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Handicrafts

Export candles

Scented jar, pillar and decorative candles for gift and home stores; the USA and UK buy most.

Free to exportHS 3406
HS code
3406
Candles, tapers and the like — pillar, jar, tealight, scented and decorative candles.
Export policy
Free to export
Free to export under ITC(HS) Schedule 2 (no condition listed). Confirm the current entry on the DGFT ITC(HS) search before you sign a contract.
Registrations
4
IEC, GST and those below
India’s exports, 2025-26
US$ 88.2 mn
to 62 countries

What is exported

India exports scented candles in glass jars and metal tins, pillar and taper candles, tealights and hand-decorated candles, often as part of home-fragrance and gift ranges. Buyers are home-decor importers, gift chains, spa brands and online sellers. In 2025-26 India exported about US$ 88 million under HS 3406; the USA took about half, followed by the UK, Australia, the Netherlands and France.

Varieties, grades and forms

  • Scented jar and tin candlesSoy, paraffin or blended wax in glass, ceramic or metal containers.
  • Pillar and taper candlesPlain, rustic or carved, for home decor and events.
  • Tealights and votivesHigh-volume, low-price lines for retail and hospitality.
  • Decorative and festive candlesHand-painted, gel and novelty candles for Christmas and gifting.

Where it is grown or made

  • Delhi NCRNoida, Gurugram and Delhi — home-fragrance exporters
  • UttarakhandNainital (GI-tagged Nainital Mombatti)
  • Puducherry and Tamil NaduPuducherry and Auroville — handmade and scented candles
  • Uttar PradeshMoradabad and Kannauj — candle holders and fragrance supply

Export packing

  • Each jar in a gift box or with a lid and dividers; master cartons with a "keep cool" mark.
  • Avoid shipping in peak heat, or use reefer or insulated liners for soft waxes.

Who buys abroad

  • Home-decor and gift importers
  • Department stores and supermarket seasonal buyers
  • Spa, hotel and wellness brands
  • Online home-fragrance sellers

The quality buyers ask for

Wax
Paraffin, soy, coconut, palm or blends; melting point suited to the climate and shipping season
Burn performance
Even melt pool, stable flame, limited soot (EN 15426 sooting test where asked)
Fire safety
EN 15493 and EN 15494 in Europe; ASTM F2058 and related ASTM candle standards in the USA
Fragrance load
Percentage of fragrance oil within IFRA limits for candles
Burn time
Declared hours, verified by testing

Certificates

  • Safety labelling (EN 15494 / ASTM F2058)RequiredFire-safety warnings and pictograms buyers require on every candle.
  • CLP review (EU)RequiredFor scented candles whose fragrance triggers hazard or allergen labelling.
  • IFRA certificate from fragrance supplierOften askedShows fragrance use within IFRA standards.
  • RAL quality markOften askedOptional German quality mark for candles, valued by some European buyers.

Shipping, storage and shelf life

Container load

Candles fill by volume; first orders usually go LCL. Avoid long hot transits or use insulated liners.

How it travels

Sea from Nhava Sheva, Mundra or Chennai; air for samples and urgent seasonal top-ups.

Storage

Cool, dark storage below about 25 °C to prevent sweating, bending and fading.

Shelf life

Fragrance is best within about 12–24 months, as declared by the maker.

What goes on the pack and carton

  • Fire-safety warnings and pictograms in the market language.
  • EU scented candles: CLP hazard and allergen information where required, plus importer details.
  • Weight or burn time, fragrance name, batch code and "Made in India".
Where to get it tested

Search the NABL directory for labs that run candle fire-safety and burn tests; international test houses in Delhi NCR, Mumbai and Bengaluru test to EN and ASTM candle standards.

Benefits of exporting this product

Where to register

  • EPCHDecorative and handmade candles are shown and promoted with EPCH as miscellaneous handicrafts.epch.in ↗
  • FIEOMachine-made candles not covered by a council can take their RCMC from FIEO.fieo.org ↗

Quality and checks

  • EU: fire-safety labels for candles (EN 15494) and, for scented candles, hazard and allergen warnings under CLP where the fragrance requires them.
  • USA: buyers expect candle fire-safety labelling to ASTM F2058 and a California Proposition 65 review of fragrances and containers.
  • Fragrance oils used within IFRA standards, with supplier certificates.
  • Burn tests: even melt pool, no excessive soot or flare, and the jar must not crack.
How to start small

Develop a small scented range (three or four fragrances in one jar size), run burn tests and prepare EU or US warning labels. Show at the IHGF Delhi Fair and send samples to gift importers; ship the first order in a shared container well before the autumn and Christmas season.

