The Candle Labels Requirements Guide
Before you can sell a single candle it’s imperative you understand the legal and industry requirements for your candle labels.
But first, a little history about why we have requirements in the first place.
You might not believe this, but companies back in the day would try and deceive the common customer to pay the most money for the least amount of product (gasp!).
They had all sorts of tricks up their sleeves, including “slack filling:” using weird, unreadable font sizes and colors, and deceptive container shapes.
It’s a classic case of “they could definitely fit more chips in this bag” but with everything.
Consumers were lost at sea trying to compare items and figure out what they were actually paying for. Today, the common consumer is a little more aware of these tricks, but pre-1960 folk were frustrated and more gullible to common marketing practices.
Across the pond? Check out our label requirements guide for candles made in the EU instead.
Fair Packaging & Labeling Act
Over a series of several decades, the US government tried to figure out the right way to deal with marketing shenanigans while still respecting the free market. This careful balancing act gave birth to the Fair Packaging & Labeling Act (FPLA) to give consumers the edge they needed in the marketplace.
The FPLA created rules to help shoppers:
- Easily find a product’s quantity and other important information
- Compare similar products to one another
- Trust container shapes and sizes actually held what they appeared to hold
There’s more.
Consumer Product Safety Commission
Home candle use surged in the 1980’s which naturally lead to an increase of home fires.
An average of 12,500 candle-related fires occurred every year near the end of the 1990s! This $250 million annual damage drew the attention of a small government agency called the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
In an effort to combat the growing threat of candle negligence, the CPSC worked with industry partners, fire marshals, and ASTM (among others) to build voluntary standards for the candle industry.
Candle burn test requirements are a voluntary standard.
Bottom line: the FPLA and CPSC build standards to protect the consumers and businesses. Candle fires have decreased since the creation of the standards.
The industry has continued to boom, so common sense might be growing with it (unless you’re repeat offender Britney Spears – sorry, Britney!).
What does this mean for your candle labels?
Your primary candle label, the one with the pretty logo and everything, has to follow a certain set of rules. Same goes for your safety label too.
This guide aims to clarify the ins and outs for these, as well as dispel the common rumors about label requirements that frequent the internet in some places.
What does "Candle Labels" mean?
The FPLA and CPSC use a lot of strange words to describe candle labels. To spare you the jargon, the following picture represents a translation of their requirements:
Outer Container – non-shipping packaging. Can also be a holder for taper candles. Referred to by the FPLA as package.
Primary Label – connected to the container and has information about the product. Referred to by the FPLA as label or Principal Display Panel.
Safety Label – describes the hazards and instructions. Referred to as a label by the ASTM International guidance used by CPSC.
Two things to clarify:
- The FPLA covers the Primary Label requirements extensively, but do not provide much/any guidance for the Safety Label.
- The CPSC partnered with ASTM International to develop voluntary standards for the Safety Label. This standard is ASTM F2058.
The only possible exception to this is mentioned in FPLA 500.2:
“The term label means 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; except that…”
So the good news – your bare candle label doesn’t need to have all the following mumbo on it.
The bad-ish news is you need to carry and market it in something that does have all that (and it can’t be the shipping packaging).
This is likely how some brands are able to get away with minimal labeling on their candles – using a box or “primary container” used to display the product, rather than the container housing the wax/wick.
Another viable alternative is stringing the information for the primary label on something affixed to the container via twine or string that clearly displays everything at the time of purchase.
Primary Label Requirements
The primary factors to consider for a label are the content, location, and typography. Described below:
Label Content
At a minimum, the primary label must include:
- Statement of Identity
- Name and place where the candle came from
- Net weight
Statement of Identity
The Statement of Identity (§500.4) is the main description of the product, different than your company name. Any words used must describe the product. Misleading product names don’t count!
Examples:
- Soy Wax Candle
- Candle
- America’s Best Loved Candle
- 100% Soy Wax Candle
Name & Location
Also include your company name and where the candle came from. You have to include your corporate business name, including:
- City (example: Minneapolis)
- State (example: Minnesota)
- Zip code (example: 55410)
- Street address (you can leave this out if it’s available somewhere on the internet)
If you are selling the candle to a wholesale retailer or distributor, identify them as well using words like, “Manufactured for” or “Distributed by”.
Net Weight
According to FPLA §500.7, near the bottom of the candle labels you need to include the net weight of the candle. The net weight is the weight of the wax, in ounces and grams, of the candle.
Net weight doesn’t include the weight of the jar or vessel – just the wax & wick.
Make sure you include English AND metric units, not either/or. Candles are a semi-solid product.
