SEO Keywords for Candle Stores

How to Choose the Best Candle Store Keywords for Your Business

Before you begin adding every candle-related phrase to your homepage, it’s important to step back and ask yourself a key question:

Who Is Your Ideal Candle Customer?

Do you primarily sell to shoppers looking for affordable everyday candles? Are you focused on high-end luxury candles, handmade soy candles, or gift bundles for special occasions? Each type of customer uses different search terms, and understanding their intent is essential.

For example:

• A shopper looking for an everyday product might search “scented candles near me”

• A gift buyer could type “candle gift sets in [City]”

• A luxury shopper may Google “hand-poured soy candles [City]”

By understanding the buying motivations and search behaviors of your target audience, you can choose keywords that directly match what they are looking for.

Start With Your Core Products

Begin by identifying your most popular items. These keywords often have the strongest search volume and can serve as the foundation for your homepage, product pages, and advertising campaigns. For example:

• Scented candles near me

• Soy candles [City Name]

• Luxury candle shop

• Custom candle maker

Once you identify these core terms, use keyword tools like Google Keyword Planner, Ahrefs, or SEMrush to uncover related keywords with strong traffic potential and less competition.

Research Your Competitors

Look at the top-ranking candle stores in your area. What keywords are they using in their page titles, product descriptions, and category pages? SEO tools can help you discover which terms are driving traffic to their websites. Spotting gaps in their strategy gives you the opportunity to position your store more effectively.

Prioritize Long-Tail Keywords

Over 90 percent of all Google searches are long-tail keywords. These are highly specific, often question-based phrases. They may not bring massive search volume, but they attract customers who are ready to buy. Examples include:

• How much do soy candles cost in [City]

• Best candle store for wedding favors

• What are the most popular candle scents this year

Long-tail keywords are excellent for blog posts, FAQs, and dedicated landing pages. They align closely with customer intent and can drive valuable, high-converting traffic when used strategically.

Ready to Improve Your Search Visibility Online? Get Your Free SEO Report!

Each report is hand-crafted by a team member at MarketKeep and comes with a customized video that walks you through your report visually. That way we can help you understand how your business is performing online, and what you can do better in order to connect with your customers in the moments that matter to them.

The Best SEO Keywords for Candle Stores by Category

Organizing your keywords into categories makes it easier to build optimized product pages, blog posts, and ad campaigns around them. Here’s how you can break them down:

General Candle Store Keywords

These are broad, high-volume keywords perfect for your homepage, main product pages, or Google Ads campaigns. They capture shoppers who are generally searching for candles or a local candle shop.

• candle store near me

• best candle shop

• local candle store

• buy candles online

• candle shop open now

• affordable candles

• top rated candle shop

• handmade candles store

Local SEO Keywords (Insert Your City or Area)

These keywords help your candle business appear in local search results when shoppers are searching for stores nearby. Use them on city-specific pages, your Google Business Profile, and local content.

• candle store in [City Name]

• scented candles in [City Name]

• soy candles [City or Neighborhood]

• candle shop near [Landmark or Area]

• best candle shop in [Your Area]

• custom candles [City Name]

Product-Specific Candle Keywords

These terms match the specific products you sell. Use them on category pages, product descriptions, and ad campaigns.

• scented candle collection

• soy wax candles

• luxury candles

• candle gift sets

• aromatherapy candles

• seasonal candles (Christmas, fall, etc.)

• personalized candles

• hand-poured candles

Occasion and Gift Keywords

Candles are often bought as gifts or for events. These keywords work well on blog posts, landing pages, and gift guide content.

• birthday candle gifts

• wedding candle favors

• holiday candle sets

• Valentine’s Day candles

• Mother’s Day candles

• candles for home décor

• spa and relaxation candles

Long-Tail Keywords for Blog and FAQ Strategy

These detailed search terms may have lower traffic but higher purchase intent. They are great for blog posts, FAQs, and guides.

• how to choose the best candle scent for your home

• what is the difference between soy candles and paraffin candles

• how long should a scented candle burn

• best candle scents for relaxation

• where to buy custom candles in [City]

• are handmade candles worth the price

Ready to Improve Your Search Visibility Online? Get Your Free SEO Report!

Each report is hand-crafted by a team member at MarketKeep and comes with a customized video that walks you through your report visually. That way we can help you understand how your business is performing online, and what you can do better in order to connect with your customers in the moments that matter to them.

Ready to Improve Your Search Visibility Online? Get Your Free SEO Report!

Each report is hand-crafted by a team member at MarketKeep and comes with a customized video that walks you through your report visually. That way we can help you understand how your business is performing online, and what you can do better in order to connect with your customers in the moments that matter to them.

On-Page SEO for Candle Stores

Make your website easy for Google to understand while being irresistible to potential customers.

