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Can you post candles? And how to pack them properly

BY THE FLIPSHIP TEAM · UPDATED NOVEMBER 2026 · 4 MIN READ

SHORT ANSWER Yes.

Candles aren't usually dangerous goods, so a candle on its own can go as an ordinary parcel, by post or by courier. The real risks are broken glass and heat, so pack them well. Add matches, a lighter or a diffuser to the box, though, and different rules apply.

Good news first: candles are one of the easier things to ship. They're mostly solid wax, and for transport they're not usually classed as dangerous goods. The things that go wrong with candle parcels are almost always about glass, heat and what else is in the box.

Can you post candles?

Yes. Candles don't appear on Royal Mail's or the Post Office's lists of prohibited or restricted items, and transport regulators don't treat them as dangerous goods. A candle on its own can go as an ordinary parcel, by post or by courier, within the UK.

Scented candles often carry hazard symbols on the label because of the fragrance oils in them. That's about how the product is sold and used, not how it's shipped. Why hazard symbols don't decide shipping →

When a candle parcel isn't ordinary

  • With matchesMatches are prohibited in the post, so a candle and matches gift set can't go by Royal Mail. See our gift sets guide →
  • With a lighterLighters containing fuel are prohibited. Only new, empty lighters in unopened retail packaging can be posted.
  • With a diffuser or sprayThese are usually flammable liquids, with limits on size and number. See our home fragrance guide →
  • Candle-making kitsThe wax is fine. Bottles of fragrance oil or essential oil in the kit may not be.

Packing glass candles

Container candles in glass jars are the most common breakage. A broken jar means a refund, a replacement and sometimes a damaged parcel next to it. Before each one goes out:

  1. 01Wrap the jar so glass never touches glass or the side of the box.
  2. 02Use a strong box with at least 5cm of cushioning on every side.
  3. 03Fill every gap. Shake the box: if anything moves, add more.
  4. 04Protect the lid and wick. A lid that comes off scratches the wax.
  5. 05For heavy jars, double box: a snug inner box inside a larger outer one.

Heat, cold and the wax

Wax softens well below its melting point, and the inside of a delivery van in summer gets far hotter than outside. Soft container candles can sink, sweat oil or pull away from the glass. Pillar and taper candles can bend. In cold weather, wax can crack and glass can become brittle.

  1. 01In hot weather, use next working day delivery and avoid parcels sitting in a depot over the weekend.
  2. 02Pack candles upright and mark the box with which way is up.
  3. 03Wrap pillars and tapers so they're supported along their whole length.
  4. 04Tell customers a little frosting or a sunken top after transit is normal, and how to fix it with the first burn.

A note on labelling

Shipping isn't the only rule for candles. Scented candles sold in the UK may need product safety labelling, including hazard warnings for fragrance allergens and safe burning instructions. That's a separate topic from shipping, and the British Candle Makers Federation publishes practical guidance for makers.

What about couriers?

A candle on its own can go with any courier. Switching to a courier doesn't get you round the rules. Most couriers, and the parcel comparison sites and drop-off shops that resell them, won't accept candle sets with matches, diffusers or sprays on a standard account. The couriers that do carry dangerous goods only accept them when all of this is in place:

  • Approved accountA business account the courier has approved for dangerous goods in advance. A standard account, or a label bought online, isn't enough.
  • Trained staffEveryone who packs, marks or books the parcels must be trained in dangerous goods for their role, under the road transport rules, with training records kept.
  • Packed and declaredProducts packed within the small-quantity limits for each product, in strong inner and outer packaging with the correct marking, and declared to the courier when the label is created. Some dangerous goods, such as fireworks and Christmas cracker snaps, have no small-quantity allowance, so parcel couriers can't carry them at all.

Get any of it wrong and the parcel can be stopped in the network, returned or destroyed, usually at the sender's cost. FlipShip gives you an approved account to ship on, checks your products and packaging, and gives your team a packing card to follow on every parcel.

Selling candles with matches or diffusers? Let's check your sets. Start free review →

Questions

Do I need a hazard label to post a candle?

No. A candle on its own isn’t dangerous goods for transport, so it doesn’t need a dangerous goods label. Product safety labels on the candle itself are a separate thing.

Can I post wax melts?

Yes. Wax melts are solid wax, like candles, and can usually go as an ordinary parcel. Pack them so they can’t crack or soften in the heat.

Can I post candles abroad?

Many carriers accept candles internationally, but check the destination country’s rules. FlipShip currently ships to the UK mainland only.

Why did my candle arrive with a sunken top?

Usually heat in transit. The wax softened and settled. It’s cosmetic, and the first full burn normally evens it out.

Can I include matches if I use a courier?

Only with a courier service approved to carry matches, packed and marked correctly. FlipShip can review your set for free.

Sources

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules and carrier policies change, so always check the latest versions. How to ship candle gift sets with matches →