Flash point

Flash point is the temperature at which a fragrance oil can release enough vapor to ignite near an open flame. It is listed on the fragrance's safety data sheet and varies from one fragrance oil to another, so a blend that is fine in one recipe may need a different approach in another.

Flash point matters because candle making involves heating wax on a stovetop or with a wax melter, and fragrance oil is generally added once the wax has cooled below the oil's flash point rather than while it is at its hottest. As a standard precaution, always melt wax in a well ventilated space, keep it away from open flame, never leave a heat source unattended, and follow the fragrance and wax suppliers' documented temperature guidance rather than working from memory.

When buying fragrance oil, request or download the safety data sheet from the supplier so the flash point is on hand before a pour. A common mistake is treating every fragrance oil as having the same flash point, or reusing a temperature learned from a different supplier's product. Each fragrance oil should be checked individually.