Reference

Glossary

Every term used in The Maker's Codex, with cross-references and, where relevant, the standard that defines it. Search updates instantly.

102 of 102 entries

A

ACCC mandatory standard#accc-standard: Australia's mandatory candle safety standard, aligned to ASTM F2417 test methods. Non-compliant candles cannot lawfully be supplied in Australia.
Accord#accord: A blend of two or more aromachemicals or oils that produces a single, recognisable impression, such as an amber or oud accord.
After-glow#after-glow: The ember that persists on the wick tip after extinguishing. A long after-glow signals excess carbon build-up and often precedes soot in the next burn.
Allergen declaration#allergen-declaration: The obligation under GB/EU CLP to communicate specific fragrance allergens on the label or supporting documentation when their concentration in the finished mixture triggers the CLP concentration limits or the EUH208 supplemental statement. The trigger is substance-specific, not a single blanket percentage. Read the concentration off the fragrance IFRA certificate, multiply by your load, and compare to the specific limit for each allergen.
Annealed glass#annealed-glass: Standard soda-lime container glass that has been cooled slowly to relieve internal stress. Safe for candle use up to modest thermal gradients.
AOV#aov: Average Order Value. Total revenue divided by number of orders. Direct-to-consumer profitability scales more with AOV than with unit price.
Aromachemical#aromachemical: A single-molecule fragrance material, either nature-identical or synthetic. Building blocks that perfumers combine into accords and finished oils.

B

Base note#base-note: The longest-lasting fragrance component, typically woods, resins, or musks. Provides throw persistence in the final third of a burn.
Batch code#batch-code: A unique identifier printed on each production batch. Required for traceability under CLP and for product recalls; typically encodes date and pour sequence.
Borosilicate glass#borosilicate: Low-expansion glass tolerant of larger thermal gradients than soda-lime. Rarely used for candle vessels because of cost.
Break-even#breakeven: The number of units sold at which total revenue equals total cost. Fixed costs like insurance and rent divide the contribution margin per unit.
Burn cycle#burn-cycle: One complete light-to-extinguish session used in structured testing. ASTM F2417 test protocols run four-hour cycles with defined rest periods.
Burn rate#burn-rate: Mass of wax consumed per hour, usually reported in g/h. Governs wick-selection decisions and label burn-time claims.

C

Cart abandonment#cart-abandonment: The share of shoppers who add product to cart but do not check out. Shipping cost transparency and account gates are the two most common triggers.
Citronellol#citronellol: A rose-scented allergen naturally present in rose, geranium, and citronella oils. Frequently disclosed at high concentrations in floral fragrances.
CLP#clp: Classification, Labelling and Packaging regulation. Sets the hazard-pictogram, signal-word, and H/P-statement rules that appear on candle base labels in the UK and EU.
COGS#cogs: Cost of Goods Sold. The direct, per-unit cost of producing a finished candle: wax, wick, fragrance, dye, vessel, label, primary packaging, and pro-rated overhead.
Cold throw#cold-throw: The scent a cured candle releases before it is lit. Governed by fragrance load, wax anchoring, and cure time.
Congealing point#congealing-point: The temperature at which molten wax begins to solidify. Reported on every wax TDS.
Container wax#container-wax: Wax formulated with a low melting point and soft crystal structure for use in a fixed vessel, not free-standing pillars.
Contribution margin#contribution-margin: Selling price minus variable cost per unit. The cash each sale contributes toward fixed costs before profit begins.
Cored wick#cored-wick: A wick with a rigid inner core (paper, cotton, or historically zinc). Modern cored wicks are zinc-free and lead-free. Lead-cored wicks have been banned in the US since 2003.
COSHH#coshh: Control of Substances Hazardous to Health, the UK workplace regulation covering fragrance handling and wax fume exposure in production spaces.
CPSC candle guidance#cpsc-guidance: US Consumer Product Safety Commission recommendations for candle safety labelling, including the standard three fire-safety statements every US-sold candle should carry.
Cure#cure: The period after pouring in which wax crystalises and fragrance anchors into the matrix. Typical cure: 7–14 days for soy, 24–48 h for paraffin.
Customer acquisition cost#cac: The blended spend required to acquire one paying customer. On DTC candle sites, CAC below one-third of LTV is the common break-even guideline.
Customer LTV#ltv: The projected total revenue from a customer across their lifetime. Repeat-friendly categories like refills and gift sets shift LTV upward.

