Candle Safety & Compliance

Candles and Wax Products Regulations: Burn Testing and Safety Standards

You hand-pour beautiful scented candles. You craft artisan soy wax melts. You sell on Etsy with excellent customer reviews. But are you compliant with safety regulations? Most handmade candle makers don't realize that certain platforms (Amazon, some retailers) require burn testing. The CPSC has specific guidelines about fragrance disclosure, labeling, and container safety. And if your candle catches fire in an unsafe way, you could face liability—and potential recall. This guide explains candle safety standards, which testing is actually required, how to properly label, and what you can do to stay compliant without expensive testing.

CPSC Candle Standards

CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission): The federal agency that sets safety standards for candles. Guidelines exist for proper burning, fragrance disclosure, and container safety.

Key standards:

  • • Maximum burn time without extinguishing or catching fire (usually 4 hours)
  • • Container must not overheat or break during normal use
  • • Wick must burn cleanly without excessive smoking
  • • Fragrance percentage must be disclosed
  • • Proper warning labels required

Important Note

CPSC doesn't mandate burn testing for all candles. However, Amazon and some retailers require it. Etsy doesn't officially require it but recommends it for liability protection.

Burn Testing: What Is It?

What Burn Testing Involves

Burn test: Professional lab burns your candle under controlled conditions to verify:

  • • It burns safely for the intended duration (usually 4 hours)
  • • The wick doesn't mushroom excessively or create unsafe levels of smoke
  • • The container doesn't overheat, crack, or break
  • • The flame remains stable and doesn't flare up
  • • Fragrance disperses properly without overwhelming smoke

Cost and Timeline

Cost: $300-$1,000 per candle scent/color combination (varies by lab)

Timeline: 2-4 weeks for results

Important: You typically need separate testing for each different fragrance/color combination because they may burn differently.

Do You Actually Need It?

Required by: Amazon (often), some premium retailers

Recommended by: Etsy, for liability protection

Reality check: Most Etsy candle sellers don't have burn testing. But having it protects you if a candle causes damage and a customer sues.

Practical approach: Test if you want Amazon sales. For Etsy-only, ensure your candles are safe, properly labeled, and you have product liability insurance.

Candle Labeling and Safety Requirements

Required Labels and Information

Every candle must include proper labeling with:

  • • Product name and scent
  • • Net weight or volume (e.g., "8 oz")
  • • Manufacturer name and address
  • • Burn time (e.g., "up to 40 hours")
  • • Fragrance percentage (optional but recommended, e.g., "8% fragrance")
  • • Wax type (optional but helpful, e.g., "100% soy wax")
  • • Wick material (optional, e.g., "braided cotton wick")

Required Warning Labels

All candles must include warning labels. Standard warnings:

  • ✓ "Never leave burning candle unattended"
  • ✓ "Keep away from flammable materials"
  • ✓ "Never touch or move a burning candle"
  • ✓ "Trim wick to 1/4 inch"
  • ✓ "Do not burn for more than 4 hours at a time"
  • ✓ "Allow wax to cool completely before relighting"
  • ✓ "Keep out of reach of children and pets"

Pro Tip

Print warning labels and place them on the bottom or back of the candle jar. Make them visible and legible (at least 10-point font).

Fragrance Disclosure and Safety

Fragrance Percentage Disclosure

Requirement: When making fragrance claims, disclose the fragrance percentage (fragrance load).

Example: "Made with 8% premium fragrance oil" or "Scented with 10% natural essential oil"

Why it matters: Higher fragrance loads (8-10%) mean stronger scent. Customers expect consistency. Disclosure prevents complaints about weak scents.

Fragrance Safety

Important: Use fragrance oils or essential oils specifically formulated for candles. Some fragrance oils are not safe for burning and can release harmful fumes.

  • ✓ Candle-grade fragrance oils: Formulated to burn safely
  • ✓ High-quality essential oils: Can be used but verify safety and appropriate load
  • ✗ Cheap fragrance oils: May not be candle-safe; can create excessive smoke
  • ✗ Perfume: Alcohol-based; unsafe for candles (flammable)

Wax Melts and Non-Burning Wax Products

Wax melts (for wax warmers) are not subject to burn testing because they don't involve an open flame.

Requirements for wax melts:

  • • Proper labeling with weight, product name, manufacturer
  • • Warning: "For use only in wax warmers" or "Do not burn"
  • • Warning: "Keep away from children and pets"
  • • Fragrance percentage (optional but recommended)

Good news: Wax melts are easier to sell because there's no burn testing required. Many candle makers shift to melts to avoid testing costs.

Container Safety

Safe Container Materials

Choose containers that won't overheat or crack when the candle burns:

  • ✓ Glass jars: Most common. Verify glass thickness (at least 3mm) to prevent cracking
  • ✓ Ceramic/ceramic-lined containers: Safe if properly designed for candles
  • ✓ Vessels made specifically for candles
  • ✗ Thin glass: Can crack from heat
  • ✗ Plastic containers: Can melt during burning
  • ✗ Painted or varnished wood: Fire hazard

Container Design

Important: Container opening should be wide enough for proper wick trimming and prevent excessive heat buildup at the top.

Avoid: Very narrow-mouth containers that concentrate heat

Candle Compliance Checklist

Step 1: Use candle-grade fragrance oils or high-quality essential oils at safe loads (8-10%)
Step 2: Choose safe containers (thick glass, ceramic designed for candles)
Step 3: Include proper warning labels on all candles
Step 4: Label with product info: name, weight, scent, fragrance %, burn time, manufacturer
Step 5: Test burn one candle from each batch to ensure safe burning
Step 6: Get burn testing if selling on Amazon or for extra liability protection

Key Takeaways

  • Burn testing is required for Amazon sellers, optional but recommended for Etsy.
  • All candles must have proper warning labels. Include burn time, wick trimming, safety warnings.
  • Use candle-grade fragrances only. Regular fragrance oils or perfume are not safe for burning candles.
  • Choose safe containers: Thick glass or ceramic designed for candles.
  • Wax melts don't require burn testing. Consider offering both candles and melts for flexibility.
  • Get product liability insurance to protect yourself against potential claims.

Other Craft-Specific Compliance Guides

Manage Your Candle Compliance

Burn testing documentation, fragrance sourcing, safety labels, product specifications—managing candle compliance information is complex. TrueCraft helps candle makers track fragrance sourcing, burn test results, and safety documentation.

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