A candle is a household product that's used up as it burns, so it's a consumer commodity under the federal packaging law, and its package carries three things: what it is (a statement of identity on the front), how much is in it (a net quantity on the front, by weight for a solid), and who made or distributed it (a name and place of business). The one federal rule written for candles is about wicks: candles with metal-cored wicks whose core is more than 0.06% lead are banned, and outer cartons of metal-cored wick candles are marked to say they conform. Fire safety warnings, "burn within sight", are an industry standard, not a federal rule, though many shops expect them. In the example below, a candle maker checks the labels on three candles and the paperwork on two wick lots. Below are the rules, the example, and a free checklist.
The short version
- Candles are consumer commodities under the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act, enforced by the FTC.
- On the front: what it is ("Soy Candle") and the net weight ("Net Wt 9 oz (255 g)").
- On the label: the name and place of business, with "Made for" or "Distributed by" if someone else made it.
- Metal-cored wicks: no more than 0.06% lead in the core, and outer cartons marked "Conforms to 16 CFR 1500.17(a)(13)".
- Cotton wicks without a metal core aren't covered by the wick rule.
- Fire safety labels are voluntary, from an industry standard; shops often ask for them.
- TaroStack gives each candle batch a lot and records the wax, fragrance and wick lots it used. More below.
The rules
| Rule | What it says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Consumer commodity | Products sold at retail for household use and used up in use; food, drugs, cosmetics and some others are left out | 16 CFR 500.2 |
| Statement of identity | On the front, a main feature, easy to read, parallel to the base | 16 CFR 500.4 |
| Name and place of business | The manufacturer, packer or distributor, with "Manufactured for" or "Distributed by" where it applies | 16 CFR 500.5 |
| Net quantity | By weight for a solid, accurately, to allow price comparison | 16 CFR 500.7 |
| Lead wicks | Metal-cored wicks with more than 0.06% lead in the core banned; shipping cartons marked as conforming | 16 CFR 1500.17(a)(13) |
The packaging law also asks for the net quantity in both ounces and metric units, so "Net Wt 9 oz (255 g)". A candle that makes a claim about health or mood, "relieves stress", "aromatherapy for sleep", invites other rules; a scent name doesn't. This is general information, not legal advice.
An example: three candles, two wick lots
Lehua Glow, a made-up candle maker on Oʻahu I use in these examples, sells soy candles in three sizes:
| Candle | Front | Net quantity | Maker | Fire safety label |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 oz jar | Soy Candle | Net Wt 9 oz (255 g) | Lehua Glow, Honolulu, HI | Burn within sight; keep away from things that catch fire, children and pets |
| 4 oz tin | Soy Candle | Net Wt 4 oz (113 g) | Lehua Glow, Honolulu, HI | The same, on the bottom label |
| 16 oz two-wick | Soy Candle, Two Wick | Net Wt 16 oz (1 lb) (453 g) | Lehua Glow, Honolulu, HI | The same, plus: trim wicks to 1/4 inch |
Its wicks:
| Wick lot | Type | Metal core? | Lead in the core | Cartons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CD-10-2026 | Cotton, flat braid | No | Not applicable | No marking needed |
| ZC-08-2026 | Zinc core | Yes | 0.01%, from the supplier's certificate | Marked "Conforms to 16 CFR 1500.17(a)(13)" |
The cotton wicks are outside the rule. The zinc-core wicks used in the tins come with the supplier's certificate showing the core's lead content, and the cartons Lehua Glow ships tins in to shops carry the conformity line. How to price candles is in how to price homemade candles, and Lehua Glow's plan in candle business plan.
Fire safety labels
No federal rule requires a candle warning label, but an industry standard for candle fire safety labeling exists, and shops and online marketplaces often ask for it. The common points: burn within sight, keep away from things that catch fire, keep away from children and pets, and trim the wick. A label with them costs nothing extra and answers the shop's question before it's asked.
Get the checklist
Download the candle regulations checklist. Two sheets: a label checklist, each candle's statement of identity and net quantity, name and place of business and fire safety label; and a wick log, each wick lot with its core, lead content from the supplier's certificate, carton marking, and the batches it went into. It's an ordinary Excel file with no macros, and it works in Google Sheets, LibreOffice and Numbers.
Where this stops working
A wick log on paper says which wicks came in. It doesn't say which candles a wick lot went into, so if a supplier ever writes to say a lot of zinc-core wicks tested high, finding the candles, in the studio and in shops, starts from scratch.
How TaroStack does it
TaroStack gives each candle batch a lot and records the wax, fragrance and wick lots it used.
Supplies by lot. Wax, fragrance oil and wicks are received with their supplier lots, and fields of your own on each lot hold the wick certificate's lead content.
Each batch its lot. A pour of tins takes its wax, fragrance, wicks and tins off stock, records the lots it consumed, and gets a lot of its own, with lot labels printed for the cartons; candle software in general is compared in candle inventory software.
From wick lot to shop. Each order records the lots each shop got as it ships, so one recall report goes from a wick lot to the candles made with it, and the shops that have them.
| The job | Notebook | In TaroStack |
|---|---|---|
| A wick lot's lead certificate | A folder | A field on the lot |
| Which wicks went into a pour | Not recorded | Recorded automatically |
| Cartons for shops | Labeled by hand | Lot labels printed |
| Which shops got a pour | Search the invoices | One recall report |
Lots, batches, lot labels and recalls are on every plan, from $49 a month. The first 30 days are free, with no credit card. If you'd like a hand setting up, ask, and we'll do it with you.