E

Eugenol#eugenol: A spicy allergen present in clove, cinnamon leaf, and bay oils. Regularly declared on winter and gourmand fragrance labels.

F

Fatty acid profile#fatty-acid-profile: The distribution of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids in a wax. Drives melt point, hardness, and how cleanly a wax accepts fragrance.
Fee stack#fee-stack: The total per-order cost of listing, referral, payment processing, offsite ads, tax reserve and fulfilment on a given sales channel. Compared across channels in the marketplace fee-stack matrix.
Flame height#flame-height: The vertical size of the flame at steady state. ASTM F2417 flags flames over 3 inches (76 mm) as a safety fail on standard containers.
Flame pictogram#ghs-pictogram-flame: The GHS02 hazard symbol shown on labels when the product's flashpoint or fragrance content triggers flammability classification.
Flashpoint#flashpoint: The lowest temperature at which a fragrance oil's vapours can form an ignitable mixture in air. It is an ignition-hazard property listed on the SDS, not an add-temperature ceiling. The add-fragrance temperature for a candle follows the wax and fragrance supplier's process guidance (commonly 82 to 88 degrees Celsius for container waxes).
Fragrance load#fragrance-load: The mass ratio of fragrance to wax, usually expressed as a percentage. Practical container ceilings sit between 6 and 12 percent depending on wax type.
Frosting#frosting: White surface crystals that appear on soy wax as it cools. A hallmark of natural soy, not a defect.

G

Green Claims Code#green-claims-code: The UK CMA guidance on environmental marketing. Claims such as 'natural', 'clean', or 'eco' must be substantiated, specific, and not misleading.

H

Hazard statement#hazard-statement: The H-code text on a CLP/GHS label describing the nature of the hazard, for example "H317 May cause an allergic skin reaction." Taken directly from the fragrance SDS.
Headspace#headspace: The vertical gap between the top of the cured wax and the vessel rim. A minimum of 12 mm keeps the flame clear of the lip during a full melt pool.
Hot throw#hot-throw: The scent a candle releases while burning. Governed by melt-pool temperature, fragrance flashpoint, wick draw, and vessel geometry.
Hydrogenation#hydrogenation: The process that saturates plant oils into solid wax by adding hydrogen across double bonds. Higher hydrogenation raises melt point and hardens the wax.

I

IFRA category#ifra-category: One of twelve product categories that IFRA uses to set maximum usage levels. Category 12 covers non-skin-contact products including candles.
IFRA Category 12#ifra-category-12: The IFRA usage-level category that applies to scented candles. Maximum permitted fragrance load per material is set in the 51st Amendment tables.
IFRA Standard#ifra-standard: A restriction on the use of a specific fragrance material, issued by the International Fragrance Association. Restrictions define maximum usage by product category.
Iodine value#iodine-value: A measurement of the unsaturation in a wax or oil, reported as grams of iodine absorbed per 100 g. Lower iodine value generally means a harder, more stable wax.

K

Keystone markup#keystone-markup: The retail-trade convention of pricing at roughly cost times two for wholesale and cost times four for retail. Enables independent shops to buy at wholesale and still compete with the maker's own site.
Keystone-plus pricing#keystone-plus: A wholesale pricing convention where retail price is set to at least 2.2 to 2.5 times wholesale, giving retailers headroom for promotions without eroding your position.

L

Limonene#limonene: A citrus terpene listed as a UK and EU fragrance allergen. The dominant molecule in cold-pressed orange and lemon oils.
Linalool#linalool: A common floral aromachemical listed as a UK and EU fragrance allergen. Widely present in lavender, bergamot, and rose oils.
Line sheet#line-sheet: A one-page wholesale document listing each SKU with a photo, wholesale price, RRP, MOQ, and lead time. The core sales tool for boutique wholesale.

