Why Your Candle’s Scent Changes Over Time
You may have noticed that sometimes your candle’s scent changes over time. You may have found that some candles lose their scent altogether.
We are naturally drawn to candles, whether by the magical flicker of the flame, the warmth and coziness they bring to a room, or, most importantly, the fragrance that appeals to us.
We have all experienced candles that sometimes smell different or weaker over time.
We’ll talk about why this happens and how to preserve scent longevity. But first, let’s talk about the science of candles and fragrances.
How Scent Works in Candles
Fragrances are made by introducing oils and/or natural scents to wax. In our case, we use clean fragrances and all-natural soy wax.
How the scent is released is called “cold throw” and “hot throw.” Cold throw references how the candle smells when it is not lit.
Hot throw is the candle scent when lit. Fragrance loads, or the amount of fragrances added to create the individualized scent, is determined by the chandler.
For example, I (yes, your Chandler, Hi!) blend fragrances to create a unique, clean candle scent. Through trial and testing, choose how much fragrance I will add to the wax to create a unique scent.
Once I have achieved a pleasing result, I introduce it to my candle line.
The Role of Wax Type
Waxes contribute significantly to the scent throw. Most candles sold in stores will use paraffin or a parasoy mix.
We know from studies that paraffin is a petroleum-based product that is not safe to breathe.
It is important to read labels for paraffin or other unsafe materials. If the label does not identify the wax type, it’s safer to assume it has paraffin.
While paraffin candles can look smoother, they do not produce a safer burn than that of natural waxes.
Finally, Why Your Candle’s Scent Changes Over Time
There are several reasons that your candle can change or lose its scent over time. Let’s get into the reasons why!
Evaporation of Fragrance Oils Over Time
Candles not stored properly face exposure to heat, light, and air, which speeds up evaporation. A chemical reaction (oxidation) occurs when fragrances are exposed to air.
This can alter the scent profile. We encourage you to place the lid back on the candle after it has cooled.
Candles should be kept away from windows or warm rooms when not used. Cooler storage practices preserve the scent longer.
Inconsistent or Improper Burning
There are some simple candle troubleshooting tips we can share with you.
Tunneling is created when the wax melts straight down and around the wick and not to the edge of the container.
This is the effect of short burns or blowing out too early. A candle has “memory.”
It will burn only to the previous width of melted wax.
On the first lighting, let the candle burn for about 4 hours to ensure the wax melts completely to the sides of the container.
This will prevent tunneling, which diminishes the scent release.
You may find our blog post on How to Burn a Soy Candle Correctly helpful.
How to Keep Your Candle’s Scent Fresh Longer
Store your candles in a cool, dark place, and use lids to cover the tops when not in use.
Let the wax melt completely to the edge of the container on the first burn.
Make sure you trim your wick to ¼ inch before lighting. EVERY TIME.
Don’t burn for too short or too long a time.
Use your candles within a reasonable timeframe. All fragrances will fade with age. It is best to use your candles within a 1 – 2 year period.
When to Retire a Candle
All good things must end. It’s important to know when a candle is past its prime.
We encourage repurposing the wax and container.
Leftover wax can be melted and poured into the lid. Place the lids in various areas to emit a pleasing fragrance, especially where you may not light a candle, i.e. the laundry room.
Our glass jars can be repurposed in a lot of ways! We have an easy method to clean and remove the wax from the container so you can easily reuse it.
Get to Know Your Candle
Who knew candles had such personalities, right? Now that you’re in the know, give your candles a little love, and they’ll keep your space smelling amazing.
Do you have a favorite scent? We’d love to hear!
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