CLP Labelling Mistakes Candle Makers Should Avoid: Expert Tips and Advice

When it comes to CLP regulations for candle making, the internet is full of advice. Some of it’s great, but a lot of it? Not so much. How do you sort out the good from the bad?

You already know your wax melts and candles need CLP labels. However, navigating all the online info can be tricky. That's where we come in! This blog will help you spot the advice you can ignore and, more importantly, what you should pay attention to. We'll cover:

• Why you should be cautious of advice from Facebook groups
  Answers to the most common CLP questions

Ready to make sure your candles are up to code? Let’s dive in!

Be Wary of Advice in Facebook Groups

Social media, especially Facebook, can be a fantastic resource when starting your candle-making journey. It’s great for building your business, attracting customers, and learning from others' experiences.

Facebook has many groups dedicated to wax melt and candle making, where beginners and experienced makers share tips, tricks, and support.

If you’re like me, you’ll find yourself spending a lot of time trying to soak up the advice freely given in these groups.

These groups can offer inspiration and practical advice on maximising productivity and improving your craft.

For instance, recommendations for equipment like piston funnels and buffalo soup kettles can be incredibly helpful, as can suggestions for suppliers to use and advice when trying new recipes.

While Facebook groups can provide valuable insights, it's essential to triple-check any advice you receive, especially about CLP label requirements.

Discussions about CLP labelling and compliance can often be contentious and confusing. It's crucial to understand the legislation thoroughly to ensure your products are safe and compliant.

Remember, the responsibility ultimately rests with you! You must understand the product you’re putting on the market and ensure the labelling is correct.

The Most Commonly Asked Questions

“Is my wax melt CLP correct?”

When you see this question asked, you will likely scroll down to see comments like:

• “No, it’s wrong.”
• “You don’t need the pictogram.”
• “It hasn’t got a warning pictogram.”
• “You can’t use that; it’s all wrong.”
• “There are no ingredients.”
• “I don’t have any that look like that.”

However, without the accompanying Safety Data Sheet (SDS), it's impossible to determine the accuracy of a CLP label.

The SDS provides essential information that directly informs the content of the CLP label.

Another factor to consider is product composition. What size is the product, and what ingredients, alongside the fragrance oil, go into its recipe?

These are key factors that affect the final CLP label.

It's impossible for anyone to tell from a photo of a CLP label if the labelling elements are correct without answering all the above questions and having the SDS sheet to hand.

If you are unsure about the information you are putting on your labels, refer to the legislation and ask for help from the supplier.

“Do I need to put my phone number on my CLP?”

When you see this question asked, you will likely scroll down to see comments like:

• “I don’t because I don’t want everyone to have my number.”
• “Just use an email address.”
• “No one reads the CLP anyway.”
• “Just use a PO box instead.”

However, the truth is that your CLP labels require an emergency phone number.

The information required on a CLP label cannot be changed or removed because you don’t want your mobile number to be available to everyone. It is a legal requirement in case of emergencies.

So here's a solution: Get yourself a pay-as-you-go SIM card, rummage through your junk drawer, and pull out that old phone you’ve been holding onto ‘just in case.’

There you have it—a work phone with a mobile number you don’t need to pay for.

A bonus is that you can use that work phone number as the one for your contact number with your suppliers.

“Company XXX got my labels wrong.”

When you see posts like this, you will likely scroll down to see comments like:

• “You should never use that company; they always get it wrong.”
• “Use company YYY instead.”
• “I can help make and print you some; just pay me the postage.”

However, the truth is that you, as the business owner, are responsible for ensuring the labels applied to your products are correct!

Many companies are dedicated to printing CLP labels based on templates from supplier websites.

While many of them know what they are doing and use the correct SDS to ensure the labels sent to their customers are correct, some companies have no understanding of the legislation and think copying and pasting is good enough.

Ultimately, you are responsible for ensuring your labels are correct.

While you might not be able to use software to create the labels or have access to a printer, it is still your responsibility to know that the labels on your products are correct.

Conclusion

Listening to others' opinions can be super helpful, but always verify any information against official guidance to ensure your products are CLP-compliant.

If someone hasn't reviewed the accompanying Safety Data Sheet (SDS), take their assessment of your CLP label with a grain of salt.

We're here to support you every step of the way! Whether you have questions or need guidance, don't hesitate to reach out.

We're passionate about helping you learn what you need to know to provide your customers with safe and compliant products.

Within the HFA Membership, we teach you how to read an SDS sheet, understand it, and create your own CLP labels that conform to the current UK legislation.

For detailed guidance, always refer to the ECHA Guidelines directly and save them in your bookmarks for future reference.