Preliminary note:
The following values of goods are not the values actually realized when sold to the end-consumers, but the values when sold to the wholesale.
Candle consumption increased significantly to approx. 855.000 tons in 2024 (+11,5 %, +87.000 tons), but the value of the consumed candles increased only slightly to 1.948 million EUR (+2,7 %, +51 million EUR) in the same period. Each citizen of the European Union consumed an average of 1,88 kg of candles (+11,1 %) in 2024, corresponding to a wholesale price of 4,34 EUR (+2,3 %).
The domestic production increased by 7,0 % or 50.000 tons to a total of 756.000 tons. Approx. 89.000 tons were exported which is an increase of 1,2 % or 1.000 tons compared to the previous year. The imports increased significantly to approx. 179.000 tons (+27 %, +38.000 tons).
The European Candle Manufacturers Association (ECMA) proposes the inclusion of candles in the EU’s recommended 72-hour emergency preparedness kits, with clear safety guidance and product standards. Candles offer a reliable, low-tech, and cost-effective lighting and utility solution during emergencies where access to electricity or functional digital devices is compromised. Already referenced in preparedness protocols of several EU Member States, candles are a practical and scalable tool for enhancing resilience across the Union. The European candle manufacturing industry stands ready to support such inclusion with compliant, safe, and sustainably produced products.
In this regard, the European Candle Manufacturers Association (ECMA) seeks to promote the safe use of candles, increase the knowledge and safety of candles and take an active role in developing the regulatory and standardisation environment.
Is there any lead in candle wicks?
A myth that can still be found on the internet and in media reports is that candle wicks contain lead and can be a health risk for consumers. The truth is, however, that lead wicks have never played the same role in Europe as in other parts of the world and have not been used by European candle manufacturers for decades.
About candle wicks
The purpose of a wick is to deliver fuel to the flame. Acting like a fuel pump, the wick draws the liquefied fuel up into the flame to burn. There are hundreds of different styles and sizes of wicks. The type of fuel used in a candle, as well as the candle´s size, shape, colour and fragrance materials all impact the wick choice. Selecting the correct wick for a specific candle is critical to making a candle that burns cleanly and properly. Reputable candle manufacturers take great care in selecting the right wick to meet the burn requirements of a particular candle.
The most commonly used wicks today are made from braided, plaited or knitted fibers, mostly cotton, to encourage a slow and consistent burn, and they curl in the flame for a self-trimming effect.
Cored wicks, which are mostly used in jar candles, outdoor candles, pillars, votives and devotional lights are less common. These braided or knitted wicks use a core material to keep the wick straight or upright while burning. The wicks have a round cross section, and the use of different core materials provides a range of stiffness effects. The most common core materials for wicks are cotton, paper, zinc or tin.
Wooden wicks have become popular in recent years for the visual aesthetic they create and the soft crackling sound they create.
Wicks do not contain lead cores
Decades ago, the core of wicks was sometimes made of lead. The heavy metal was partly released to the indoor air and could be inhaled to some degree when such candles were burned. When the health hazards of lead and its compounds became more and more known over time, the European candle manufacturers and their associations voluntarily agreed to phase out lead wicks. That was in the 1970s and 1980s already [1]. These voluntary agreements did not apply to imported candles however, and so several individual European countries prohibited the use of lead in candle wicks. Finland restricted the use in indoor candles in 2001 for example, and Denmark has prohibited the use from 2001 in general. In 2018, the European Chemicals Agency, ECHA, added lead to the REACH Candidate List of substances of very high concern for authorisation [2].
Nowadays, metal is used in less than 2% of the wicks as higher stiffness can be achieved with special braiding techniques or by using other core materials, such as cotton or paper. And if metal cores are still used, they are typically made of unproblematic zinc or tin.
No worries about lead
European candle manufacturers have not used lead core wicks for decades. Consumers can enjoy candles without any concerns.
The European Candle Manufacturers Association aisbl, ECMA, represents European candle manufacturers and their national associations and suppliers. As the European candle industry´s collective voice, ECMA ensures the continuous exchange of information with authorities, non-governmental organizations, the media and other relevant stakeholders. Promoting the safe use and enjoyment of candles and increasing the knowledge and safety of candles are key priorities.
