Candles, diffusers and home fragrance

• Regulation (EU) 2023/988 — GPSR
• Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 — CLP
• Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 — REACH

Who has to appoint one

Makers and sellers outside the Union placing candles and fragrance products on the EU market, including small craft brands selling through marketplaces.

Thresholds and exemptions

None. Handmade and small-batch products are fully in scope.

What must appear on the label

Fire safety pictograms and warnings, CLP hazard information where fragrance concentrations require it, allergen declaration, burn instructions, and the responsible person's name and EU address.

Marketplace fields

Candles are frequently suppressed for missing CLP labelling on scented products.

Documentation you must hold

Technical documentation, risk analysis, CLP classification of the fragrance mixture, safety data sheets from fragrance suppliers, and poison centre notification with a UFI where classified.

Standards and testing

EN 15493 fire safety, EN 15426 sooting behaviour, EN 15494 product safety labels.

Language requirements

Warnings and instructions in the language of each member state of sale.

When it applies

Before the first sale.

How long records are kept

10 years.

What happens if you do not comply

Withdrawal, Safety Gate alerts and fines. Fire safety warnings are checked in nearly every inspection of this category.

Who enforces it

National market surveillance and chemicals authorities.

Where the boundary lies

Reed diffusers and room sprays are usually classified mixtures under CLP, which brings poison centre notification and a UFI code. Unscented candles are lighter, but still need the fire warnings.

Questions we are asked

We are a small maker — is this proportionate?

The obligations do not scale with size. The fire warnings and the responsible person are the minimum.