On-page SEO is about fine-tuning your website so it performs well in search results while creating a smooth, enjoyable shopping experience. When your candle store site loads quickly, communicates clearly, and includes the right keywords, Google is far more likely to recommend it.

Where to Use SEO Keywords for Maximum Impact

Use your candle-related keywords strategically in the areas where search engines and shoppers focus most:

• Page Titles: Use clear, location-based phrases like Candle Store in [City] | [Your Business Name]

• Meta Descriptions: Write compelling summaries with strong keywords, such as Looking for luxury candles in [City]? Explore our hand-poured collection today.

• Headings (H1, H2): Use natural keyword-rich headlines like Soy Scented Candles in [City] or Trusted Local Candle Store

• Body Content: Include keywords naturally throughout product descriptions, category pages, and blog posts. Avoid stuffing; focus on clarity and value.

• URLs: Create clean, keyword-friendly URLs such as /scented-candles-[city]

Create Dedicated Pages for Each Candle Category

Instead of putting all products on one generic page, give each major category or theme its own page. This improves both SEO and user experience while giving you the chance to rank for highly specific searches.

Examples include:

• Soy Candles

• Seasonal Candles

• Candle Gift Sets

• Aromatherapy Candles

• Decorative Candle Holders

Each page should highlight one focus keyword, use location-based phrases when relevant, and include strong calls to action such as Shop Now or Order Your Favorite Candle Today.

Improve Your Site Speed and Mobile Experience

Many candle purchases are impulse-driven, especially around holidays or special occasions, so your site must be fast and mobile-friendly.

Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights or GTmetrix to identify improvements. Make sure your site:

• Loads quickly on desktop and mobile

• Is easy to navigate on smartphones

• Includes visible calls to action like Buy Now or Visit Our Store

Add Schema Markup to Your Site

Schema markup helps Google better understand your business and products. Adding Local Business Schema or Product Schema improves how your store appears in search results.

Include details such as:

• Business name

• Address and service areas

• Hours of operation

• Product categories and availability

Optimize Your Images for SEO

Candles are highly visual products, and images play a huge role in convincing customers to buy. But images also matter for SEO.

Every image should be:

• Compressed for fast loading

• Labeled with descriptive filenames (e.g., lavender-soy-candle-chicago.jpg)

• Given keyword-rich alt text (e.g., Hand-poured lavender soy candle available in Chicago)

Optimized images not only improve rankings but also boost accessibility and increase the chance of appearing in Google Images.

Off-Page SEO for Candle Stores

Build trust, increase visibility, and strengthen your candle shop’s online reputation.

Off-page SEO covers all the work you do outside of your website to improve rankings and authority. The more trusted websites that link to your store—and the more your brand is mentioned across the web—the more confident Google becomes in recommending you to shoppers.

Ways to Strengthen Your Off-Page SEO

Earn High-Quality Backlinks

Think of backlinks as referrals from other websites. When credible sources link to your candle store, it signals trust to search engines and helps boost your visibility.

• Submit your business to directories relevant to retail or home decor, such as Yelp, BBB, Houzz, or local Chamber of Commerce listings.

• Reach out to lifestyle blogs, home décor sites, or wellness publications and offer to contribute articles or tips about candles.

• Get listed on niche directories for artisan goods, handmade products, or eco-friendly stores.

Promote Content on Social Media

Social media is a powerful tool for driving traffic and sparking interest in your products.

• Share product photos, seasonal candle collections, gift ideas, and behind-the-scenes videos.

• Publish educational content such as How to Choose the Right Candle Scent for Your Home or Candle Care Tips for Longer Burn Time.

• Use location-based hashtags like #ChicagoCandles or #NYCHandmadeCandles to reach shoppers in your area.

• Engage with your followers by responding to questions, showcasing customer photos, and encouraging reviews.

Connect with the Local Community Online

Partnerships and collaborations can help grow your presence beyond your own website.

• Sponsor local events, farmers’ markets, or craft fairs and ask for a link on the event’s website.

• Join local business associations or artisan groups that feature online member directories.

• Partner with gift shops, florists, or spas and request to be listed on their vendor pages or recommended partner lists.

Ask for Links from Happy Customers and Partners

If you supply candles to local businesses, gift box companies, or wedding planners, ask them to feature your store and link to your website. These partnerships often create high-quality backlinks and increase your brand exposure.

Track and Maintain Your Backlink Profile

Monitoring your backlink profile ensures that the links pointing to your site are beneficial.

• Use SEO tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Moz to track new and lost backlinks.

• If you find low-quality or spammy links pointing to your store, disavow them through Google Search Console to protect your rankings.

Pro Tip: Tie It All Together With Google Analytics 

Track your performance by monitoring:

• Which keywords are bringing traffic

• Which pages get the most visitors

• What search terms trigger your Google Business Profile

By tying in tools like Google Analytics, Google Search Console, and Google Business Profile Insights, you can refine your SEO strategy over time and continue climbing the ranks.