References:
[1] European Commission (2004) Advantages and drawbacks of restricting the marketing and use of lead in ammunition, fishing sinkers and candle wicks. Final report. Contract number ETD/FIF 20030756, pages 123-131
[2] European Chemicals Agency, Candidate List of substances of very high concern for authorization in accordance with Article 59(10) of the REACH Regulation, https://echa.europa.eu/candidate-list-table/-/dislist/details/0b0236e182607ea6
Preliminary note: The following values of goods are not the values actually realized when sold to the end-consumers, but the values when sold to the wholesale.
Candle consumption
decreased significantly to approx. 756.000 tons in 2023 (-13,4 %, -117.000 tons). The value of the consumed candles decreased by 24,5 % (-615 million EUR) in the same period. Each citizen of the European Union consumed an average of 1,69 kg of candles (-13,8 %) in 2023, corresponding to a wholesale price of 4,22 EUR (-24,8 %).
The domestic
production
decreased by 13,8 % or 112.000 tons to a total of 704.000 tons. Approx. 88.000 tons were
exported
which is a decrease of 22,2 % or 25.200 tons compared to the previous year. The
imports
decreased to approx. 140.800 tons (-17,5 %, -29.800 tons).
Denmark belongs to the countries in Europe where most candles are used, especially during the long winters. A study which was conducted by a team of independent scientists examined data of 6.757 participants of the Copenhagen Aging and Midlife Biobank cohort. The researchers found no statistically significant association between candle use and the risk of cardiovascular and respiratory events. Interestingly, it was observed that frequent candle users were more physically active and had a higher socioeconomic status than non-users and those who used candles rarely.
The full PDF version of the study is available at no charge:
Brussels (7 April 2022) – Indoor candles with plastic containers have become increasingly popular with consumers for some time already. Plastic containers allow a clear view of the flame during burning, and they are typically lighter than containers made of other materials. Such benefits should never come at the expense of an increased fire risk, however. Therefore, not all plastics are equally suited for candle containers. Highly flammable plastics are considered an unacceptable fire risk for indoor candles, even if they have other benefits, like being renewable or compostable for example. Explicit information warning consumers of this risk is not enough to reduce this risk to an acceptable level.
The safe use of candles is of paramount importance to the candle manufacturers organized in ECMA. They have worked on European standards for indoor candles, which have made a significant contribution to increase the level of safety of both domestic and imported candles, for more than 20 years. They cooperate with expert suppliers to make sure that their indoor candle plastic containers comply with relevant safety standards, like EN 15493 Candles – Specification for fire safety or ASTM F2417 Standard Specification for Fire Safety of Candles for example.
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The European Candle Manufacturers Association, ECMA, is a non-profit organisation representing European candle manufacturers, national associations of candle manufacturers, and suppliers and service providers to the European candle industry. As the candle industry´s collective voice, it makes sure that the candle makers´ interests are heard and understood. ECMA promotes the safe use and enjoyment of candles, increases the knowledge and safety of candles and takes an active role in developing the regulatory and normative environment.
In December 2018, the Danish Environmental Protection Agency Miljøstyrelsen published a comprehensive research report [1] on their website that provides a number of important new findings on particles emitted by candles and their evaluation. The most important findings are probably that these particles almost entirely consist of water-soluble salts for most candles and that their soot content is very low. This differentiates them significantly from particles emitted by other sources, and they must be evaluated differently as a consequence. It is recommended to purchase high-quality candles and protect them from draught during burning.
Small particles with a size of less than 2,5 µm can get into the alveoli of the lungs if they are inhaled. If these particles are persistent, i.e. not water-soluble, they can only be eliminated by the body very slowly and may cause health problems. Exhaust from diesel cars, tire abrasion or wood burning stoves are well-known sources of such particles into outdoor air. But there are also particles in indoor air, emitted by cooking, vacuuming or burning candles for example. In contrast to outdoor particles, there is not much knowledge of what health relevance these indoor particles have so far, however.
