Quality, fire safety and consumer information
Technical support document for candle design, testing and labelling. July 2026 edition.
1. Regulatory and technical framework
The European CEN standards for indoor candles form a complementary product-safety framework. Each standard addresses a separate aspect: soot formation, fire-safety performance and communication of safe-use information.
| Standard | Subject | Expected outcome |
|---|---|---|
| EN 15426:2018 | Sooting behaviour | Soot index below the specified limit |
| EN 15493:2019 | Fire safety | Stable combustion, container integrity and no hazardous behaviour |
| EN 15494:2019 | Product safety labels | Visible, legible warnings appropriate to the candle type |
Role in product control
Applying the standards provides recognised technical criteria to show that a candle has been responsibly designed and assessed. Compliance should be supported by representative samples, test records, a controlled product specification and component traceability.
- EN standards are copyrighted documents. The official text must be obtained from a national standards body such as IPQ.
- This guide is an operational summary and does not replace the complete standards or specialist laboratory and legal advice.
- CEN safety labelling does not replace CLP labelling where the final scented candle is classified as hazardous.
EN 15426:2018
Specification for sooting behaviour
Sets out requirements and a standardised test method for assessing soot formation while an indoor candle is burning.
Scope
- Indoor candles with one wick.
- Maximum diameter of 100 mm, or an equivalent cross-sectional area.
The method is not technically suitable for multi-wick candles or single-wick candles exceeding 100 mm. Visible soot release may be assessed for these products, but results cannot be reported as compliant with this test method.
Test principle
- Select three finished candles representative of the marketed product.
- Burn each candle in the specified apparatus inside a wire-mesh cylinder.
- Collect soot on a heat-resistant glass plate above the flame.
- Measure the reduction in light transmission caused by the deposit.
- Calculate the hourly soot index and the average for the three samples.
Burning cycles
For candles weighing more than 25 g, testing is generally conducted in burning periods of up to 240 minutes, separated by cooling periods of at least 60 minutes. Cycle selection depends on the candle characteristics and the detailed method in the standard.
Factors affecting soot formation
| Factor | Possible effect |
|---|---|
| Oversized or untrimmed wick | High or unstable flame and increased carbon formation |
| Carbon mushroom | Incomplete combustion and particle release |
| High fragrance load | Over-fuelling or unbalanced combustion |
| Incompatible fragrance, dye or additive | Changes to fuel delivery and flame behaviour |
| Debris or decoration near the flame | Secondary burning and additional emissions |
| Draughts | Flame oscillation; controlled during laboratory testing |
Limit of the assessment
EN 15426 evaluates soot production; it is not a comprehensive indoor-air emissions test. It does not replace fire-safety testing, safety labelling or, where applicable, emission testing for scented candles.
EN 15493:2019
Specification for fire safety
Defines test methods and requirements intended to reduce risks arising from the flame, product stability, container performance and end-of-life behaviour.
Core requirements
| Parameter | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Stability | Must not tip on a plane inclined at 10 ± 0.2° |
| Secondary ignition | No second flame may persist for more than 10 s |
| Flame height | Maximum 75 mm; maximum 30 mm for tealights |
| After extinguishing | No spontaneous re-ignition |
| Wick glow/smoke | Average not exceeding 30 s |
| Container candle | Container must not crack or break during the test |
Interpretation
Stability
The assessment covers freestanding candles, container candles and candles sold with a holder or accessory. The finished product must remain stable in its intended use position.
Secondary ignition
A persistent second flame may arise from carbon deposits, matches, labels, debris or decorative materials present in or close to the melt pool.
Flame height and wick behaviour
The limits apply throughout the burn life. A flame that grows near the end may indicate an oversized wick, carbon build-up, sustainer movement or excessive proximity to the container wall or base.
Container integrity
The container must remain intact throughout all burn cycles. Relevant controls include glass suitability and annealing, wick centring and fixation, flame position, thermal cycling and the designed end point of the candle.
Candles marketed as self-extinguishing
- Freestanding candles must extinguish at end of life without igniting or scorching the paper beneath them.
- Non-freestanding candles with diameter ≤ 14 mm: minimum residual height of 12 mm.
- Other non-freestanding candles: minimum residual height of 18 mm.
