Something a lot of new candle makers might not be aware of is the candle labeling requirements. These requirements go all the way back to the 1960s and the passing of the Fair Packing and Labeling Act. Let’s take a closer look at the US candle label requirements.
What are the candle label requirements? Candle labels should include the identity of the product, the name, and place of your business, and the net quantity of contents according to the Fair Packing and Labeling Act. In addition, candles should have cautionary fire safety labels.
You have a little bit of leeway in how you handle some of these requirements. For example, you do not have to list your street address on the candle itself, and sometimes the packaging for the candle can help cover some of these requirements.
United States Candle Label Requirements
The legal requirements for candle labeling are different based on country and region so please check with your local governments for what is required of you as a candle maker.
These are the rules and guidelines as required in the United States.
Candle Label Breakdown
You’ve probably noticed at this point that all candles or combinations of candle packaging and candles have the same type of information.
It seems like a no-brainer that they would contain this information. However, that hasn’t always been the case.
The government was forced to regulate labeling activity to get some transparency and consistency from manufacturers.
Package
What does package mean?
Any container or wrapping in which any consumer commodity is enclosed for use in the delivery or display of that commodity to retail purchasers.
Fair Package and Labeling Act
This definition does not include the box you mail your candle in, only an inner box that may contain information regarding your company and the candle itself.
Primary Display Label
What is a prmary display label?
Any written, printed, or graphic matter affixed to or appearing upon any consumer commodity or affixed to or appearing upon a package containing any consumer commodity.
Fair Package and Labeling Act
Safety Label
The safety label must contain the three universal fire safety rules.
Candle Label Materials
It is important to remember that your candles are going to be used repeatedly over the course of days if not weeks or months. This use includes heating and cooling that can affect your labels.
You will want to use a label material and glue that can hold up to such use without fading, peeling or falling off.
Not only does this fulfill the candle label requirements, but it also is a sign of quality for your candle. What would you think if you paid $20 for a hand-poured soy wax candle online and then after 3-4 uses the label started to peel off? It is not a good look.
Fair Packing and Labeling Act
Statement of Identity
The Statement of Identity (§500.4 Statement of identity) requires that your label tell what your candle is. If it is a soy wax candle it should say soy wax candle, if it is paraffin wax it should say paraffin wax candle.
Name and Place of Business or Manufacturer
The Name of Place of Business or Manufacturer (§500.5 Name and place of business of manufacturer, packer or distributor) is also required. This requires your company name, street address, city, zip code, and state.
However, if you have our street address listed on your website you can leave it off of the candles and packaging. P.O Box addresses do not count, it has to be the actual physical address.
Net Quantity of Contents
The Net Quantity of Contents (§500.6 Net quantity of contents declaration) wants to know the amount of material in your candle. This is required in both imperial and metric measurement units
Basically how many ounces and how many grams of wax in your candle.
4 oz candle would be 112 grams.
8 oz candle would be 224 grams.
12 oz candle would be 336 grams.
Consumer Product Safety Commission
The Consumer Protection and Safety Commission states that candle safety labels should contain three safety precautions.
These labels are usually found on the bottoms of your candles.
You can find graphic representations of these three safety precautions available for download and use at the National Candle Association.
Burn Within Sight
Keep Away From Combustibles
Keep Away From Children
Generally, these would be displayed with a statement such as:
WARNING
- Burn within sight
- Never burn on or near anything that can catch fire
- Keep out of reach of children and pets
Candle Label Check List
The basic information you want to include on your candle labels.
United States Candle Label Requirements
- Company name, city, and state.
- Candle scent.
- Candle weight.
- Type of wax used.
- The web address for complete address information.
- Fire Safety Label
Frequently Asked Questions
The weight on the label only includes the weight of the wax, not the container. If the candle is 8 oz that means that the container holds 8 oz of wax by weight and that is the number that should be included on the label.
Wholesalers are exempt from many of these rules, you can read more about that here. When you sell candles wholesale some retailers may relabel them. Discuss this with the retailer when you are creating your wholesale deal.
It can, however, it is not required. All wicks are now required to be lead-free in the United States. So every candle should be lead-free.
You can create your labels online through a service such as avery.com or you can have someone create them for you through a site such as fiverr.com or freelancer.com. Just make sure that if someone creates them for you, make sure that they meet the candle label requirements.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I think you should be as open and transparent with your customers as possible. This includes giving your customer all of the information about your candle you can and not just the candle label requirements the government requires of you.
If you want to clue your customers in on any other information about your candles that isnt required to be on the label you have options.
You can always print it on a card and throw it on the box with your candle before shipping, include it on your website, and include that on a note inside of the candles box. You can even print it on the box that you put our candle in for shipping.
I suggest adding in suggested burn requirements such as wick trimming tips, minimum and maximum burn time. This is something most people pay no attention to and it is the biggest thing to help them get the most out of their candles.