There have been numerous media reports in the past years, especially in Denmark, that identified candles as one of the main sources of fine particles indoors. The measured concentrations were often compared with those measured close to a main road and candles were branded as a considerable health risk. Consumers are deeply concerned accordingly, especially in Denmark where the candle consumption per capita is highest in Europe, but also in other countries. Miljøstyrelsen therefore commissioned several research projects with the objective to investigate the emissions from candles and help with the assessment.
Candle manufacturers organised in ECA attach utmost importance to high-quality candles that are safe to use by consumers. There is a long tradition of independent scientific research in order to constantly improve both quality and safety aspects. Therefore, ECA and some of its member companies agreed immediately when Miljøstyrelsen invited them to work in a new research project under scientific guidance of the Danish Technological Institute. One of the main objectives of the project was to scientifically determine the number and composition of particles and other substances emitted by candles during normal use. Based on that, the second main objective was to develop candles that emit a minimum of health relevant substances.
The project, which ran from January 2017 until June 2018, investigated a number of the most common candles in Denmark intensively and with state-of-the-art scientific methods. The most important findings are:
Due to the limited resources of the project, it was not possible to modify the candles in a way that all emissions would decrease to even lower levels simultaneously. But this is one of the open points which were picked up by yet another research project that was approved by the Danish Innovation Fund in October 2017 and will continue until summer 2021. It is expected that the project will provide additional key knowledge of the emission of particles and other substances and facilitate an objective evaluation of the health effects.
Consumers of candles may be assured that emissions from burning candles are not hazardous to human health. This is one of the conclusions of the study commissioned by the AECM and conducted at Milan Polytechnic University (Politecnico di Milano) in 2015.
The study found that well burning candles emit such small amounts of normal combustion by-products as to be of no detriment to human health. These findings confirm the conclusions of other recent and reputable papers, that burning scented candles results in insignificant concentrations of combustion by-products.
The candle manufacturer members of the AECM are pleased to share the outcome of this research with candle consumers who may continue to enjoy burning scented candles without concern for health safety.
In mid-January 2016, BBC linked limonene in scented household products, including scented candles, to potential health hazards due to the formation of formaldehyde when the limonene reacts with ozone in their television program “Trust me I am a Doctor”.
The results of the underlying experiment were reported on BBC.com, and the story has been replicated on many websites inside and outside the U.K. since and unsettled consumers about the safe use of scented candles.
ECA would like to provide some perspective to address the misinterpretations contained in the programme and online article.
Limonene is a terpene (one of many) that occurs naturally and is used in fragrances both as a synthetically derived ingredient and also as part of many natural essential oils. The article suggested that scented cleaning products, air-fresheners and candles create undue levels of formaldehyde as a result of the emission of limonene and its subsequent reaction with ozone.
From a scientific point of view, the article left many questions unanswered. ECA therefore contacted Professor Alastair Lewis of the National Centre for Atmospheric Science (NCAS) at the University of York (U.K.) who supposedly performed the experiments for BBC. Prof. Lewis provided some helpful background information for a proper evaluation of the article:
In conclusion, the BBC programme and article (and the numerous follow-ups on other websites) are just some other scare-mongering stories with frighteningly little significance that willingly sacrifice sound science for getting higher ratings.
The safety of scented candles and their ingredients is of utmost importance to the European candle industry and has been part of decades of scientific research. Strict legal requirements and voluntary commitment on top of that make sure that consumers can use scented candles safely.
This year AECM commissioned for the first time a consumer survey to the market research company ComRes. ComRes is a leading British research consultancy headquartered in London which undertakes specialist research and insight into reputation, public policy and communications.
The objective of the study was to understand the consumption of candles in key European markets. ComRes interviewed 3530 adults in the UK, Poland, Germany, Netherlands, Italy, France and Finland. Data were weighted by gender, age and region to be representative of all adults aged 18+ in each country. This survey provides an insight on the ways in which candles are used across Europe, the opinions and beliefs underpinning candle consumption patterns, and purchasing behaviours in these markets.
The results were presented by ComRes to all the participants during the AECM Conference in Nice, and an executive summary of the findings can be downloaded here. The complete report and the individual country reports are available upon request to full members of the AECM.