How to make and apply your candle label

A candle for sale needs two things on its pack: the CLP label, which informs about the chemical hazards of the fragrance, and the safety warnings of standard EN 15494, which explain how to burn the candle without fire risk. This guide shows how to put both together simply, with our products.

1. Do I really need a label?

2. What must be on the pack

A. Product and responsible person

• Product name (e.g. “Amazing Lavender scented candle”).
• Name, full address and phone number of your company (whoever places the candle on the market). Under the EU General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR, Regulation (EU) 2023/988), also give an electronic contact (email or website).
• Nominal quantity (e.g. “180 g”).
• Batch number, for traceability (e.g. “Batch 2610-01”).

B. CLP block (copied from SDS section 2.2; see the CLP Regulation)

• Hazard pictograms.
• Signal word (Warning or Danger).
• Hazard (H) and precautionary (P) statements.
• Supplemental information (EUH), including the “Contains…” line.
• UFI code, when required.

If the SDS says the mixture is not classified, the CLP block may be reduced to the EUH statements shown in the SDS (for example EUH208). Even with no hazards, it is good practice to keep your company details and the phrase “Safety data sheet available on request”.

C. EN 15494 safety warnings

• General warning sign (yellow triangle with an exclamation mark).
• Never leave a burning candle unattended.
• Keep out of reach of children and pets.
• Never burn a candle on or near anything that can catch fire.

No need to design them: our candle safety label (51 mm, 15 units) already meets EN 15494 and comes in Portuguese, English and Spanish, with text or with pictograms.

D. Directions for use (recommended)

• On first use, burn until the surface has melted to the edges.
• Trim the wick to about 5 mm before each use.
• Do not burn for more than 4 hours at a time.

3. Two real examples: a label without a UFI and one with a UFI

Two 180 g candles with fragrance at 10%. All text is copied from section 2.2 of each fragrance’s SDS 10%. Only the details in square brackets are yours.

Example A: AMAZING LAVENDER at 10%, no UFI
In the 10% SDS, the mixture is not classified as hazardous: no pictogram, signal word or H statements. Only the supplemental information (EUH208) and the consumer P statements remain. With no health or physical hazards, it needs neither a UFI nor a PCN notification.

Example B: FRESH LINEN at 10%, with UFI
In the 10% SDS, the mixture is classified as a skin sensitiser (Skin Sens. 1, H317) and hazardous to the aquatic environment (Aquatic Chronic 3, H412). As H317 is a health hazard, the candle needs a PCN notification and the UFI must be on the label.

The UFI on the label is your candle’s UFI, generated when you make the notification. The FRESH LINEN fragrance UFI (V1A1-80M8-900C-8E3J) is used inside that notification, to identify the fragrance in the composition. See the steps in the guide How to notify your candle on the ECHA portal.

Note the difference: at the same percentage (10%), one fragrance gives a short label with no UFI, while the other needs a pictogram, signal word, H statements and a UFI. That’s why you must always check the SDS of the specific fragrance you use. If you prefer simple labels, choose fragrances from the collection NO UFI: up to 10% in a non-hazardous base.

4. Size and printing

• Label size: for packs up to 3 litres, the reference is 52 × 74 mm. For most candles (up to 0.5 L) this applies “where possible”: if it doesn’t fit, you can use a fold-out label or put the CLP label on the base or on the outer box.
• Pictograms: each must cover at least 1/15 of the label area and never less than 1 cm².
• Colour: pictograms must have a red border and a black symbol on a white background. Print in colour.
• Legibility: dark text on a light background, no tiny lettering. The new EU formatting rules (minimum font size and spacing) were postponed to 2028 by Regulation (EU) 2025/2439; until then, use common sense: the customer must be able to read it without a magnifier.
• Material: paper or vinyl sticker resistant to water and grease. Wax and fragrance stain plain paper labels.
• Language: the official language of the country where you sell (Portuguese in Portugal).

5. Where to put each label

1. Front: your brand label (name, fragrance, weight). Free for your design.
2. Back or base: the CLP label. The most common choice, as it doesn’t affect the look.
3. Base: the EN 15494 safety label.
4. If the candle is boxed, the CLP information must also be visible on the box or outer label: the customer must see it before opening.

Apply labels to a cold, clean and dry jar, with no wax residue. Press from the centre outwards to avoid bubbles. The label must be firmly stuck and readable horizontally with the candle in its normal position.

6. Wax melts and diffusers

• Wax melts: same logic, with the 5% or 10% SDS. Use the wax melt safety labels and remember melts look like sweets: “Keep out of reach of children” is essential.
• Reed diffusers: use the 25% SDS. If the SDS shows H304 (aspiration hazard) and the diffuser is sold to the public, a child-resistant closure and a tactile warning are mandatory. See the diffuser safety labels.

7. Checklist before you sell

• ☐ I used the SDS at the right percentage (same or above the one I used).
• ☐ I checked on the IFRA certificate that my dose is within the limit.
• ☐ I copied the pictograms, signal word, H, P and EUH statements without changes.
• ☐ I added my company name, address, phone and electronic contact.
• ☐ I stated the weight and batch number.
• ☐ I included the UFI, if my mixture requires one.
• ☐ I applied the EN 15494 safety label.
• ☐ Everything is in the local language, legible and firmly stuck.

Want to go further? Read our article on CEN standards for indoor candles.

This guide is general information for candle and home fragrance makers and does not replace legal or regulatory advice. Responsibility for the finished product label lies with whoever places it on the market. If in doubt about a specific fragrance, contact us.