Candle Making Safety Tips

If you’ve never made candles before, you might not be aware of some precautions you will need to take to avoid accidents or injury. Certain materials used in candle making can be very dangerous if not used properly, so we have come up with a few safety tips to keep you safe while making your candles.

• Only use containers that are graded for candle making. All our glass jars have been cleared by the manufacturers to be safe for candles.
• Make sure you have a thermometer to monitor the temperature of your wax. If it gets too hot, it could potentially break the glass you’re pouring it into, create a lot of smoke that can cause respiratory problems, or become a fire hazard.
• You will also want to make sure that the vessel you are melting your wax in is easy to handle. Our pouring pots are designed with a plastic handle that you can easily hold with your bare hand even if it's filled with hot wax.
• If you are using a mold for your candles or tarts, make sure that it is made of a material that can withstand the heat from the melted wax. All our pillar molds, votive molds, silicone molds, and clamshell molds are safe to use when making candles or tarts because they are made from heat resistant materials. Note: The clamshells are safe for making tarts but it is not recommended to pour your wax into them until it is 150°F or cooler.

• Only use wax that is made for candle making. If you choose a wax that is not designed for candle making you could cause respiratory problems or create a potential fire hazard. All the waxes we carry are non-toxic and safe to use for candle making.
• Make sure you are using fragrance oils or essential oils that are designed for candle making. Perfumes are not safe to use; they can be a potential fire hazard and probably will not give you a good scent throw. Some of the fragrance oils can irritate the skin. If you get any oil on your skin, rinse the area with cool water and mild soap to clean it off. We have 300 fragrance oils that are ALL safe to use when making candles. Note: We also have many fragrances that are safe for making soaps, lotions, and other body care products. Please make sure you check the IFRA certificate for all maximum usage levels.
• Make sure you are using the right size wick for your candles. If you choose a wick that is too large it can create a lot of soot which could cause respiratory problems. If the flame is too large and too hot, it could also be a fire hazard, so make sure you (and your customers) know to trim the wick between burns. There have even been cases where the wick burned so hot that it caused the glass container to fracture or shatter so be sure to do a test burn to ensure the candle is not burning too hot. Note: If you are selling your candles, it is highly recommended to include a caution label on the bottom of your candle that explains the proper way to burn a candle.

• Make sure you are making your candles in an open, well-ventilated area so that you are not breathing in the “fumes” from the fragrance oils. Too much exposure to these fragrance oils can cause dizziness, headaches, or respiratory problems if you are exposed to them for prolonged periods of time without proper ventilation. If you’re making candles in your kitchen, turn on your vent hood to keep the air circulating. If you don’t have a vent hood in your work area, open a window or a door to help circulate the air.
• You’ll also want to make sure you are taking precautions to protect yourself from the hot wax. It is recommended to wear shoes, long pants, or even an apron to protect your skin from getting burned by any wax that may splash around when pouring and/or stirring.
• Have a dedicated area for your candles to cool. Somewhere that they can sit, undisturbed, for several hours while the wax sets. If your work area is organized and clean it will be much easier to make sure that you, and your candles, are safe from any harm.

We know that all of this might sound a little scary but, we can assure you, making candles is very safe if you take the necessary precautions. As always, candles should never be left unattended. Take your time to set everything up, get organized, follow instructions and have fun!