Where new exporters go wrong

  • Candles melting or bending in hot containers — avoid peak summer shipments or use wax blends with a higher melting point.
  • Missing warning labels — EU and US retailers reject the goods.
  • Missing the season: Christmas candle orders are placed in spring and must arrive by early autumn.

Documents this product needs

Schemes that apply

Sources (7)
  1. Department of Commerce, Export Import Data Bank — India's exports of HS 3406 by country, 2025-26
  2. DGFT — Appendix 2T: Export Promotion Councils and the products under each
  3. DGFT — ITC(HS) export policy search (Schedule 2)
  4. EPCH (Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts) — official site
  5. FIEO — Federation of Indian Export Organisations (RCMC for products without a specific council)
  6. ECHA — Understanding CLP (classification, labelling and packaging)
  7. IP India (Geographical Indications Registry) — Registration details of Geographical Indications

Trade data

Indian candles exports in numbers

From the Department of Commerce’s TradeStat, country by country. US$, Indian financial years (April–March).

Exports in 2025-26
US$ 88.2 mn
+10.4% a year on average, 2020-21 to 2025-26
Change from 2024-25
↓ -9.7%
US$ 97.6 mn → US$ 88.2 mn
Buyer countries
62
Average export price
US$ 2.82
per kg · 31,243 tonnes shipped · US$ 2.96 the year before
United States of America: US$ 45 mnUnited Kingdom: US$ 15.9 mnAustralia: US$ 5.4 mnNetherlands: US$ 3.7 mnFrance: US$ 2.8 mnItaly: US$ 2.7 mnGermany: US$ 2.4 mnPoland: US$ 1.1 mnUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 1.1 mnSwitzerland: US$ 1.1 mnSpain: US$ 960kCanada: US$ 720kSaudi Arabia: US$ 530kNigeria: US$ 450kNew Zealand: US$ 430kGreece: US$ 360kIreland: US$ 360kIsrael: US$ 310kBelgium: US$ 220kChile: US$ 220kCzechia: US$ 210kChina: US$ 170kPhilippines: US$ 170kUnited States of America: US$ 45 mnUnited States of AmericaUnited Kingdom: US$ 15.9 mnUnited KingdomAustralia: US$ 5.4 mnAustraliaNetherlands: US$ 3.7 mnFrance: US$ 2.8 mnItaly: US$ 2.7 mnItalyGermany: US$ 2.4 mnPoland: US$ 1.1 mnUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 1.1 mnUnited Arab EmiratesSwitzerland: US$ 1.1 mnSpain: US$ 960kCanada: US$ 720kSaudi Arabia: US$ 530kNigeria: US$ 450kNigeriaNew Zealand: US$ 430kGreece: US$ 360kIreland: US$ 360kIsrael: US$ 310kBelgium: US$ 220kChile: US$ 220kCzechia: US$ 210kChina: US$ 170kPhilippines: US$ 170kIndia
Where Indian candles goes — among our 80 countries, 2025-26
2020-21: US$ 53.8 mn542020-212021-22: US$ 85.1 mn852021-222022-23: US$ 75.8 mn762022-232023-24: US$ 79.2 mn792023-242024-25: US$ 97.6 mn982024-252025-26: US$ 88.2 mn882025-26
India’s candles exports, year by year · US$ million

The price cycle

India’s average export price per kg each year (total value ÷ total quantity). Highest in 2021-22, lowest in 2025-26 — a 15% swing between them. Keep this swing in mind when you quote.

2020-21: US$ 3.04 per kg2021-22: US$ 3.24 per kg3.242022-23: US$ 3.16 per kg2024-25: US$ 2.96 per kg2025-26: US$ 2.82 per kg2.822020-212021-222022-232023-242024-252025-26
Average export price of Indian candles · US$ per kg · dotted = year in between not available

What next: a projection from the trend

The past trend carried forward — not a forecast by any authority. Sudden changes in policy, prices or demand are not in it.

