Some Labels Look Scary, What Are They?

A long time ago, back in my early candle and wax melt making days. These labels we see now, didn't exist.

These labels are known as The Classification, Labelling and Packaging. CLP for short.

They are a legal requirement to protect all in the supply chain of hazardous substances, from the manufacturers of fragrance and essential oils, right down to the consumer.

The regulation is based on the United Nations’ Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) and is designed to ensure that the hazards associated with chemicals are clearly communicated to consumers.

The CLP regulation applies to all chemical substances and mixtures that are manufactured or imported into the EU. It requires that these substances and mixtures be classified based on their hazardous properties and that this information be communicated through labelling and packaging.

The classification process involves the assessment of the hazardous properties of a chemical substance or mixture, such as its flammability, toxicity, and reactivity. Based on this assessment, the substance or mixture is assigned to one or more hazard classes and categories, and appropriate hazard statements and pictograms are assigned to it.

The CLP Regulation is enforced by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) and national authorities. It aims to protect human health and the environment by ensuring that the hazards of chemicals are clearly communicated and that appropriate safety measures are taken.

Can I use one CLP label for all my scents?

Unfortunately, no. Each fragrance oil used must have its own CLP label. This is because they all contain different ingredients, and may be present in different quantities, thus altering the information required on the label.

If a product does not have a CLP label attached, or the CLP information is NOT available a the point of sale (i.e on a website) then the manufacturer is breaking the law. We advise against supporting companies that flaunt the laws set out to protect us all.