SDS for candle makers — what you need and when
Most consumer-facing candle products are exempt from OSHA HazCom's SDS requirement under the consumer product exemption, which covers products sold to consumers for personal use in the quantities in which they are purchased. However, if you sell candles to retailers, gift shops, or any business that resells them, or if employees handle your candle products, the exemption does not apply.
Candle formulations typically involve waxes (soy, paraffin, beeswax, coconut), fragrance oils, and sometimes dyes. Fragrance oils are complex mixtures that often carry H317 (skin sensitisation), H412 (harmful to aquatic life), and occasionally flammability classifications. The waxes themselves are generally not GHS-classified hazardous, but the fragrance components may be.
If your candle formulation includes fragrance at >1% by weight, check your fragrance supplier's SDS. Many fragrance oils contain d-limonene, linalool, or other sensitisers that trigger GHS classifications. Your product-level SDS must reflect those hazards.
SDSDraft generates a DRAFT safety data sheet from the information you enter. You are solely responsible for verifying the hazard classification and all content with a qualified person before use or distribution. SDSDraft is software, not professional safety, legal, or toxicological advice.
Generate a draft SDS — free, no upload
How to approach an SDS for a candle product
- Gather ingredient SDSs from your wax, fragrance, and dye suppliers.
- Identify which ingredients carry GHS H-codes from their supplier SDSs.
- In SDSDraft, add each hazardous ingredient with its concentration and H-codes.
- Review the draft classification preview — fragrance-containing candles often show H317 (skin sensitisation) and H412 (aquatic hazard).
- Generate the draft SDS PDF. Section 3 lists all ingredients; Section 2 shows the draft classification.
- Have a safety professional verify the classification, especially for fragrance mixtures.
- Complete the physical property section (Section 9) with your measured or supplier-provided data.
Questions
Does a candle need an SDS for retail sale?
For direct-to-consumer retail only, the consumer product exemption likely applies. For B2B sales, wholesale, or Amazon marketplace sales (where Amazon requires SDS for DG products), you need one. Check your specific distribution channel.
My fragrance is a 'trade secret.' Do I still need to list it on the SDS?
Yes. You can claim a trade secret exemption for the fragrance components in Section 3, but OSHA requires you to disclose that a trade secret claim is being made and the associated hazards. You must also disclose the chemical identity to health professionals and emergency responders when needed. Consult a regulatory professional on proper trade secret claims.
What is the flash point of fragrance oil and why does it matter?
Flash point determines whether your fragrance qualifies as a flammable liquid under GHS. Most candle fragrance oils have flash points above 60°C (140°F), making them combustible but not flammable liquids. However, some fragrance components have lower flash points. Check your supplier's SDS and measure your finished product if uncertain.