2020-21: US$ 53.8 mn2020-212021-22: US$ 85.1 mn2021-222022-23: US$ 75.8 mn2022-232023-24: US$ 79.2 mn2023-242024-25: US$ 97.6 mn2024-252025-26: US$ 88.2 mn2025-262026-27: US$ 105 mn (US$ 85.9 mn – US$ 129 mn)1052026-272027-28: US$ 115 mn (US$ 91.2 mn – US$ 144 mn)1152027-28
India’s candles exports and projection · hollow bars = projection, line = likely range
By 2027-28: US$ 115 mn

Likely range US$ 91.2 mn to US$ 144 mn.

Trend
+8.7% a year
Fit (R²)
0.58
Based on
6 years of official figures

Method: a straight line through the logarithm of yearly exports (log-linear regression); range = ±1 standard error.

Biggest buyer countries

By value in 2025-26. Change is against 2024-25.

Name2025-26Change
1United States of AmericaUS$ 45 mn-16.2%
2United KingdomUS$ 15.9 mn-11.4%
3AustraliaUS$ 5.4 mn-15.1%
4NetherlandsUS$ 3.7 mn+35.4%
5FranceUS$ 2.8 mn-24.9%
6ItalyUS$ 2.7 mn+38.3%
7GermanyUS$ 2.4 mn+14%
8PolandUS$ 1.1 mn+3.6%
9United Arab EmiratesUS$ 1.1 mn+21.5%
10SwitzerlandUS$ 1.1 mn+29.6%
11SpainUS$ 960k+54.8%
12CanadaUS$ 720k+4.3%

Where demand is rising and falling

Only countries that buy at least US$ 1 million or 1% of India’s exports of this product. Change from 2024-25 to 2025-26.

High demand

  1. ItalyUS$ 2 mn → US$ 2.7 mn+38.3%
  2. NetherlandsUS$ 2.7 mn → US$ 3.7 mn+35.4%
  3. SwitzerlandUS$ 810k → US$ 1.1 mn+29.6%
  4. United Arab EmiratesUS$ 930k → US$ 1.1 mn+21.5%
  5. GermanyUS$ 2.1 mn → US$ 2.4 mn+14%

Low demand

  1. FranceUS$ 3.7 mn → US$ 2.8 mn-24.9%
  2. United States of AmericaUS$ 53.7 mn → US$ 45 mn-16.2%
  3. AustraliaUS$ 6.3 mn → US$ 5.4 mn-15.1%
  4. United KingdomUS$ 18 mn → US$ 15.9 mn-11.4%

Which forms sell, and at what price

India’s exports by 8-digit tariff line, 2025-26. Average price = total value ÷ total quantity (TradeStat): the average of every shipment on that line, not the price of any one deal.

Tariff lineValue 2025-26ChangeQuantityAverage price
Candles, tapers and the like — candles3406 00 10US$ 86.7 mn-9.4%30,902 tonnesUS$ 2.80 per kgwas US$ 2.93
Other candles tapers and the like3406 00 90 · Candles, tapers and the likeUS$ 1.5 mn-24%342 tonnesUS$ 4.45 per kgwas US$ 4.66

The world market

Each country’s own recorded exports and imports in UN Comtrade, 2023 (the latest year nearly every country has reported).

World imports
US$ 4.48 bn
2023
India among exporters
#13
of 136 countries
India’s share of world exports
1.7%
US$ 74.8 mn
Left for others to win
US$ 4.42 bn
exported by other countries

Top exporters — your competitors

  1. 1ChinaUS$ 923 mn 20.5%
  2. 2PolandUS$ 812 mn 18.1%
  3. 3Viet NamUS$ 478 mn 10.6%
  4. 4NetherlandsUS$ 215 mn 4.8%
  5. 5USAUS$ 209 mn 4.6%
  6. 6GermanyUS$ 200 mn 4.4%
  7. 7BelgiumUS$ 182 mn 4%
  8. 8CanadaUS$ 171 mn 3.8%
  9. 9FranceUS$ 161 mn 3.6%
  10. 10CzechiaUS$ 148 mn 3.3%