M

Margin#margin: Profit expressed as a percentage of selling price. A £24 candle costing £8 to produce carries a 66.7 percent margin, not a 200 percent margin.
Markup vs margin#markup-vs-margin: Markup is profit as a percentage of cost; margin is profit as a percentage of price. Confusing the two is the single most common pricing mistake in candle businesses.
Melt point#melt-point: The temperature at which a wax fully liquefies. Not the same as pour temperature; the melt point governs cure hardness and hot-weather shipping risk.
Melt pool#melt-pool: The liquid layer of wax around the flame. A candle reaches a 'full melt pool' when the pool extends to the vessel wall.
Memory ring#memory-ring: The ring of unmelted wax left after a first burn shorter than the full-melt-pool time. Every subsequent burn respects that ring.
Middle note#middle-note: The heart of a fragrance, typically florals or spice, which carries the scent through the main burn window.
MOQ#moq: Minimum Order Quantity. The smallest wholesale order a supplier will accept, usually stated per SKU on a line sheet.
Mushrooming#mushrooming: A carbon ball that forms on the wick tip when the wick is oversized for the fragrance/wax combination. Trim to 6 mm before every burn.

O

Oil binding capacity#oil-binding-capacity: The maximum weight of fragrance a wax can hold before oil sweats to the surface after cure. Exceeding it produces oil beads and weak throw.
Olfactive family#olfactive-family: The high-level classification of a fragrance, such as citrus, floral, woody, oriental, or gourmand. Used to organise ranges and predict pairing.

P

PCN#pcn: Poison Centre Notification. Submission of a classified mixture's composition and toxicology to a national poison centre before placing on market. Required in the EU (and Northern Ireland) when the finished mixture is classified for health or physical hazards under Annex VIII. The Great Britain submission scheme is currently voluntary via the NPIS.
Pictogram#pictogram: A CLP/GHS red-framed diamond symbol (flame, exclamation mark, etc.) printed at a minimum of 10 mm per side on retail packaging where the classification triggers it.
Pillar wax#pillar-wax: Hard, high-shrink wax formulated to release from a mould and stand without a container.
Polymorphism#polymorphism: The tendency of natural wax to crystallise in more than one form as it cools. Explains frosting on soy and the surface variance between two identical pours.
Potential sensitiser#potential-sensitiser: A material that can trigger skin or respiratory reactions after repeated exposure. CLP hazard statement H317 flags skin sensitisers on candle labels.
Pour temperature#pour-temperature: The wax temperature at which you pour into vessels. Specified by the wax manufacturer's technical data sheet, typically 55–75°C for container blends.
Power output#power-output: The steady-state heat release of a burning candle, measured in watts. Wick sizing is effectively a decision about target power output for a given wax mass and vessel.
Precautionary statement#precautionary-statement: The P-code text on a CLP/GHS label describing recommended precautions, for example "P210 Keep away from heat." Paired with each hazard statement per SDS.
Public liability insurance#public-liability-insurance: Third-party cover for injury or property damage arising from your product. Effectively mandatory for craft-fair stalls and any retail placement, and priced from around £60 to £120 per year in the UK for small candle makers.

Q

QRA#qra: Quantitative Risk Assessment. The dermal-exposure methodology behind IFRA category limits.

R

REACH SVHC#reach-svhc: Substances of Very High Concern under the EU REACH regulation. Fragrance suppliers disclose SVHC status on safety data sheets; presence above 0.1 percent triggers reporting.
Refund rate#refund-rate: The share of orders refunded, whether for breakage in transit, defect, or dissatisfaction. Above 3 percent it eats into contribution margin quickly.
Responsible Person#responsible-person: The named legal entity in the UK or EU accountable for a product's CLP notification and compliance. Must appear on the label with a contactable address.
RRP#rrp: Recommended Retail Price. The label price on a direct-to-consumer channel before promotional discounting.

