Candle Safety Pictograms: Which Ones You Actually Need (And Which Are Pointless)

Candle pictograms are one of the most misunderstood parts of candle labelling. People either use every icon they can find like a sticker book or they use ones that have nothing to do with their product.

Floating candle pictogram on a jar candle?
That is about as useful as a chocolate teapot.

Let’s go through this properly in plain English so you know what belongs on your label and what does not.

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First things first: pictograms are not generic

Candle safety pictograms are not the same as hazard pictograms. These symbols do not warn about chemical dangers. They warn the customer about how to use the candle safely and how not to set fire to their home.

Because candles come in different formats, their risks are different. A jar candle behaves differently to a pillar and a floating candle behaves differently again. This is why different candles need different pictograms.

There is no universal set that works for every candle.

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The 4 pictograms that are always required

These four must appear on every candle that burns with a wick.

• General Warning symbol. Required even when H317 is present on a combined safety CLP.

• Never leave a burning candle unattended.

• Keep away from things that can catch fire.

• Keep away from children and pets.

These are mandatory across all candle types, from tealights to giant jars.

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Extra mandatory pictograms depending on candle type

Here are the ones that depend on the kind of candle you make.

Pillar candles

Pillars melt, move and drip, so you must include:

Use a heat resistant candle holder.

Floating candles

These are designed to be used in water, so you must include:

Use in a suitable bowl filled with water.

Container candles and tealights

They already come in their own non flammable holder. They do not need the pillar or floating icons.

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Optional pictograms

These are not mandatory but they can be very helpful depending on how your candle burns.

They are ideal for candles that:

• mushroom
• tunnel
• fully liquefy
• form soft edges
• need trimming
• behave differently from a standard container candle

Popular optional pictograms include:

• Trim wick to X cm.

• Keep candles at least X cm apart.

• Keep wax pool clear of matches and debris.

• Place candle upright.

Use these when they genuinely apply. Not just because you saw the icon on someone else's label.

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Quick guide: which pictograms do you need

Container candle (jar, tin, tealight)

• The 4 mandatory pictograms
• No extra type specific icons
• Optional extras if they apply

Pillar candle

• The 4 mandatory pictograms
• Heat resistant holder pictogram
• Optional extras if relevant

Floating candle

• The 4 mandatory pictograms
• Bowl of water pictogram

Wax melts

Wax melts are not candles so candle pictograms are not required.

However, many makers choose to include the basic candle pictograms because wax melt burners often use tealights. Including those safety pictograms is not harmful and can be helpful, but it is not mandatory.

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A note on label space

No, you do not need to cram every pictogram available into a 40 mm label. Choose the ones that apply to your product and keep the label clean.

A well chosen set always looks better than a label covered in tiny icons that nobody can interpret.

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Final thoughts

Candle safety pictograms are straightforward once you understand them.

You need:

• the four mandatory pictograms for anything with a wick
• the correct extra icon for pillars or floating candles
• optional icons only when they make sense
• no guesswork and no panic

And if you ever want a second pair of eyes on your label, send it over. I can tell you exactly what you need in about three seconds flat.