Can You Use Perfume In Candles?

Using perfume in candles has become an increasingly popular way to create custom scented candles. Adding a few drops of your favorite perfume to candle wax is a simple DIY project that allows you to infuse any candle with a personalized fragrance. Many people find that mixing perfumes into candles results in a stronger and longer lasting scent when burning compared to perfume alone. The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of considerations when using perfume oils or sprays to scent candles.

We will cover how much perfume to add, mixing different perfumes, testing candles after adding fragrance, proper storage, and safety tips when making perfumed candles at home.

Why Add Perfume to Candles?

There are several reasons why you might want to add perfume to candles:

Enhance fragrance – Adding a few drops of a complementary perfume oil or spray can enhance the existing fragrance of a candle, providing a more complex and long-lasting scent. Perfumes contain essential oils and aroma compounds that will blend with the candle fragrance.

Mask unwanted scents – Sometimes candles can develop unwanted smoky or burnt smells, especially as they burn down. A small amount of a strongly scented perfume can help mask these unpleasant odors.

Provide aromatherapy benefits – Many perfumes contain essential oils that can provide aromatherapy benefits like relaxation, invigoration, stress relief, etc. Adding these to candles can enhance the aromatherapy experience.

Considerations When Adding Perfume

There are a few important considerations to keep in mind when adding perfume to candles to ensure a pleasant, balanced scent.

The first is the strength of the perfume. Most perfumes are very concentrated and potent, so only a small amount is needed. According to experts, adding more than 0.5% fragrance load to candles can make them too strongly scented (source: https://allseasonswaxcompany.com.au/blog/fragance-oil-and-soy-candles-complete-guide). Start with a couple drops of perfume per pound of wax and test to see if more is needed.

The type of candle wax also matters. Natural waxes like soy, beeswax, and coconut wax generally hold scent better than paraffin. Make sure to follow wax-specific scenting guidelines. Soy wax, for example, should be fragranced between 115-135°F (source: https://lonestarcandlesupply.com/dos-and-donts-of-candle-making/).

Additionally, the candle vessel affects scent throw. Containers that give the wax more surface area like jars tend to be more fragrant than pillars or tins.

How Much Perfume to Add

When adding perfume to candles, it’s important to use the right amount. Too much perfume can lead to an overpowering scent while too little may result in no scent at all. The general recommendation is to use 5-10% perfume by weight of wax.

For example, if you’re making a 100g candle, you would use 5-10g of perfume oil. Some blended waxes like soy may require more, around 8-11% according to this source. The type of wax and its capacity to hold fragrance also impacts how much to use.

Too much perfume, generally above 15%, can make the scent too strong or give the candle an unpleasant smell when burning. It may also seep out of the wax and act more like an oil than a candle. Too little perfume, under 3%, often provides little to no scent throw. Finding the sweet spot depends on the wax, vessel, scent, and your preferences.

Start on the lower end around 5%, test the scent throw, and adjust up gradually as needed. This allows you to find the minimum amount needed to achieve the desired fragrance strength.

Adding Perfume Oils vs Sprays

There are some key differences between perfume oils and perfume sprays that impact how they can be used in candle making:

Perfume oils are highly concentrated and oil-based. They can be directly incorporated into candle wax more easily than perfume sprays. Start by adding a small amount of perfume oil, like 1 teaspoon per pound of wax. Stir thoroughly and test the scent throw. Add more oil gradually if needed. Too much perfume oil may disrupt how the candle burns or pool properly (Source: https://suffolkcandles.co.uk/blogs/candles/can-you-use-perfume-oil-in-candles).

Perfume sprays contain alcohol, water, and other ingredients not formulated for high heat. Directly adding perfume spray to candle wax can cause burning issues like sooting. If using a spray, extract the fragrance by soaking scent strips in the perfume. Then add those soaked strips to the wax while melting (Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/candlemaking/comments/l3og2t/can_we_use_perfume_oils_for_candle_making/).

Mixing Perfumes

When adding perfume to candles, you have the option to mix multiple scents together. This allows you to layer complementary fragrances or create more complex scents. However, mixing perfumes in candles takes some skill and testing to get right.

One approach is to mix contrasting scents, like floral and woody notes. The contrasts create interest and depth. For example, you could blend a rose perfume with a sandalwood or cedar scent. Just be careful not to create dissonant or unpleasant combinations.

