Build your candle label

Before you print: a checklist

In the United States, three things belong on the front of a candle package by law: what it is, who made it and where, and how much is in it. A fire-safety warning is not required for most candles, but it is standard practice, and the details below say what the usual standard asks for. This is general information from public sources, not legal advice.

Required on the label

• Say what the product is. The front label needs a plain statement of what is in the package, such as "scented candle" or "wax melts". A scent name or brand name alone does not do that job. Sources: Fair Packaging and Labeling Act rules, 16 CFR Part 500; CandleScience: candle label requirements
• Name and place of business. Put the name of the business that made or packed the candle, with its city and state, on the label. The place can sit on the warning label instead of the front if you prefer. Sources: Fair Packaging and Labeling Act rules, 16 CFR Part 500; CandleScience: candle label requirements
• Net weight, in ounces and grams. State how much product is in the package, by weight, in both U.S. and metric units. It counts the wax, fragrance and dye. It does not count the wick, the container or the packaging. Weigh finished candles and declare what is really there. The wording must also be a minimum height, which depends on the size of the front of the package, and sit in the lower part of the front. Check the current rule for your label size. Sources: Fair Packaging and Labeling Act rules, 16 CFR Part 500; CandleScience: candle label requirements

Strongly recommended

• A fire-safety warning on every candle. A warning label is not a federal law for most candles, but it is the industry standard, and it shows you took reasonable care. The standard asks for three core messages: burn within sight, keep away from things that can catch fire, and keep out of reach of children. Put it where a buyer can see it at the time of sale, and do not cover it with other labels or wrapping. Sources: ASTM F2058, candle fire safety labeling; National Candle Association: safety standards; CandleScience: candle label requirements
• Use the standard layout. A text warning starts with the safety alert symbol, then the word WARNING in capital bold letters, then the statements. The standard also allows pictograms in place of text. It does not cover birthday candles or candles for places of worship or commercial use. Sources: ASTM F2058, candle fire safety labeling
• Only print burn directions you have tested. Directions such as a maximum burn time or when to stop burning should come from your own burn tests, not from another maker. Keep the results in your Burn Test Log. Sources: CandleScience: candle label requirements

Check for your situation

• Hazardous-substance cautions. If a product contains a substance that counts as hazardous under the Federal Hazardous Substances Act, it needs cautionary labeling. Read the safety data sheet for each fragrance oil and dye, and ask your supplier if one flags a hazard. Sources: CPSC candle guidance for businesses
• Metal-core wicks must be lead-limited. A metal-core wick may not contain more than a set amount of lead. If you use a wick with a metal core, ask your supplier to confirm it complies, and keep the paperwork. Sources: Lead in metal-core wicks, 16 CFR 1500.17; CPSC candle guidance for businesses
• Selling to California. California requires a warning when a product causes a significant exposure to listed chemicals. Whether your candle needs one depends on its ingredients and your business. Look at the official guidance, or ask your supplier or an advisor. Sources: California Proposition 65 warnings
• Selling outside the United States, or in other states. Other countries, such as the European Union, the United Kingdom and Canada, have their own labeling rules, and they can be stricter, for example about listing fragrance allergens. Some states and marketplaces add rules too. This tool is built around U.S. federal basics only.
• Get a professional opinion before you scale up. Rules change. If you sell candles regularly, ask a product-safety or small-business advisor to review your label, and your liability insurance, once. Sources: CPSC candle guidance for businesses

For a wider view of selling, see Selling Candles andCandle Safety.

These are estimates to start from. Always pour a test candle and confirm the numbers with your own supplier's data.

Related guides: Selling Candles · Candle Safety · Burn Test Log

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