Why Are Candle Brands Switching to Tins?

Why Are Candle Brands Switching to Tins?

Glass has been the default for scented candles for years.

That's changing.

Walk round a craft fair or scroll through a candle brand's shop and you'll see more and more tins. Travel candles. Gift sets. Whole ranges poured into gold, black and silver metal.

It isn't a fashion thing. The reasons are practical. Tins are lighter, they don't break in the post, they recycle well and they open up products that glass can't do.

Here's what's driving the switch, where glass still earns its place, and how to choose the right tin.

Why Do Tins Survive the Post Better?

Because they don't break.

Ask any candle maker who sells online about breakages. A cracked jar means a refund, a replacement, a second lot of postage and an unhappy customer. Sometimes a bad review as well.

Glass jars need careful packing. Several layers of bubble wrap. Dividers so jars never touch each other. A box with room for padding on every side.

Tins need far less.

A dropped tin might pick up a small dent. It won't shatter, and it won't spill wax through a parcel. That means quicker packing, smaller boxes and fewer refunds.

Are Candle Tins Better for Recycling?

They recycle very well.

Candle tins are made from tinplate. That's steel with a thin coating of tin. Steel can be melted down and made into new steel again and again without losing quality. It's also easy to sort, because magnets pull it out of mixed recycling.

The numbers back this up.

• UK. Packaging steel reached a 77.1% recycling rate in 2022.
• Europe. Steel was the most recycled sales packaging material in 2022, at 80.5%.
• Germany. 94.3% of household tinplate was recycled in 2024.

Glass is recyclable too, so this isn't a case against glass. But an empty tin is small, light and has a lid, so plenty of customers keep it for pins, balms or loose tea. Reuse is even better than recycling.

What Can You Make With Tins That Glass Can't Do?

Tins open up whole new products.

• Travel candles. A lidded tin goes in a suitcase or handbag without any worry about breakage.
• Gift sets and discovery boxes. Small tins sit neatly side by side, so three or four scents fit in one slim box.
• Samples and testers. A 100ml tin is cheap enough to let customers try a new scent before buying a full-size jar.
• Seasonal and limited editions. Gold and black tins look premium with nothing more than a simple label.

The lid earns its keep too. It keeps dust off the wax, holds the fragrance in between burns and makes the candle look finished on the shelf.

Christmas is the big one. If you're planning gift sets, order your tins early so you have time to pour, cure and label.

When Is Glass Still the Better Choice?

Tins aren't right for every candle.

• Seeing the wax. Glass shows off coloured wax, layers and the glow of the flame. A tin hides all of that.
• A luxury feel. A heavy glass jar feels substantial in the hand, and many customers link that weight with a higher price.
• Large and multi-wick candles. Big statement candles and three-wick designs usually suit thick glass better.
• Hot surfaces. A burning tin gets hot to the touch. Tell customers to stand it on a heat-resistant surface, and put that on your safety label.

So many brands do both. Glass for the hero candle. Tins for travel sizes, samples and gift sets.

Our candle glass range sits alongside our tins, so you can build both from one order.

The Bottom Line

Candle brands aren't switching to tins because they're cheap. They're switching because tins work.

They're lighter to post. They don't break. They recycle well. And they make travel candles, samples and gift sets easy.

Glass still has its place for big statement candles. But for everything else, a tin is well worth testing.

Our 100ml gold and black tins have welded seams, slip lids and a food-safe lacquer, and you can buy them singly for testing. Browse our candle tins and candle glass, or contact us and tell us what you're making.

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