. Shoppers arrive ready to buy gifts, they love meeting the person behind the product, and a good weekend can move more candles and soaps than a month online. The difference between a stressful fair and a great one is almost always preparation.
Here is a week-by-week checklist to get you there.
Eight Weeks Out: Plan Your Line
- Decide on 6 to 10 scents. A focused table sells better than an overwhelming one.
- Mix scent styles: a few sweet gourmands, a few warm spices, and at least one fresh or woody option.
- Order fragrance samples and pour test batches. Our list of holiday candle scents to start pouring now is a good place to begin, and Sampler Bundles let you test five scents at once.
- Apply to fairs and confirm booth size, table and tent rules, and electricity access.
Six Weeks Out: Lock in Costs and Prices
- Pick your winning scents and order larger sizes of the fragrance oils you will use most.
- Calculate your cost per item and set wholesale and retail prices. Our guide to pricing handmade candles and soaps walks through the math.
- Plan price points for every budget: a small item under $10, a core product, and a gift set.
Four Weeks Out: Make, Cure, and Label
- Pour candles now so they cure for at least one to two weeks. Cold-process soap needs about four weeks to cure, so start it even earlier.
- Print labels with your business name, the scent, the net weight, and the right warnings. Candles need fire safety warnings. Soaps and other skin products may be regulated as cosmetics, which have their own labeling rules, so check FDA guidance for what you make.
- Make a few add-on items, such as wax sachets or wax melts, for impulse buys near the register.
Two Weeks Out: Display and Payments
- Do a full practice setup at home. Take a photo so you can repeat it quickly on the day.
- Use height: crates, risers, and shelves draw the eye and make a table feel full.
- Make clear price signs and a small sign that tells your story in one sentence.
- Set up card payments and test them. Bring a backup, such as a phone hotspot, in case the venue signal is weak.
- Check your local sales tax and permit requirements, and consider event liability insurance.
The Week Of: Pack the Car
- Inventory, counted and packed by scent
- Table, tablecloth, risers, and signage
- Card reader, charged phone, charging cables, and a small cash float
- Bags, tissue, and a few gift boxes
- Testers or sniff jars for each scent (unlit candles only, unless the venue allows flames)
- Business cards or flyers with your website or social handle
- Tape, scissors, zip ties, clips, and a marker
- Water, snacks, and a comfortable chair
On the Day: Sell With Confidence
- Stand, smile, and invite people to smell. Scent sells itself once it is under someone's nose.
- Suggest gift sets: "Three minis make a great teacher gift."
- Collect emails with a simple sign-up sheet so you can reach buyers again for holiday reorders.
- Write down which scents sell out. That is your data for next year.
From the eScential Team
Real Question: Where Do You Ship From?
A customer asked us through Ask Angus: "What is your location?"
Our answer: we pack and ship every order from 8 Marlen Drive in Hamilton Township, New Jersey. Orders typically ship within 3 to 5 business days, and larger orders (gallon quantities and above) can take longer, as can busy holiday weeks. U.S. orders go out by UPS or USPS. For a craft fair, add our processing time plus carrier transit time to your own pouring and curing schedule, and order your fragrance at least four to six weeks before the fair. Our shipping policy has the full details, including rates for Alaska, Hawaii and U.S. territories.
A Note on Safety
Use fragrance oils within the limits on their IFRA (International Fragrance Association) certificates, and follow tested recipes for every product you sell. Many venues do not allow lit candles, so use unlit testers or sniff jars. Keep your display stable so candles cannot tip, and keep products out of reach of small children. Labeling and tax rules vary by product and location, so check the requirements where you sell. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Ready for Your Best Season Yet
A little planning now means more sales and less stress in December. Start with your scents: browse our candle fragrances and Sampler Bundles and get your test batches going this week.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many products should I bring to a craft fair?
A common rule of thumb is to bring enough stock to cover about 10 times the booth fee in sales, spread across your best sellers, plus a few extras of your most popular scent.
When should I start making candles for holiday fairs?
Start testing about eight weeks out and pour your main batches at least two weeks before the fair so they are fully cured. Cold-process soap needs about four weeks to cure.
What sells best at holiday craft fairs?
Giftable items at a range of price points: small add-ons under $10, core products, and ready-made gift sets.
Do I need labels on handmade candles and soaps?
Yes. Candles should carry fire safety warnings, and soaps and skin products may fall under cosmetic labeling rules. Check the rules for your product and location.
Can I burn candles at my booth?
Many venues do not allow open flames. Use unlit testers or sniff jars unless the venue says otherwise.