Safety Labels Explained: Do You Need Them If You Already Have CLP?

Short answer? Yes, darling. Absolutely. 100 percent. No hesitation.

Because while CLP tells people “this chemical might set your eyebrows on fire”, it doesn’t tell them the other things they absolutely need to know… like not melting wax melts in plastic, or that room sprays aren’t meant to be used as air freshener for their curtains.

Let’s break it down properly with no jargon, no panic, and no nonsense.

First, What CLP Actually Covers (and What It Doesn’t)

CLP is chemical hazard information. It’s brilliant at telling people:

• Don’t drink this.
• Don’t spray it in your eyes.
• If you set fire to it, that’s on you, not us.

But CLP does not cover:

• How to burn a candle safely.
• How to use a wax melt burner correctly.
• What surface a reed diffuser will absolutely ruin.
• How far away fabrics need to be.
• What you must tell customers under GPSR (General Product Safety Regulation).

CLP handles the chemicals. Safety labels handle the humans.

The Candle Story (AKA: Why Safety Icons Exist At All)

Before BS EN 15494 came in, the candle world was… let’s call it “experimental”.

Some candles had warnings. Some didn’t. Some had a full essay printed on the bottom. Some looked at a flame and thought, “Eh, it’ll be fine”.

And (not) shockingly... humans did what humans do:

• Lit candles under shelves
• Burned triple wicked monsters next to curtains
• Let a four-inch mushroom wick grow like a fungal tower

So the industry said: right, enough. We need universal safety icons even the most chaotic customer can understand at a glance.

And that’s all the candle icons really are: “Please don’t burn your house down” but standardized.

If your CLP label already includes these icons, great! But that doesn’t cover every safety requirement for every product.

GPSR: The Law Makers Keep Forgetting Exists

GPSR (General Product Safety Regulation) is the giant umbrella sitting over EVERYTHING you sell... candles, melts, diffusers, room sprays, burners, soaps, everything.

It requires you to provide:

• Clear instructions for safe use
• Warnings about foreseeable misuse
• Manufacturer name & address
• Risks not covered by CLP

Yes. Even if CLP is present. Especially if CLP is present.

For example:

• Wax melts: “Do not use in plastic warmers”, “Do not overfill”, “Use with unscented tealights only”.
• Electric burners: “Do not leave unattended”, “Place on heat-resistant surface”.
• Reed diffusers: “Avoid contact with surfaces”, “Keep upright to prevent leaking”.
• Car diffusers: “Do not hang where visibility is obstructed”.
• Room sprays: “Do not spray near pets”, “Ventilate after use”, “Avoid polished surfaces”.

CLP won’t tell customers ANY of this. That’s your job.

⭐ Product-Specific Safety Labels (What You Actually Need)

✔ Candles

• BS EN 15494 icons (trim wick, burn responsibly, keep away from children)
• Burn time guidance (recommended)
• Surface, distance & supervision warnings

✔ Wax Melts

• Use only in appropriate warmers
• No plastics
• Do not overfill the dish
• Never leave unattended
• Keep out of reach of children & pets

✔ Reed Diffusers

• Liquid may stain surfaces
• Keep upright
• Avoid contact with skin and eyes
• Keep away from pets

✔ Room Sprays

• Spray away from face
• Ventilate room
• Patch test fabrics
• Slippery surfaces warning

✔ Car Diffusers

• Do not obstruct driver visibility
• Avoid high-heat environments
• Wipe spills immediately

✔ Electric Warmers

• Do not cover vents
• Do not leave switched on unattended
• Keep away from flammable materials

The Mistakes That Get Makers In Trouble

• Thinking CLP = all safety info
• Not including manufacturer name & address
• Putting 800 words of instructions in 3pt font
• Copying labels from Pinterest (please don’t)
• Not warning about obvious misuse. That’s GPSR’s whole deal

Your label doesn’t need to be a novel. It just needs to keep your customer from doing the most catastrophically predictable thing.

Do You Need Extra Safety Labels?

Sometimes, yes.

If your CLP label is tiny or you’re selling multiple products with different risks, you may need:

• A combined CLP + safety label
• Separate safety labels for wax melters, burners, or electric warmers
• A care card or instruction card

It’s not about over-labelling. It’s about giving the customer enough information not to set fire to their curtains, their car, their dog, or themselves.

Final Thoughts (AKA: Why This Matters)

Your products are gorgeous. Your customers are delightful but occasionally… inventive.

CLP protects them from the chemicals. Safety labels protect them from themselves.

And GPSR just wants you to make sure you’ve told them the obvious things before they do the opposite.

You’ve got this. And if you need help writing or formatting safety labels properly? I’m right here.