The quality of your quote request directly determines the quality of quotes you receive. A vague RFQ (Request for Quotation) to a candle manufacturer produces vague, incomparable quotes. A specific, well-structured RFQ produces accurate pricing, protects you from quality ambiguity, and demonstrates to the manufacturer that you are a serious buyer.
This sub-blog is part of our main guide: Candle Manufacturers: Complete Sourcing Guide.
1. Product Type and Format
Specify exactly what product you need: ‘Glass jar candle, 250ml, straight-sided, clear glass’ or ‘9g tealight candle in silver aluminium cup’. Do not say ‘candle’ — this tells a manufacturer nothing.
2. Wax Type and Specification
State your wax requirement: ‘Fully refined paraffin, minimum 56°C melt point’ or ‘100% natural soy wax, non-GMO, USDA compliant’. Without this, manufacturers will quote their cheapest wax option.
3. Fragrance or Unscented
If fragranced: specify fragrance type (your own or manufacturer’s catalogue), fragrance load percentage, and any IFRA/REACH compliance requirements. If unscented: state clearly.
4. Burn Time Requirement
Specify minimum burn time: ‘Minimum 40-hour burn time, third-party tested to ASTM F2167’. This prevents manufacturers quoting any wick and any wax weight.
5. Wick Specification
State wick material requirements: ‘Cotton wick, lead-free and zinc-free, to be confirmed by wick composition certificate’. This is a non-negotiable compliance item for US and EU markets.
6. Quantity and Order Frequency
State your order volume: ‘500 units first order, scaling to 2,000 units per quarter’ or ‘5,000 units one-time’. Volume shapes pricing, MOQ flexibility, and the manufacturer’s willingness to invest in custom development.
7. Packaging Specification
Detail your packaging requirement: ‘Individual kraft paper box with window, product label applied, packed 6 per shipper carton’ or ‘Bulk packed, no retail box’. Packaging is often 30–50% of the product cost.
8. Compliance Documentation Required
List the compliance documents you need: ‘REACH compliance certificate, IFRA compliance statement, wick composition certificate, COA for each batch’. This tells the manufacturer whether they can meet your market requirements.
9. Target Delivery Date and Market
Specify your target delivery date, destination port (e.g., ‘Rotterdam, Netherlands’ or ‘Los Angeles, US’), and whether you want pricing as FOB India or CIF destination.
10. Sample Requirement
State whether you need pre-production samples: ‘Yes — please include sample cost and lead time in your quote’. This sets expectations upfront and prevents surprises.
Quick Links
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→ Related: Candle Manufacturers & Sustainability: What Buyers Demand
→ Request a Quote: Welburn Candles Contact Page
FAQs: Requesting Quotes from Candle Manufacturers
How many manufacturers should I send an RFQ to?
For first-time sourcing, send RFQs to 3–5 qualified manufacturers. This gives you meaningful price comparison while being manageable in terms of follow-up. For established buyers repricing an existing specification, 2–3 is typically sufficient.
How long should a candle manufacturer take to respond to an RFQ?
A professional manufacturer should respond to a detailed RFQ within 3–5 business days. A 2-week delay on a structured RFQ is a sign of either disorganisation or low interest in your volume.
Should I share my target price in the RFQ?
Yes — sharing a realistic target price is generally helpful. It allows manufacturers to tell you immediately whether the specification is achievable at your price point, saving both parties time.