Alternatively, layering complementary scents can enhance the pleasing notes. For instance, pairing different floral perfumes like jasmine and lavender can result in a more nuanced floral bouquet. Citrus scents also blend beautifully, so you could mix grapefruit and orange blossom perfumes.

When blending perfumes, start with small ratios like 80% of one scent to 20% of the other. Test how they interact by curing a small sample candle. Then adjust the ratios as needed to perfect the scent. The art is finding the right perfume partners and proportions to craft your ideal aromatic candle.

Testing Your Candle

Once you’ve created your perfumed candle, it’s crucial to test it before gifting or selling. There are two main aspects of candle testing: burn testing and testing fragrance throw.

Burn testing involves lighting the candle and observing how it burns. You want to ensure it burns evenly all the way to the edges without tunneling (where the center burns faster than the edges). According to Brambleberry, you should let the candle burn for at least 2 hours and check that the wax pool reaches the edges.

Testing fragrance throw involves smelling the candle from various distances to gauge scent intensity. For a 4oz candle, you should be able to smell it within 2-3 feet away. If the scent is too weak, you’ll need to add more perfume oil. Refer to Lone Star Candle Supply’s guide for suggested usage rates based on candle size.

If you notice any issues like tunneling or weak throw, you can fix them by adjusting the wick size, adding more fragrance, or using a different wax blend. Keep testing until your perfumed candle has an even burn pool and nicely fills the room with scent.

Storing Perfumed Candles

When storing perfumed candles, you’ll want to take steps to preserve their shelf life and fragrance. Properly stored candles can last 1-2 years, while improperly stored candles may lose their scent in just a few months. Here are some tips for storing perfumed candles:

To maximize shelf life, store candles in a cool, dry place away from direct light and heat sources like windows, stoves, and heating vents. Temperature fluctuations can cause candles to sweat and lose their fragrance quickly. An ideal storage temperature is between 60-75°F (https://smellscandle.com/blogs/news/how-to-store-your-candles).

Store candles in a tightly sealed container like a glass jar or metal tin. Exposure to air causes the delicate fragrance oils to evaporate. Tight sealing prevents scent loss. Always extinguish candles completely before storage so they don’t continue releasing fragrance.

Consider storing perfumed candles in the refrigerator to help prolong their shelf life. The cool temperature keeps wax and oils from breaking down. Let refrigerated candles come to room temperature before lighting to avoid glass cracking from sudden temperature changes.

Avoid storing perfumed candles anywhere that gets hotter than room temperature, like near stoves, in unconditioned attics, or in a hot car. Heat accelerates scent loss (https://www.harlemcandlecompany.com/blogs/journal/how-to-store-candles-properly-3-things-to-avoid). Rotate stock to use older candles first before their fragrance fades.

Safety Tips

When making and burning perfumed candles, it’s important to keep safety in mind. Here are some tips:

Ensure proper ventilation when making and burning candles. Open windows, use fans, or make candles in well-ventilated areas to allow airborne chemicals to dissipate. Burn candles in rooms with cross breezes and fresh air flow. This helps limit buildup of airborne chemicals released from perfumes and candle wax.

Limit the amount of airborne chemicals released when making candles by using minimal amounts of perfume oils or sprays as directed. When burning, keep wicks trimmed to 1⁄4 inch and avoid burning candles for more than 4 hours at a time. Extinguish candles if you begin to feel lightheaded or unwell. This minimizes vapor accumulation.

Consider using candle warmers instead of burning, as these release less airborne chemicals. Research shows burning candles produces more air pollutants than warmers (source).

Conclusion

In summary, adding perfume to candles can enhance their scents beautifully, but should be done carefully. Start with a small amount of perfume oil or spray and thoroughly mix it into the wax when it’s still molten. Test the perfumed candle to ensure it performs well before moving forward with mass production. Store the finished candles properly and follow basic safety precautions like trimming the wick and avoiding drafts or flammable materials nearby.

The takeaway is that with care and testing, perfumes can infuse candles with lovely scents. But restraint is wise, as too much perfume can negatively impact burn quality or become overpowering. Finding the right perfume type and amount for your needs takes experimentation. With some trial and error though, you can create candles with customized, sophisticated fragrances.