Some of these specifications include flame height (should not exceed 3 in.), tip-over stability and the tempering of glass containers.
Most reputable candle manufacturers include some version of the fire safety code on the bottom of the candle. Make sure every candle product in your store has some type of candle burning instructions included. Photo courtesy of the National Candle Association (NCA) |
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New Technologies
Advanced candle-making technologies are surfacing that shed some light (literally) on candle burning safety in the home. Lumi-Lite Candle Co. Inc., based in Norwich, Ohio, has come out with a whole family of products patented as Safe At Home.
The line includes candles with self-extinguishing tabs on the wicks, CandleWatch products that extinguish a candle automatically after an allotted amount of time and LifeSaver trim rings that are one of the first accessories products to meet the new ASTM standard.
“Retailers need to ask their candle manufacturers for safe products, and they don’t. You can ask if the product meets the ASTM standards,” says George Pappas of Lumi-Lite. “Most retailers don’t even bother to burn the candles they have on their shelf to sell—and if they did, they would learn a lot.”
Pappas adds that retailers should always ask their suppliers for a burn test before putting the product on the shelf, and ask any other questions regarding the candle’s durability, burning suggestions, safety requirements, etc.
“You should know whether your products are meeting safety standards,” he says.
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Giving customers other options when it comes to providing fragrance in the home is one way to avoid candle fires. In lieu of scented room perfumes and canned air fresheners, several products have hit the market that do not require an open flame to release scent.
Oil diffusers disperse essential oils so that their aroma fills a room with the natural fragrance. Terracotta lamp rings can sit directly on a light bulb, diffusing an essential oil scent from the bulb’s heat. Clay pot diffusers contain an opening for essential oils to disperse scent throughout the room.
Fan diffusers, another popular option, have a fan that blows air across a disposable absorbent pad with essential oils and carries the aroma through the room. Similarly, electric heat diffusers use heat and a fan to gently heat the oil and disperse the aroma.
Electric candle melters, made from the same technology as Crock Pots, melt an entire candle and produce the same scent throw as lighting the candle would. Another option is aroma beads, which are clear plastic beads that can absorb up to 30 percent fragrance oil. You can place them near a sunny window for even stronger scent release. |
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