S

Safe-fill line#safe-fill-line: The maximum fill height that keeps the melt pool below the vessel rim during a full four-hour burn. Depends on wick size, wax, and vessel geometry.
Saponification value#saponification-value: Milligrams of KOH required to saponify one gram of a wax or oil. Used on supplier COAs as an identity check on wax batches.
SDS#sds: Safety Data Sheet. A 16-section technical document supplied by the fragrance/wax manufacturer; the source of truth for flashpoint, allergens, and CLP classification.
Secondary combustion#secondary-combustion: The re-ignition of vapours above the primary flame, seen as a flare on relight. A recurring pattern indicates excess unburned fuel and wick over-sizing.
Self-trimming wick#self-trimming: A wick constructed to curl and burn away carbon on its own, reducing the need to trim between burns. ECO and CD series are widely used examples.
Signal word#signal-word: The CLP/GHS-mandated hazard cue printed on a label: "Warning" for lower-severity and "Danger" for higher-severity classifications.
Sinkhole#sinkhole: A cavity that forms around the wick as wax contracts during cooling. Fix with a heat-gun pass or a low-temperature second pour.
Sooting#sooting: Visible black particulate on the vessel wall or in the air, caused by incomplete combustion. Common triggers are over-wicking, overloaded fragrance, or drafts.
Stearic acid#additive-stearic: A saturated fatty acid added to pillar and taper wax to raise opacity and hardness. Historically the standard hardener before purpose-blended waxes.
Stoneware#stoneware: Vitrified ceramic fired above 1200°C. Low water absorption makes it safe for candle service; unglazed interiors can wick fragrance oil and require sealing.

T

Taper vessel#taper-vessel: A vessel whose inner diameter narrows toward the rim. Concentrates heat at the shoulder and raises the risk of rim scorching relative to a straight-sided jar.
Tempered glass#tempered-glass: Soda-lime glass strengthened by controlled heating and rapid cooling. Tolerates a wider thermal gradient than annealed glass but shatters into small cubes on failure.
Thermal shock#thermal-shock: Vessel cracking caused by a steep temperature gradient across the glass wall. Managed in candle making through vessel pre-warm, controlled pour temperature, and a fill line that keeps the melt pool below the rim. Container-glass suppliers publish thermal-endurance figures on the technical data sheet; treat those as the binding limit.
Top note#top-note: The first-perceived component of a fragrance, usually citrus or light aldehydes. Evaporates within minutes and drives cold-throw first impressions.
Tunnelling#tunnelling: A wick burns down the centre of the candle without melting the outer wax. Caused by undersized wicks or a first burn shorter than the full-melt-pool time.

U

UFI#ufi: Unique Formula Identifier. A 16-character code that ties a mixture formulation to a Poison Centre Notification. Required on labels of classified mixtures placed on the EU market (and Northern Ireland, which follows the EU regime). The Great Britain scheme is currently voluntary; a UFI is not required on GB labels.

V

VAT threshold#vat-threshold: The rolling 12-month UK turnover level above which a business must register for VAT (currently £90,000). Crossing the threshold changes pricing, invoicing, and margin maths.
Viscosity#viscosity: A liquid's resistance to flow. Warmer wax is less viscous and disperses fragrance more evenly, which is why pouring too cool causes streaking.
Vybar#additive-vybar: A polymer additive used with paraffin to raise opacity, harden the surface, and hold higher fragrance loads. Typical dose is 0.5 to 1 percent by wax weight.

W

Wall adhesion#wall-adhesion: The degree to which cured wax bonds to the inner face of the vessel. Poor adhesion produces wet spots; excessive adhesion resists refill and take-back cleaning.
Weight declaration#weight-declaration: The net product weight required on retail labels. UK and EU rules apply e-mark tolerances; the value shown must be the fill weight, not the packaged weight.
Wet spot#wet-spot: A patch where wax pulls away from the vessel wall during contraction. Cosmetic, not structural, in soy container blends.
Wholesale terms#wholesale-terms: The payment and delivery conditions offered to trade buyers, such as Net-30 payment, minimum order values, and reorder minimums.
Wick curl#wick-curl: The natural bend a self-trimming wick develops at the tip while burning, which pushes the carbon cap out of the hottest zone and reduces mushrooming.
Wick drowning#wick-drowning: The flame extinguishes when melted wax rises above the wick tip. Usually a sign the wick is under-sized for the vessel diameter.
Wick priming#wick-priming: Pre-soaking a wick in melted wax before use. Primed wicks light more reliably on first burn and produce less initial smoke.
Wick series#wick-series: A family of wicks sharing a construction (e.g. CD, HTP, LX, ECO, RRD). Sizes within a series scale predictably for a given wax and vessel diameter.
Wick tab#wick-tab: The metal base clip that anchors a wick to the vessel bottom and limits burn-down to the tab height (typically 3–6 mm).
Wooden wick#wooden-wick: A flat, cross, or booster-stack wooden wick that burns with a horizontal flame. Requires wider vessels and longer cure than braided cotton.