Why You Should Think Twice About Candles With Botanicals and Crystals
This is such a contentious topic, and there is a lot of debate between members of the candle making community, but this is a conversation that needs to be had for everyone’s sake; makers and customers.
The Risks of Botanicals
Adding decorative elements like dried flowers, herbs, crystals, stones, mica, or cinnamon sticks to candles may enhance their appearance, but it can also introduce significant safety hazards. These materials can increase the risk of fire, cause the candle to burn improperly, and even lead to the container cracking or exploding. That’s the last thing anything wants. We all want to make sure we’re always burning safe candles.
Following, are some of the reasons why you should avoid candles that contain botanicals and crystals, and other additions.
Incorporating dried botanicals such as flowers, herbs, or cinnamon sticks into candles can be particularly dangerous. These materials are highly flammable and can ignite when they come into contact with the candle’s flame or hot wax. Once ignited, they can act as secondary wicks, leading to larger, uncontrolled flames. This not only increases the risk of fire but can also cause the candle to burn unevenly, potentially moving the wick, and/or overheating the container and causing it to crack or shatter.
Crystals and Candle Safety
While materials like crystals, stones, and mica are not flammable, they can still pose risks when added to candles. These objects can shift within the melting wax, potentially interfering with the wick and causing uneven burning. This uneven heat distribution can stress the container, increasing the likelihood of cracks or explosions. Additionally, certain stones may contain moisture or have structural weaknesses that, when heated, could cause them to fracture or even explode.
The addition of any foreign materials can lead to increased heat within the candle’s container. Glass containers are especially vulnerable; excessive heat can cause them to crack or explode, sending hot wax and glass shards outward. There have been incidents where candles have exploded due to such issues, causing property damage and posing serious injury risks.
Consider the Vessel Type
Also, using vessels not designed for candles, or for use in prolonged heat, such as cocktail glasses, vintage tea cups and the like, has grown very quickly in popularity over the last few years, and it can be a disaster waiting to happen. The problem is (or at least one major issue), the glass in cocktail glasses is generally quite fine and delicate, and there’s the danger of the weight of the candle on a narrow, fragile stem. It’s a hazard waiting to happen, not to mention a shatter risk, when it’s hot.
When it comes to vintage tea cups, testing is often not practical, or not done at all, because it’s extremely challenging to do multiple burn tests on a single custom item. There are some beautiful candles being made by extremely talented people, but those candles should only ever be a show piece to complement a room, and never lit. My suggestion would be to trim the wick level with the wax, to avoid the temptation from the start.
All these things factor into whether or not we’re using safe candles. There’s good reason all the worldwide luxury brands make luxury candles without botanicals.
Insurance Coverage
Insurance companies are often hesitant to provide coverage for candles containing flammable materials like dried flowers, herbs, or wood due to the increased fire risks these additives present. The primary concern is that these materials can ignite when exposed to the candle’s flame or heat, leading to uncontrolled fires. For instance, the National Candle Association (USA) has identified that embedding flammable botanicals in candles can create significant fire hazards.
From an insurance perspective, the presence of such combustible elements elevates the likelihood of fire-related incidents, which translates to higher risk. Consequently, insurers may either refuse coverage or impose higher premiums for candles incorporating these materials. Some insurance policies explicitly state that the wick must be the only combustible component in the candle; if other elements become combustible, they are not an accepted risk.
In the event of a fire caused by a candle with flammable additives, proving that these materials did not contribute to the incident can be challenging and may lead to costly legal disputes. Therefore, to mitigate potential liabilities, insurance companies prefer to cover candles that adhere to safety standards, ensuring that only the wick serves as the combustible element.
Given these considerations, it’s advisable to avoid purchasing candles with embedded botanicals or similar materials. If you do choose to use such candles, ensure all additional materials are removed before lighting to maintain safety and comply with potential insurance requirements.
Recommendations
• Avoid Candles with Embedded Materials: It’s advisable to steer clear of candles that contain flammable materials like dried botanicals or other additives. If you do purchase such candles, ensure you remove these materials before lighting them to reduce fire hazards.
• Puchase Candles Made with Wax Embeds: For those who like decorated candles, topped with flowers and other items, choose candle makers who add these in the form of wax embeds. You get the same beauty of a unique candle, but you don’t have to remember to remove all the other items before burning. You may often also remove the wax embeds before burning the candle, and use them as wax melts in a burner.
• Follow Manufacturer Instructions: Always adhere to the safety guidelines provided by the candle manufacturer, including recommended burn times and proper candle care practices. Small businesses owners often provide their own candle care cards (we do!) in addition to the safety stickers we place on the bottom of our candles. Always read any instructions provided before lighting your candle, to get the best out of your candle, safely.
• Practice General Candle Safety: Never leave a burning candle unattended, keep candles away from flammable objects, and place them on stable, heat-resistant surfaces. And, please, never go to sleep with a candle still burning!
By being mindful of these potential hazards and following safety precautions, you can enjoy the warmth and beauty of candles without compromising safety.
Looking for safe and luxurious candles? Choose from our range now.
References:
1. https://www.aussiecandlesupplies.com.au/blogs/aussie-candle-supplies/botanicals-in-candles
2. https://candles.org/ncas-report-on-botanical-candles/
4. https://firefighternow.com/is-cinnamon-flammable-you-may-be-surprised/