Botanical Embedded Candles Can Be Fire Hazard, Says National Candle Association

Candles with botanical add-ins can be a fire hazard, according to the National Candle Association. Flammable materials include dried flowers, leaves, herbs and wood embedded in the wax near the flame. The embellished candle allows decorative elements to become part of the liquid wax pool when the candle is burned. But exposes these flammable materials to both the candle’s heat and flame throughout the candle’s use while also coating them in wax, allowing the materials to sustain flame themselves.

NCA purchased several candles and had them tested according to the ASTM Candle Fire Safety Procedures at an independent third-party safety testing laboratory. The results were dramatic with safety failures in every case, and the candles exhibiting multiple and large flames. The heat and large flame exhibited has the potential to ignite a home fire, according to NCA.

“Any one of these test candle’s exposed flames could have easily ignited surrounding materials, such as drapery, décor or furniture, if burned in a residential setting,” said Kathy LaVanier, NCA board vice president and media spokesperson.

Based on the testing results, NCA urges consumers not to light these products. If you own one and wish to enjoy it aesthetically, NCA suggests you cut the wick off at wax level so it cannot be lit.

According to NCA, many of these botanical add-in candles are sold by individual online marketplace crafters and artisans. Typically, most online marketplaces do not make warranties about the quality or safety of any products sold on their sites. US candle manufacturers stand by the quality and safety of the products they produce and sell by adhering to ASTM candle standards and practices. NCA collaborates with the US Consumer Product Safety Commission and the ASTM International Standards organization to develop industry standards to reduce the number of accidental candle fires. Also, an industry-wide standard, that became effective in 2000, calls for the labeling of all candles with fire-safety precautions. Additional industry standards to enhance the fire-safety design of candles, glass containers, candle holders and candle accessories have also been established. 

“Being able to clearly demonstrate these candles can be a fire hazard is of utmost importance to our industry, ensuring the safety of candle consumers,” said Brad Root, NCA president. “This is of deep concern to NCA, and we take fire safety as our primary goal.”

Flammability Test Procedures and Results

In early May 2022, SEA, Ltd. (S-E-A) received three candles produced specifically for testing purposes by three different NCA member companies. These candles that were produced as test candles, not for sale, by three different NCA members identified below:

• Sample 1: One, 3.5″ tall x 3.25″ round, filled candle with botanicals produced by the Renegade Candle Company

• Sample 2: One, 4″ tall x 3.125″ round, filled candle with botanicals produced by the Root Candle Company

• Sample 3: One, 3.625″ tall x 3.875″ round, filled candle with botanicals produced by the Candle-Lite Company

S-E-A was requested to test the three candles following the testing protocol in Fire Safety Design Standard ASTM F-2417, Standard Specification for Fire Safety for Candles. The candles were evaluated for flame height and observed for any secondary ignition events. A secondary ignition event is defined as something other than the primary wick on fire. The candles were also evaluated for container integrity; i.e., any glass breakage during testing. This testing was conducted to evaluate how similar candles, currently in the market, might behave when burned by consumers. 

The candles produced by both the Renegade Candle Company and the Candle-Lite Company experienced secondary ignition events. The candle supplied by the Root Candle Company did not experience a secondary ignition event throughout the duration of the test. The most severe incident of secondary ignition was observed from the candle produced by the Renegade Candle Company. The secondary ignition event that occurred with this candle was so intense it caused the entire surface of the candle to ignite. This is known as a candle “flashover.” This occurred within one hour of the first lighting of the candle. 

The following is a description of how each candle performed in the test.

Sample 1: This candle was manufactured for “testing only” by the Renegade Candle Company. The candle consisted of a filled candle, with dried botanical material on the surface. There were flower petals within close proximity of the candle’s wick, such that it was nearly impossible not to light the botanicals when lighting the candle. Shortly after the candle was lit, the botanical features ignited and acted as a secondary ignition source. Within the first hour of the candle burning, the wax had become so hot from the secondary ignition of the botanicals that the wax itself ignited and the candle experienced a flashover event.

Sample 2: This candle was manufactured for testing only by the Root Candle Company. The candle was a single-wick candle in a glass container, with botanical material on the surface. This candle was burned in four-hour burn cycles in accordance with ASTM F-2417. No secondary ignition events were observed throughout the candle’s burn life. 

Sample 3: This candle was manufactured for testing only by the Candle-Lite Company and was also a single-wick candle in a glass container, with botanical materials on the surface and imbedded in the candle wax. This candle experienced a secondary ignition event of the botanical materials the first time the candle was burned. Testing of the candle continued, and the candle was burned in four-hour burn cycles per the ASTM F-2417 test method. The candle continued to experience secondary ignition events as it burned; however, it did not experience a flashover event. The candle’s wick eventually drowned, as the secondary ignition of botanicals in the candle created a large melt pool causing the flame on the primary wick to extinguish. 

S-E-A concluded of the three candles tested, two experienced secondary ignition events where something other than the primary wick supported flaming combustion. Both candles would fail the requirements of ASTM F2417 for candle fire safety. 

One of the secondary ignition events, specifically the one observed on the candle produced by the Renegade Candle Company, was so intense that it caused the candle to flashover. The entire surface of the wax ignited.

S-E-A noted that secondary ignition events can create a potential ignition source for combustible materials that may be near the candle. In the case where the candle experienced a flashover event, the flames from the candle could have ignited surrounding combustible materials to create a larger fire. While neither candle that experienced a secondary ignition event broke their containers, it is possible for the intense heat from such an event to break glass containers. This too could lead to the fire communicating to combustible materials outside the candle container.