When you think about packing up your house for a move, you may think about packing up the kitchen first. You may even wonder how you’re going to pack up all those shoes for your move, but you might forget about your candles. There are considerations to safely packing and moving your candle collection.

After completing a move, the last thing you want to do is have to replace all of your candles because they were broken or had melted during transport. Plus, if your candles are packed with other items and melt, your candles won’t be the only thing ruined.

Packing Glass Candles, Votive Candles, & Tea Lights

When you’re packing candles for your move, don’t be tempted to throw all your candles in a box with your other miscellaneous items. Ideally, you will pack all of your candles into one box.

If you are packing glass candles or large three-pillar candles, you will need a larger, heavy-duty box to support the weight and size of your candles. If you have a collection of votive candles or tea lights, those may fit in a repurposed shoebox or a small-sized moving box. Gather all of your candles in one place to determine how big of a box or how many boxes you will need to move your collection.

How to Protect Glass Candles During a Move

To avoid breaking your glass candles, wrap each one in bubble wrap. If you can’t afford or get a hold of bubble wrap, use old towels or cleaning rags to individually wrap each candle. If you go this route, don’t use your good towels or linens in case of any wax melting.

How to Pack Votive Candles and Skinny Candles

You may be tempted to wrap all of your votive candles and skinny candles altogether, but if they melt during your move, they will become one big candle. Use tissue paper or wax paper to individually roll each candle. Use a small piece of tape to hold the paper in place.

Once all of your candles are in the box, fill any empty spaces to keep your candles from hitting each other during transport. You can fill the space with more bubble wrap, packing peanuts, or even old cleaning rags.

Close and tape your box with packing tape. Label your box as “Fragile” and also write “Do Not Stack” on the top of the top. This will ensure that your movers do not stack a heavy box on top that could crush the candles inside.

How to Pack and Move Candles to Avoid Melting

Don’t assume that your candles won’t melt in the moving truck during a two-day move cross-country. Also, don’t think that you have no concerns if you have a local move within the same city during the summer. Those moving trucks get hot. They are not air-conditioned, so they quickly turn into an oven on a hot day, especially if the truck is parked in the sun.

Even if they get the least bit warm, the shape of your candles will be compromised. They may not melt completely, but they will likely bend or warp. If you are transporting things in your car, your box of candles should stay with you in the air conditioning. If you are moving long-distance, especially in the summer, and you are flying to your new location, ship the box to your new address.

How to Ship Candles So They Don’t Melt

Your first thought may be to express ship your candles to your new address. This is only a good idea if you will beat the package to your new home. If not, it could end up sitting out on your new porch in the sun and melting anyway. If you have already opened a P.O. Box in your new city, then you can overnight the box and it will sit in the post office until you get there.

Your best option is to ask a family member or friend to overnight it to you in a few days. Whatever you do, get insurance because there is no guarantee that your candles still won’t melt or break despite your best efforts.

How Long Do Candles Last in Storage?

If you need to store your candles for a while, you may wonder how long candles can last in storage. While it varies by type, in general, candles should be used within 1 or 2 years of their purchase. If you need to store your candles for an extended period of time during your move, make sure you choose a storage facility that has climate-controlled storage. This will allow you to store your candles at a proper temperature without worrying that they will melt.

Melting is not the only thing you have to worry about when storing candles. Candles can actually expire or rot if you’re buying the more expensive organic candles. The shelf life of a candle is dependent upon what type of wax the candle is made of.

  • Soy candles are generally made of organic materials (soybeans) without preservatives. This means that after about a year and a half, these candles will likely go bad. The same goes for other organic types like palm wax candles, citronella candles, and candles made with essential oils.
  • Beeswax candles are considered to have no expiration date, however, they need to be wrapped and stored properly.
  • Yankee Candles are made of paraffin wax, which is a petroleum-based substance. If stored at a proper temperature, Yankee Candles can last virtually forever.

How You Pack Candles for a Move Summary

how to pack candles How to Pack Candles for a Move

Follow these steps to properly pack your candles:

  • Choose a box that is not all that much bigger than the collection of candles you’re packing.
  • Use the original packaging if you still have it.
  • Wrap all of the larger candles individually using old towels, cleaning rags, or bubble wrap.
  • For votives or skinny candles, tissue paper or wax paper is ideal to use to roll each one.
  • Don’t use good towels or linens, or put more than one in one wrap, in case any of the wax melts during the move.
  • When you pack all this in the box, fill any space with cleaning rags or packing peanuts to keep the candles secure.
  • Tape the box closed and label it as fragile for the move.