Candles

Important safety notice for candles in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2023/988 on general product safety (GPSR)

This is a targeted safety notice for the proper and safe use of candles — including container candles, freestanding candles, scented candles, seasonal candles, and gift sets with candles. Please read these instructions carefully before first use and keep them for the entire product lifetime.

Basic safety and handling principles

• Keep out of reach of children and pets: A candle is a source of open flame and hot wax. Never place it where children or pets have access. There is a risk of fire, burns, and swallowing small parts (e.g., decorative elements).
• Never leave a burning candle unattended: Always extinguish the candle before leaving the room or going to sleep. Most candle-related fires occur when they are left unattended.
• Placement: Place the candle on a flat, stable, and non-flammable surface. Maintain a minimum distance of 30 cm from curtains, fabrics, books, paper, and other flammable materials. Do not place the candle at the edge where it could fall.
• Distance between candles: When using multiple candles simultaneously, maintain a distance of at least 10 cm between them to avoid mutual overheating and uncontrolled burning.

Proper and safe use

• Trimming the wick: Trim the wick to a length of 5 – 7 mm before each lighting. A wick that is too long causes excessive flame, smoking, soot, and uneven burning. Use specialized wick scissors or regular scissors for trimming.
• Maximum burning time: Allow the candle to burn continuously for a maximum of 3 – 4 hours. Then extinguish it, let it cool for at least 2 hours, and trim the wick before relighting.
• First lighting: When using for the first time, let the candle burn long enough for the entire top layer of wax to melt to the edge of the container (usually 1 – 2 hours). This prevents tunneling and uneven burning.
• Hot wax — burn risk: Melted wax reaches temperatures above 60 °C and can cause painful burns. Do not move a burning candle, do not touch the liquid wax, and be careful of spills.
• Never extinguish a candle with water: Pouring water on hot wax causes a violent eruption — the wax splashes, and there is a risk of serious burns and fire spreading. Use a snuffer (bell), lid, or carefully blow out the candle to extinguish it.
• Ventilate the room: Ensure adequate ventilation in the room while the candle is burning. Avoid placing the candle in a strong draft, which can cause uneven burning, smoking, and wax splattering.
• End of life: Stop using the candle in the container when there is about 1 cm of wax left at the bottom. For freestanding candles, stop burning when the height of the candle drops below 3 cm. Further burning may damage the surface under the candle or the container.
• Do not throw matches, wick trimmings, or foreign objects into the melted wax.

Cleaning, maintenance, and storage

• Storage: Store candles in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight and heat sources. Sun and heat can cause deformation, color changes, and deterioration of scent. The ideal storage temperature is 15 – 25 °C.
• Maintenance during burning: Regularly remove wick trimmings and other debris from the pool of melted wax. Foreign bodies in melted wax can cause increased flames or flare-ups.
• Cleaning the container: After the candle has burned out, allow the container to cool completely. Remove wax residues by placing it in the freezer for 1 – 2 hours, after which the wax will easily separate, or by gently warming it with hot water.
• Surface protection: Always place a non-flammable mat or plate under the candle to protect furniture from heat and potential wax drips.

Specific health warnings

• Scented candles and allergic reactions: Scented candles contain fragrance oils and perfume components that can trigger allergic reactions, respiratory irritation, headaches, or nausea in sensitive individuals. If you notice any undesirable symptoms, extinguish the candle immediately and ventilate the room.
• Asthma and respiratory diseases: Individuals with asthma, chronic respiratory diseases, or sensitivity to fragrances should use scented candles with caution or avoid them.
• Pregnant and nursing women: If in doubt, consult your doctor about using strongly scented candles.
• Composition of the wax: Candles may contain soy wax, beeswax, coconut wax, or their mixtures. If you have a known allergy to any component, check the composition listed on the product label.
• Burns — first aid: In case of contact with hot wax, cool the affected area under running cold water for at least 10 minutes. For more serious burns, seek medical attention.
• In case of fire: Extinguish a small fire from the candle with a fire extinguisher or by covering it with a non-flammable blanket. Never use water on burning wax. In case of a larger fire, immediately leave the room and call emergency services.

Disposal

• Dispose of residues of solidified wax in regular household waste. Never pour wax in liquid form down the drain, sink, or toilet — it can clog drains and cause burns.
• Glass, ceramic, or metal containers should be disposed of according to local recycling rules after cleaning from wax or reused.
• Metal wick clips should be placed in metal recycling.
• Packaging materials (cardboard, paper, foil) should be disposed of in the appropriate containers for recycling.

Incidents and contact

• In the event of an incident related to the use of a candle (fire, burns, allergic reaction, breakage of the container, etc.), stop using the product immediately. Keep the product and the purchase receipt for processing the complaint.