Candle label guide
What to put on a candle label
A good candle label does two jobs: it sells the candle, and it tells the buyer how to burn it safely. Here is the checklist most small-batch makers work from, split into the front label and the back or bottom label.
Front label: what makes someone pick it up
- Brand name. Keep it the largest or second-largest text so repeat buyers can find you again.
- Scent name. The name people ask for ("Lavender Fields", "Fireside Cabin"). Many makers make this the biggest text on the label.
- Scent notes (optional). A short line such as "lavender · cedar · vanilla" helps online buyers who can't smell it first.
- Net weight. For example "8 oz" or "8 oz / 227 g". Buyers compare candles by size, and many sellers show both US and metric units.
- Wax type (optional). "Soy wax", "coconut soy" or "beeswax" is a selling point for many customers.
Back or bottom label: safety and contact details
- Fire safety warning. In the US, the industry standard ASTM F2058 describes a cautionary label with a safety alert symbol, the signal word WARNING, and the statements "Burn within sight", "Keep away from things that catch fire" and "Keep away from children". It is a voluntary standard, but most makers and many retailers follow it. Make a free warning label here.
- Burning instructions. Common additions: trim the wick to 1/4" before each use, burn on a heat-resistant surface, don't burn for more than 4 hours at a time, stop when about 1/2" of wax remains.
- Your business name and location. A name plus city and state, or a website, so buyers (and shops that stock you) know who made it.
- Batch number (optional). Handy if you ever need to trace a pour.
Check the rules for where you sell
Labeling requirements depend on the country, the state and the shops you sell through, and they change. Treat this page as a starting checklist, not legal advice: check the current rules for your market, and ask any retailer that stocks you what they require on the label.
Design tips that make labels look professional
- Use no more than two fonts: one for the brand, one for everything else.
- Keep the same layout across every scent and only change the scent name and a small illustration — your shelf will look like a collection. Our generator does this with one click ("Same style, new scent").
- Leave a margin of at least 1/8" around the text so nothing gets cut off when you trim the label.
- Print a test sheet on plain paper first and hold it against the jar before you use sticker paper.
FAQ
What information is required on a candle label?
Most small candle makers include the brand, scent name, net weight, a fire safety warning (in the US usually in the ASTM F2058 format) and their business name and location. Requirements depend on where you sell, so check the current rules for your market and any retailer's requirements.
Do I have to put a warning label on candles?
ASTM F2058 is a voluntary US standard, but most candle makers follow it and many retailers ask for it. Our free generator lays out the warning in that format; it is a design aid, not legal advice.
Should the net weight include the jar?
Net weight normally means the weight of the candle wax only, not the container. Weigh your poured wax (or calculate it from your recipe) and use that figure.
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More guides
- Candle label sizes: how to measure your jar
- Wax melt labels
- Printable candle labels
- Free candle warning label generator
Last updated 2026-10-14