L’Occitane candles and candle holders

The reports, as CPSC published them

1. No one hurt

   Made Mar 22, 2018 · , sent to the company Jul 13, 2018 · , published by CPSC Jul 27, 2018

   The product, in the report: 3x5 inch vanilla candle in a hexagonal tin Product Description: Vanilla scented candle in a shiny metal hexagonal tin, measuring 3” wide by 1.5” high If Bougies La Francaise makes candles for L’Occitane, then their address is: Bougies La Francaise SAS Rue du president Auguste Durand BP7200 Cugand, France, 85610 Their US contact is: Bougies La Fran aise USA Corp. Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10016 Phone: (1) 506 875 7595 E-mail : info@pointalaligne-blf.com Manufacturer website URL: L’Occitane https://usa.loccitane.com Bougies La Francaise SAS http://www.bougies-la-francaise. pro/uk/travail-a-facon/ Manufacturer Phone Number: L’Occitane: 1-212-333-4880 Bougies La Fran aise: 1-506-875-7595 Retailer:L’Occitane Retailer State: L’Occitane has stores in the following states: AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, IL, MA, Ml, MN, NV, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TX, VA, WA Explanation: Despite following candle safety guidelines ,I experienced a candle wax fire that should never have occurred. The candle reached its flash point, causing a candle wax fire which should never occur in normal consumer use.

   Incident Description: On 2/11/2018 the following occurred (note that the description that follows is almost exactly what I have written to the owner of the company that made the candle):

   When I initially lit the wick, I noticed something different about this particular candle. In most tinned candles, the flame is restricted to the wick, which melts a tiny pool of wax immediately surrounding the wick, while the remainder of the wax body is solid. With this candle, the entire candle wax body liquefied soon after the wick was lit, and this occurred every time I used the candle. I noted it was odd but hadn’t heard that this was a concern, so I continued to use the candle. I also noticed that the metal container would become extremely hot while the candle burned, so I began to put the tin on a notepad in case the heat damaged my furniture.On the night of the fire, the wick and wax were about ¥.&”high (greater than the recommended W’ where you are advised to not bum the candle further) and I noted that I wouldn’t be able to bum it for much longer that evening. I placed the metal lid to the container next to the candle.

   Initially, the candle burned just as it had been burning whenever I lit it: the wax liquefied and the flame was restricted to the tiny wick. I was watching TV in the bedroom and was not paying attention to the candle when I happened to tum to view the flame and was shocked to see that the tiny flame had become a huge candle wax fire.The entire wax body was on fire, and the previously tiny flame was now a small fireball, about 3” wide and burning about 5 -6” above the rim of the tin. I was shocked and I panicked. In my panicky state, as I was attempting to snuff out the fire, I hit the candle and the metal container fell onto the floor. As the container fell, burning wax splattered onto the carpeting, creating little fires wherever the wax hit the carpeting. The hot metal container fused into the carpeting upon contact. The notebook that I had placed the candle upon was scorched. Aside from the notebook and carpeting, nothing else was harmed.

   I immediately began to research what had happened to me and was surprised to learn that the highly reflective interior surface of the container contributed to the liquefying of the entire wax candle, setting me up for a candle wax fire. I’ve read about causing a wax fire by using water, but this was not my case. There were no warnings on the product that this could happen; in fact the product label states that “Every time the candle is lit, it is preferable to make the wax melt over its whole surface before extinguishing it.”Additionally, the instructions state that “Dispose when 1 to 2 mm of wax remain in container.” I am perplexed that L’Occitane is recommending procedures that are dangerous and may be setting up customers for candle wax fires. Obviously the highly reflective metal interior of the metal container heated the wax to its flash point, causing a candle wax fire. There were no warnings on the instructions that this could occur - in fact, the instructions may contribute to a candle wax fire by recommending that: a) the entire wax surface should melt when in use; and b) it is advisable to dispose of the container when 1 - 2 mm of wax remain in container.

   The consumer was not bodily injured;she suffered property damage.

   The consumer stated that she has used other products by the manufacturer but this is the first time that she used one of their candles.

   Model

   unknown

   Bought from

   l’occitane.com

   Bought

   Dec 28, 2008

   Where

   Bellingham, Washington: Home/Apartment/Condominium

   Who was involved

   Age 61, Female

   The reporter’s relation to them

   Self

   As this report names them

   Brand L’Occitane, made or sold by L’OCCITANE, Inc.

   How badly, in CPSC’s words

   Incident, No Injury

CPSC’s disclaimer

Sources