The claim “self-extinguishing” should only be used after the relevant criteria have been verified.
Whole-life burn testing
Finished, representative samples are tested through repeated cycles until end of life. Many basic and container candles use cycles of up to four hours followed by at least one hour of cooling. The exact regime depends on candle type, mass and instructions for use.
EN 15494:2019
Product safety labels
Specifies the safety information that must accompany indoor candles and how it is to be presented to consumers.
Mandatory content for all candles
The label includes the general warning sign based on ISO 7010-W001 and three essential messages, expressed through standardised symbols or text:
| Status | Safety information |
|---|---|
| Mandatory | Never leave a burning candle unattended |
| Mandatory | Keep away from things that can catch fire |
| Mandatory | Keep away from children and pets |
Presentation rules
- The general warning sign and supplementary information must form a coherent, closely grouped label.
- Supplementary information is placed below or to the right of the general warning sign.
- All elements must be visible, legible and contrast clearly with the background.
- Safety symbols must have a minimum height of 5 mm.
- A border is optional; for one-colour printing, the general warning sign does not require a yellow background.
Additional mandatory information
| Candle type | Additional instruction |
|---|---|
| Candle requiring a holder | Use a heat-resistant candleholder |
| Floating candle | Use in a suitable bowl filled with water |
Manufacturer-selected supplementary information
Further warnings are selected according to the candle design, intended use, test results and risk assessment.
| Example warning | Typical purpose |
|---|---|
| Keep candles at least X cm apart | Multiple candles |
| Keep the wax pool clear of matches and debris | Container candles |
| Do not burn in a draught | Flame and soot control |
| Do not move a burning candle | Liquid wax and hot container |
| Do not place near a heat source | Deformation or overheating risk |
| Never use liquid to extinguish | Hot-wax projection risk |
| Remove packaging before use | Sleeves, bands and decoration |
| Trim wick to X cm | Flame control |
| The container may become hot | Container candles |
Example supplementary wording — container candle
The example values must be confirmed for the specific product.
PRACTICAL APPLICATION
From formulation to market-ready product
Compliance should be built into product development rather than treated solely as a final label check.
Unit of assessment
The test item is the finished candle. Relevant changes may alter combustion and should trigger a documented review of whether further testing or technical justification is required.
| Component or variable | Information to control |
|---|---|
| Container | Model, dimensions, material, batch and thermal suitability |
| Wax | Type, supplier, batch and blend |
| Fragrance | Reference, supplier, percentage and technical documentation |
| Wick | Family, size, treatment, sustainer, location and quantity |
| Other components | Dyes, additives, decoration, adhesive and accessories |
| Process | Weights, temperatures, centring, curing and use instructions |
Recommended control workflow
- Define the full specification and intended use.
- Conduct development testing and select the final wax–fragrance–container–wick combination.
- Test representative finished samples, using a competent laboratory where appropriate.
- Record results, photographs, deviations, corrective actions and the approved version.
- Set use instructions and labelling from the test evidence and risk assessment.
- Maintain batch traceability and change control for materials, processes and suppliers.
CEN, CLP and general product information
| System | Purpose | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| EN 15494 | Safe use of the candle | Flame, combustibles, children, candleholder and hot container |
| CLP Regulation | Communication of chemical hazards | GHS pictograms, hazard statements, allergens and UFI/PCN where applicable |
| General product safety | Identification and traceability | Manufacturer/responsible person, product reference, batch and contact details |
6. Verification checklist
- ☐ The tested candle exactly matches the marketed formulation and construction.
- ☐ Wax, fragrance, dye, container and wick compatibility is documented.
- ☐ Burning has been assessed through end of life, including the final cycles.
- ☐ Stability, secondary ignition, flame height and post-extinguishing behaviour have been checked.
- ☐ The container remained intact throughout testing.
- ☐ The soot test method is applicable to the candle design.
- ☐ The label includes the general warning sign and all three mandatory messages.
- ☐ Product-specific and supplementary warnings follow the risk assessment.
- ☐ Wick, burn-time and residual-wax instructions are supported by test evidence.
- ☐ CLP classification, UFI and PCN requirements have been assessed separately.
- ☐ Economic-operator identification and batch traceability are in place.
- ☐ Supplier, material or process changes trigger a documented review.
