The 84-Candle Rule: My Journey to Mastering Candle Making

When I first heard about the 84-candle rule from Armatage Candle Company, I thought it sounded crazy. Eighty-four candles? Give them all away? But I decided to try it anyway, and I can honestly say it changed everything. It took me from just messing around with candles to actually knowing what I was doing. Plus, it helped me figure out how to start a real business.

What Is the 84-Candle Rule?

The idea is pretty straightforward. After you pick your wax type, you make 84 candles and give every single one away. You don't sell them. You don't keep them. You give them away and ask people for their honest opinions. This helps you get better through practice and learn from your mistakes in ways that watching videos never could.

Why I Decided to Do It

At first, 84 candles seemed like way too many. But here's what made sense to me: you get better by doing things over and over. Think about it. Chefs don't make one good meal and call themselves experts. Basketball players don't practice a shot once and then play in a game. Candle making is a real skill, and like anything else, you need serious practice to understand things like temperature, timing, how strong the scent should be, and how to make them look good.

Why You Need Honest Feedback

Here's something most beginners don't get. You need people to tell you the truth, not just say nice things to make you feel good. When I started giving away my candles, I told my friends and family that I really wanted their honest thoughts. I asked specific questions like:

• How long did the candle burn?
• Was the scent too strong, too weak, or just right?
• Did it burn evenly or tunnel down the middle?
• How was the smell when it was burning versus when it wasn't lit?
• Did you see any black smoke or soot?
• Would you actually pay money for this?

Some of the feedback hurt a little. One friend told me my vanilla candle smelled like fake chemicals. Another person said the wick kept going out. But this honesty was super valuable. It showed me exactly what I needed to fix. These were problems I never would have noticed on my own because I was too excited about making them.

Helpful tip: Make a simple feedback form to give with each candle. Add space for ratings and comments. This makes it easier for people to be honest, and it helps you keep all the information organized.

Keep a Detailed Journal (This Is Super Important)

If I could only give one piece of advice to someone starting out, it would be this. Write everything down. I kept a detailed journal for all 84 candles, and it became the most helpful thing I had.

For each batch, I wrote down:

• Date and batch number
• Wax type and brand (I used soy wax for all of them to keep things consistent)
• Exact measurements (how much wax, how much fragrance oil, how much dye)
• Pouring temperature
• Cooling conditions (room temperature, any drafts, how long until I removed them)
• Wick type and size
• What kind of container I used
• How long I let them cure before giving them away
• What I noticed right away (how they looked, how they smelled cold, any problems)
• Feedback I got back (with dates and specific comments people made)

This journal became my guide. When candle number 52 came out perfect, I could make it exactly the same way again. When candles 18 through 22 all tunneled, I could figure out it was because I changed the wick size without thinking about my specific wax.

I also took photos of every candle, the good ones and the bad ones. Having pictures helped me see patterns I might have missed. For example, I noticed my early candles had bumpy tops before I learned how to use a heat gun the right way.

How This Helps You Plan a Business

What really surprised me was how the 84-candle rule made me think like a business owner right from the start, even though I wasn't selling anything yet.

Buying Supplies the Smart Way

Making 84 candles means buying a lot of supplies at once. This taught me important lessons about working with suppliers, understanding prices, and managing inventory. I learned:

• How much each candle costs to make: By tracking expenses for all 84 candles, I figured out my real material costs, not just what one candle costs
• Which suppliers are reliable: I tried different suppliers and found out which ones had good quality products and shipped on time
• Minimum order amounts: Buying fragrance oils, wax, and wicks in larger amounts showed me what realistic inventory looks like
• Weather matters: Some supplies don't ship well in really hot or cold weather, which affects when I could order

I made a spreadsheet to track every purchase. Later, this became the starting point for my business budget and how I figured out my prices.

Testing Different Products

The 84-candle rule also let me try different scents, sizes, and styles without worrying about money. I experimented with seasonal scents, tested different jars, and played around with colors. By candle 84, I knew exactly what I liked making, what people loved getting, and what fit with my vision for a possible brand.

I found out I really loved making simple candles with wooden wicks in concrete containers. I never would have known that if I'd only made a few candles.

Building Support Before You Start Selling

Here's something people don't talk about enough. Those 84 people who got my candles became my first supporters. When I finally felt ready to start my business, I already had people who knew my products. Several of them became my first real customers and told their friends about my candles.

The Skills You'll Actually Master

By candle 84, I could:

• Pour candles with smooth, flat tops every time
• Pick the right wick size for any jar and wax combination
• Make candles with strong scent when burning without being too much
• Fix common problems like frosting, sinkholes, and wet spots
• Know exactly how long candles need to cure
• Make candles that looked professional and went well together

These weren't things I just read about. These were skills I actually learned by doing it over and over and making mistakes.

The Hardest Part: Actually Giving Them All Away

I'm not going to lie. By candle 60, I wanted to start selling. Some of them looked amazing. People were asking if they could buy them. But I stuck with the rule, and I'm really glad I did. Those last 24 candles included some of my best work AND some unexpected failures that reminded me to stay humble. If I'd started selling too early, I might have hurt my reputation before I really knew what I was doing.

What Happened After I Made 84 Candles

Looking back at my journal and photos, the difference between candle 1 and candle 84 is huge. My first candles had bumpy surfaces, weak scents, and burned badly. My later candles burned clean for more than 40 hours, got great feedback consistently, and looked like they could be sold in a nice shop.

Even more important, I had:

• A clear understanding of my costs and how much profit I could make
• Good relationships with reliable suppliers
• A product line I felt confident about
• Detailed notes I could look back at anytime
• A group of people excited about what I was doing
• Real confidence that came from actually getting good at this

Should You Try the 84-Candle Rule?

Definitely. If you're serious about candle making, whether as a hobby you really care about or a future business, this practice is incredibly helpful. It separates people who just want to make a few candles from people who want to actually master the skill.

Yes, you have to spend money on supplies. Yes, it takes time (it took me about six months, making candles on weekends). And yes, it's hard to give away candles you're proud of. But what you learn and the confidence you build are worth way more than taking shortcuts.

So Here's The Lesson

The 84-candle rule isn't about being perfect. It's about getting better. It's about showing up again and again, learning from your mistakes, and being humble enough to listen to honest feedback. It taught me that getting really good at something isn't a finish line. It's an ongoing process. Being willing to learn is more important than being naturally talented.

If you're thinking about doing this, just start with candle 1. Write down everything. Ask for honest feedback. And trust that by candle 84, you'll be amazed at how much better you've gotten.

Your future business and your future customers will be glad you put in the work.