What does “flash point” mean?
Flash point is the temperature at which a fragrance can ignite when it comes in contact with an ignition source such as an open flame or a spark. It is still perfectly safe to heat a fragrance higher than its flash point provided there is no ignition source. Flash point is very important when using fragrances in gel candles. Most gel manufacturers recommend using a non-polar fragrance with a flash point of at least 170° F. You can find the flash point of each fragrance listed on the individual fragrance oil page.
Every flammable liquid has a vapor pressure, which is a function of that liquid’s temperature. As the vapor pressure increases, the concentration of evaporated flammable liquid in the air increases. The flash point is the minimum temperature at which there is enough evaporated fuel in the air to start combustion. The fire point of a liquid is the temperature at which it will continue to burn after ignition for at least 5 seconds.