Biggest buyers in the world

  1. 1USAUS$ 1.09 bn 24.4%
  2. 2GermanyUS$ 543 mn 12.1%
  3. 3United KingdomUS$ 350 mn 7.8%
  4. 4NetherlandsUS$ 262 mn 5.9%
  5. 5FranceUS$ 173 mn 3.9%
  6. 6BelgiumUS$ 148 mn 3.3%
  7. 7CanadaUS$ 146 mn 3.3%
  8. 8AustriaUS$ 107 mn 2.4%
  9. 9CzechiaUS$ 96.9 mn 2.2%
  10. 10ItalyUS$ 94.9 mn 2.1%

Opportunity: what these countries buy from the world, and from India

Each country’s own recorded imports in UN Comtrade, latest year it has reported. The long light part of each bar is demand other countries are filling today.

United States of AmericaUS$ 1.16 bnIndia 5.5% · gap US$ 1.1 bn
GermanyUS$ 506 mnIndia 0.6% · gap US$ 503 mn
United KingdomUS$ 350 mnIndia 4.6% · gap US$ 334 mn
NetherlandsUS$ 257 mnIndia 0.7% · gap US$ 255 mn
FranceUS$ 167 mnIndia 2.4% · gap US$ 163 mn
CanadaUS$ 139 mnIndia 1.3% · gap US$ 137 mn
ItalyUS$ 105 mnIndia 2.3% · gap US$ 103 mn
AustraliaUS$ 76.3 mnIndia 7.6% · gap US$ 70.5 mn
United Arab EmiratesUS$ 64.1 mnIndia 2.9% · gap US$ 62.2 mn
SpainUS$ 55.1 mnIndia 1.2% · gap US$ 54.4 mn

TradeStat’s 2023-24 quantities are double-counted, so that year is left out of the price. Sources: TradeStat — Export Import Data Bank, Department of Commerce · UN Comtrade database (United Nations Statistics Division) · Figures taken 29 October 2026.

Step by step

How to export candles

China, Poland, Germany, the Netherlands and the USA are major candle exporters; India is a smaller supplier best known for scented and decorative candles that sit within home-fragrance and gift ranges. Demand is strongly seasonal, peaking around Christmas, and driven by home-decor trends and wellness. Buyers want natural waxes (soy, coconut, rapeseed), clean-burning wicks and good fragrance throw. Indian makers compete on handmade finishes, fragrance know-how and flexible order sizes. Openings are in scented jar candles for gift chains, private-label home-fragrance sets and festive decorative candles.

  1. 01Develop the range

    Pick wax, wick and fragrances; match the buyer's style and price point.

  2. 02Test

    Run burn, soot and container-heat tests for each size.

  3. 03Register

    IEC, GST LUT and RCMC (EPCH or FIEO).

  4. 04Label

    Prepare warning labels for the target market.

  5. 05Produce early

    Make and pack seasonal orders in spring and early summer.

  6. 06Ship and claim

    File the shipping bill, claim RoDTEP (0.8%) and drawback (1.2%).

Meet buyers

Trade fairs

Questions

Questions about exporting candles

Do scented candles need special labels in the EU?
Yes. Fire-safety warnings (EN 15494) are expected, and some fragrances also require CLP hazard and allergen warnings.
When should I ship Christmas candles?
Buyers place orders in spring and want goods by late summer or early autumn.
How do I stop candles melting in transit?
Use wax with a suitable melting point, avoid peak-heat shipments and consider insulated container liners.
What incentives apply?
RoDTEP 0.8% and drawback 1.2% of FOB for HS 3406.
Can I import wax duty-free for export candles?
Yes, under Advance Authorisation, subject to its conditions; drawback is then not available on those exports.
Sources (7)
  1. EPCH (Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts) — official site
  2. FIEO — Federation of Indian Export Organisations (RCMC for products without a specific council)
  3. ECHA — Understanding CLP (classification, labelling and packaging)
  4. NABL — search for accredited testing laboratories
  5. IP India (Geographical Indications Registry) — Registration details of Geographical Indications
  6. DGFT — Appendix 4R, RoDTEP schedule for DTA exports w.e.f. 10.10.2024 (Notification 32/2024-25); rates continued to 31.12.2026 by Notification 41/2026-27
  7. Gazette of India — Notification 77/2023-Customs (N.T.) dated 20.10.2023: All Industry Rates of duty drawback

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