A pair of Scottish entrepreneurs are spearheading a major upheaval in the candle industry, helping the growing number of candle companies switch from petroleum-based waxes to sustainable plant-based alternatives in response to increasing consumer demand and environmental pressures — something they believe could completely transform a £6.5 billion global market.
Candle Shack was founded in 2010 by Duncan Maclean, a former army officer, and his wife Cheryl, a beautician, who began making candles at their kitchen table.
The company has since grown into a multi-million-pound enterprise, with its headquarters in Falkirk and a European base in the Netherlands, launched post-Brexit to better serve an emerging European customer base.
Today, Candle Shack handles more than 100,000 orders annually, enabling thousands of entrepreneurs to build side businesses and early-stage ventures in the candle-making industry.
As well as providing materials, the brand empowers makers by offering training and guidance to help them succeed — something that’s crucial as we embark on what CEO Duncan Maclean has described as the ‘Great Wax Transition’, a movement to phase out paraffin wax in favour of more sustainable plant-based alternatives.
Duncan says the transition has already begun, and expects almost all candles to be made from plant based waxes within the next 10 years.
He said: “The consumer demand for plant-based products is now undeniable. When you see major brands like IKEA and Rituals integrating plant waxes into their ranges, it’s a signal to the rest of the industry: adapt or be left behind. As the various EU Green Deal laws come into force, sustainability will be an even more significant factor.
“For decades, paraffin wax — derived from petroleum — has been the standard for candle-making. Whilst the demand for more sustainable products continues to grow, the technical hurdles of producing high-quality plant-based candles has slowed progress.
“Making plant wax candles at scale has always been the sticking point. Plant-based waxes are more challenging to work with, but we’ve shown that these barriers can be overcome with the right expertise and innovation.
“The shift has already begun, and I fully expect that most candles will be made from plant-based waxes within the next decade.”
Candle Shack’s state-of-the-art R&D labs have been pivotal in addressing these challenges. The company collaborates with major wax producers, including AAK and Cargill, to develop next-generation waxes that can rival the performance of paraffin. The company has developed an exclusive rapeseed and coconut blend, RCX, which has already become Candle Shack’s best-selling wax and is now used by global luxury names like Floral Street and Liz Earle.
Duncan, who is part of a cohort of entrepreneurs backed by Scottish philanthropist Sir Tom Hunter’s Scale Up Scotland programme, added: “RCX burns clean, creates a beautiful straw-coloured melt pool, and performs exceptionally well. It’s proof that plant-based waxes can meet – and even exceed – paraffin. Paraffin wax makes great candles, but ultimately, consumers are gradually demanding ever more sustainable/renewable products. It will inevitably be replaced over time with plant-based alternatives .
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“Brands want to innovate, but they’re often held back by logistical challenges. Many manufacturers are locked into automated systems optimised for paraffin wax. They lack the R&D capacity and expertise to make the switch. That’s where we can hopefully help.
“We’re not just helping companies switch to plant waxes — we’re helping them future-proof their businesses. The Great Wax Transition will define the next decade of candle-making, and brands that embrace it now will be the ones that thrive.”
A recent survey commissioned by Candle Shack and run by independent insights agency Opinion Matters revealed that 30% of Scots either have a second job or are considering one, with 47% actively seeking new ways to supplement their income. Many are turning to ‘side hustles’ to bring in more cash – a trend that has lit a fire underneath the burgeoning candle market.
For more information on Candle Shack visit candle-shack.co.uk/
