Sourcing Citronella Candles from China
Citronella candles from China pay 0% UK duty under heading 3406. Products must be safe, and a candle supplied as a biocidal insect repellent needs authorisation before it can be made available on the market. Agree the formulation, burn tests and label before production. Cambridge China Bridge sources citronella candles.
Duty on citronella candles
Heading 3406 covers candles, tapers and the like. Citronella candles are covered here as finished candles. The supplied tariff data contains a single commodity line, shared by the candle formats described in the table. See the wider candle guide for other wax and fragrance options.
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, code 3406 00 00 00 carries 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied data lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, tariff suspension or attached import control. Zero duty does not remove product safety or biocide obligations.
Confirm the finished product's commodity code using its composition, presentation and intended use. Budget separately for import VAT at 20%; see UK import duty and VAT.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Citronella candles, including jar, tin and tealight formats | 3406 00 00 00 | 0% | None |
Specify the citronella formulation and intended use
State whether you want citronella essential oil or a citronella-style fragrance, and agree its supplier, identity and loading. Specify the wax grade, blend, wick, fill weight, container and lid. Approve the scent unlit and during burning, then retain a sample of the final combination.
Settle the intended use before approving artwork. HSE excludes substances used for non-biocidal purposes from biocide regulation. If the candle is a biocidal insect repellent, it must be authorised before being made available on the market. Ask HSE to confirm the route for the exact formulation and proposed claims before ordering.
Products must be safe. Request burn results for the actual wax, fragrance, wick and container combination. Obtain the fragrance safety data sheet and assess the finished formulation for applicable hazard labelling in Great Britain. A label for concentrated oil is not a substitute for assessing the candle.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order of 2005 citronella jar candles; FOB and freight are hypothetical under 3406 00 00 00, invoiced at £2,005 free on board, with £2,002 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £4,007. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £4,007, so it is £801.40. With no duty, the only import tax is the VAT, which a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Formula: compare wax and fragrance purchase records with the agreed specification and production batch records. Check the scent against the approved sample.
Burn: check wick centring, flame behaviour, soot, tunnelling and container condition through the agreed burn trial. Use production candles for the checks.
Artwork: compare labels and online copy with the approved wording. Check safety warnings and any applicable hazard label; flag added mosquito pictures or repellent wording for review.
Packing: check glass for chips and cracks, tins for dents, lids for fit and cartons for protection. Look for softened wax, oil leakage and shifted wicks during quality inspection and on arrival.
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What goes wrong
A stronger citronella scent does not establish insect-repellent performance. Treat burn performance and repellent claims as separate purchasing questions. Keep the supplier's proposed claims out of approved artwork until the product's regulatory position has been checked.
Changing the oil loading or wick after sample approval can change the burn. Heat during transport can soften wax, move wicks and stain packaging. Require approval for formulation changes, trial the complete shipping pack and compare arrival samples with the retained reference candle.
Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For repeat volumes, see container programmes.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on citronella candles from China?
The supplied tariff data gives 0% duty under 3406 00 00 00, read on 1 October 2026. It lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty.
Can I sell citronella candles as mosquito repellents?
Check the exact product and claims with HSE. A biocidal product must be authorised before it can be made available on the market. Citronella scent alone does not establish repellent performance.
What should I ask the Chinese candle factory for?
Request the wax and fragrance specification, fragrance safety data sheet, batch records and burn results for the final wick and container combination. Approve the label and retain a reference sample.
What should I check when citronella candles arrive?
Check scent, fill, wick position, glass or tin condition, lid fit and labels against the approved sample. Look for oil leakage, softened wax and stained boxes, then burn-test production samples.