Category: Tips | Reading time: 7 minutes
Introduction
You have a ready CLP classification for your candle - soy wax plus fragrance oil. Everything calculated, label designed. Then you add dye. And suddenly the question: does the dye change my candle's classification?
Short answer: usually not. Longer answer: it depends on the dye. This article will explain how to check it in 2 minutes, without a chemist and without panic.
1. Why dye MAY affect classification
Your candle is a chemical mixture: wax + oil + (optional) dye. CLP classification takes into account all components of the mixture - not just the oil. If the dye contains hazardous substances in concentrations exceeding thresholds - it changes the classification.
In practice: most candle dyes are not classified as hazardous (because they are designed for this application). But "most" does not mean "all". That's why you need to check.
2. How to check the dye in 2 minutes
You need one document: the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) of the dye. Every dye supplier should provide it to you. If they don't - ask. If they refuse - change supplier.
Step 1: Open Section 2 of the dye's SDS
Section 2 is titled "Hazard identification". Look for one of two pieces of information:
Step 2: Check the classification
Scenario A - dye is NOT classified:
In Section 2 you see: "Not classified as hazardous" / "Brak klasyfikacji". This means that the dye does not affect your candle's classification. You can use it without changes to your documentation. End of check.
Scenario B - dye IS classified:
In Section 2 you see H-phrases (e.g., H302, H315, H319, H317 etc.) and GHS pictograms. This means that the dye contains hazardous substances and may affect your candle's classification - you must include it in your CLP calculations.
Practical tip: If the dye's SDS states "not classified" - you don't need to do anything else. If it says anything else - read on.
3. When does dye realistically change candle classification?
Even if the dye is classified as hazardous, it does not automatically mean it will change your candle's classification. The key is the concentration of the dye in the candle.
Typical dye concentration in a soy candle is 0.1-0.5% (1-5g per kg of wax). This is very little. For a dye at such a low concentration to affect the classification, it would have to contain substances with very low hazard thresholds - which is rare for dyes intended for candles.
Comparison of concentrations:
| Component | Typical concentration in candle | Impact on classification |
|---|---|---|
| Fragrance oil | 6-10% | Dominant - it determines the classification |
| Dye | 0.1-0.5% | Minimal - almost never changes classification |
| Soy wax | 89-94% | None - soy wax is unclassified |
At a 0.3% dye concentration in a candle, even if the dye contained a sensitizing substance (H317) at 10% - in the candle, this substance would have a concentration of 0.03%. The threshold for H317 is 1%. Far off.
Conclusion: in practice, dye almost never changes the CLP classification of a candle. But "almost never" is not "never" - so check the SDS.
4. Types of dyes - which are safer?
Candle dyes
Specifically designed for use in wax. Fat-soluble, thermally stable. Most are unclassified as hazardous. This is your safe choice.
At TopWosk, we make it easier for you to choose: For each dye in our store, we inform you which colors are safe (unclassified - you can use them without affecting the candle's classification) and which are hazardous (classified - check the SDS and include in documentation). You don't have to analyze the sheets yourself - we've done it for you. Check out our dyes →
Food dyes
Water-soluble - do not dissolve in wax. Not suitable for candles. Can form clumps, alter wick performance, and give unpredictable results. Avoid.
Pigments (micas, mineral pigments)
Do not dissolve in wax - they suspend in it. Can clog the wick and cause uneven burning. Suitable for decorative candles (not intended for burning) or for the top layer. Mineral pigments (e.g., iron oxide, titanium dioxide) are usually unclassified.
Synthetic dyes (aniline dyes)
Some may have a CLP classification (e.g., H302 - harmful if swallowed, H319 - serious eye irritation). Check the SDS particularly carefully with this group. At typical candle concentrations (0.1-0.5%), they are unlikely to affect classification - but it's good to know.
5. What to do if the dye is classified?
If your dye's SDS contains H-phrases - you have two options:
Option A: Calculate the impact (correct, but requires work)
Add the dye as another component in your candle's CLP classification. On paper: dye concentration in candle × hazardous substance concentration in dye = substance concentration in candle. Compare with thresholds. It will almost certainly be below the threshold - but at least you have it calculated and documented.
Option B: Change the dye (simpler)
Look for a candle dye that is unclassified (Section 2 of SDS: "no classification"). There are many on the market - you don't have to use one that has H-phrases. One substitute and the problem disappears.
TopWosk Recommendation: Always choose dyes with an SDS confirming no classification. This eliminates the problem entirely - you don't have to recalculate, you don't have to worry about the impact on documentation. Simpler = better.
6. What about fragrance additives like dried flowers, herbs?
Popular in decorative candles: dried lavender, rose petals, cinnamon, oranges. From a CLP perspective:
- Dried plants as decoration (on the surface, not burned) - do not affect the CLP classification of the candle, as they are not part of the chemical mixture. But beware: they can pose a fire hazard (PN-EN 15493!) - this is a GPSR issue, not CLP.
- Dried plants INSIDE the wax (burned together with the wax) - theoretically, they are part of the mixture. In practice, their "concentration" is negligible and they don't have an SDS. There is no CLP risk, but the fire risk increases significantly (ignition of dried elements). We do not recommend this.
- Essential oils as a substitute for synthetics - this is a DIFFERENT topic. An essential oil is a full-fledged chemical component with its own SDS and its own hazards. Treat it the same as a synthetic fragrance oil.
7. Frequently Asked Questions
"I've been using dye for years and never checked the SDS - do I have to?" - Yes. As a manufacturer of a chemical mixture (candle), you are obliged to know the composition and hazards of ALL ingredients. In practice: ask your supplier for the dye's SDS, check Section 2, record it in your documentation. 2 minutes of work.
"The dye supplier won't give me the SDS - what do I do?" - Ask in writing (email). You have the right to an SDS under the REACH Regulation. If the supplier refuses or does not respond - change supplier. No SDS = no ability to prove product safety.
"Can I use crayons as dye?" - Technically you can (they are paraffin with pigment), but: you don't have the crayon's SDS, you don't know the composition, you can't include it in the classification. Use professional candle dyes - they have SDSs, are tested, and cost pennies.
"Do our SDSs from TopWosk include dye?" - No. Our SDSs pertain to the mixture of soy wax + fragrance oil (without dye). If your dye is unclassified - the SDS is complete. If the dye is classified - you must account for it yourself (but as we wrote - at 0.1-0.5% concentration, it almost never changes the result).
Summary
Dye in a candle is usually 0.1-0.5% of the composition - too little to change the CLP classification. But you must check it, and checking takes 2 minutes:
- Get the dye's SDS from the supplier
- Open Section 2 - look for "unclassified" or H-phrases
- Unclassified = no problems - use without worry
- Classified = calculate or change dye - at 0.3% concentration, it will likely not affect, but it's better to have it documented
At TopWosk, we provide Safety Data Sheets for the wax + fragrance oil mixture. The dye is your choice - but remember: unclassified dye = no additional documentation work. Check out our oils with ready documentation →