Examples:
- Net Wt. 7 oz (198 g)
- 198 g (7 oz)
It’s not okay to “describe” the weight. For example, the following are not okay to use:
- Jumbo 7 oz (198 g)
- Hand-poured 7 oz (198 g) candles
Since the candle industry regularly advertises products in terms of pure ounces instead of pounds and ounces, it’s okay to say “24 oz” instead of “1 lb 8 oz” according to FPLA §500.7.
Label Location
The content mentioned above can be anywhere on the Primary Label except for the net weight.
Display net weight on the lower 30% of the Primary Label (FPLA §500.6). If the panel is greater than 5 in² (approximately 2.5″ x 2″) this rule doesn’t apply.
Label Typography
Font for the net weight needs to be clearly visible and readable.
After finding a place for it on your Primary Label, you need to do a little math to figure out the minimum font size. The first step is to calculate the “display pane”. Straight, square jars have a different calculation than cylindrical jars.
Cylindrical Candles
Display Pane = ( Container Height ) x ( Diameter ) x 1.26
Square-Sided Candles
Display Pane = ( Container Height ) x ( Container Width )
Minimum Font Size
Once you calculate the display pane, use the table below to find your minimum font size for displaying net weight:
| Display Pane Size (in²) | Minimum Font Size |
|---|---|
| Less than or equal to 5 in² | 1/16" |
| 5 in² - 25 in² | 1/8" |
| 25 in² - 100 in² | 3/16" |
| 100 in² - 400 in² | 1/4" |
| Greater than 400 in² | 1/2" |
Add 1/16″ if the words are blown, embossed, or molded onto the container. In the above example, the candle’s display area is 13.23 in² which would require a minimum font size of 1/8″.
Safety Label Requirements
Candle labels also need to comply with the Federal Hazardous Substances Act (FHSA) because candles can be considered a “thermal hazard”.
ASTM F2058 also provides industry standards for safety labels. The main concerns are content, location, and typography.
Safety Label Content
Include three items on the safety label:
- Signal word
- Statement of principle hazard
- Cautionary material & instructions for use
The industry standard requires the signal word WARNING followed by the statements:
- Burn within sight.
- Keep away from things that catch fire.
- Keep away from children.
…in that order too. The safety label can be text only or a combination of text and pictograms. If it’s a votive candle it can use an abbreviated version of the text, too, but has to include the statement “Burn within sight.”.
Download the pictograms from the National Candle Association.
Source: ASTM F2058-07
The additional use instructions aren’t required by the industry (ASTM), but they are required by FHSA.
Safety Label Location
Safety label can be on the top, bottom, or sides of the candle jar and any packaging the candle is displayed in for retail. If you can’t place it directly on the candle or packaging, attaching it with a tag is okay too.
See-through packaging doesn’t need a label if the safety label on the container inside is visible.
Safety Label Typography
The minimum font size depends on the surface area where the label will be placed. All measurements are based on where the actual sticker will be placed (front, sides, top, or bottom).
Square or Rectangular Face
Surface Area = ( Width ) x ( Height )
Circular Face (top or bottom of cylindrical candle)
Surface Area = ( Diameter ÷ 2) x ( Diameter ÷ 2) x 3.14
Side of Cylinder
Don’t include the “neck” of the candle if it tapers near the top when calculating the Height – start with the straight part of the candle body.
Surface Area = ( Diameter ) x ( Height ) x 1.26
Minimum Font Size
If you measure in inches, the result will be in². If you measured in centimeters, the result will be cm². The table below is from ASTM F2058 which tells you the minimum text height requirements:
If you aren’t interested in designing something on your own, there are a lot of pre-built safety stickers that meet all the requirements available for purchase on the internet.
Common Misconceptions
There’s a lot of subject matter around designing candle labels – this is merely an overview of legal standards you should consider. Here are some common misconceptions, some related to standards, some not:
Misconception #1 – the candle name has to be the same as the fragrance oil.
Although fragrance oils are an integral part of the candle, they don’t have to receive any credit in the final product. Otherwise we’d have tons of candles called, “7 ounce amber jar black lid LX 14 cactus flower and jade c-3 soy wax candle“. Supplies don’t need to be credited any more than you wish to credit them.
Read more about the artful-side of designing candle labels here.
Misconception #2 – candles are a solid.
They are actually a semi-solid object. Technically the fragrance oil is a liquid at room temperature, but a melted candle has a melt pool that obviously isn’t solid either.
Misconception #3 – the listed net weight includes the container weight.
The net weight required should not include the jar, container, or packaging. Only include the literal candle inside it. Also, never list the volume of wax (Fl oz) – only the weight has to be listed (in ounces and grams!).
Misconception #4 – wholesale candles abide by the same rules.
If you’re selling candles wholesale, you don’t have to follow the same restrictions (read more of 15 U.S. Code § 1452 here).
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