Does Gel Wax Hold Scent?

Gel wax is a type of candle wax that has become popular in recent years for candle making. It has a smooth, thick gel consistency and is made from a combination of mineral oil and polymer resin (Gel Wax Candle, 2017). Unlike paraffin wax, gel wax has high oil content, which allows it to hold fragrances and essential oils very well. The resin gives gel wax structure to hold its shape, while the mineral oil provides a slow, even melt and good scent throw.

Compared to paraffin, soy, or beeswax candles, gel wax is renowned for its excellent scent retention and strong scent throw. The viscosity of the gel wax allows more fragrance oil to be incorporated into the wax. When heated, the oil in the gel wax helps diffuse the fragrance effectively through the air (What is Gel Wax?, 2022). This makes gel wax an optimal choice for highly scented candles and wax melts designed to fragrance a room.

Composition of Gel Wax

Gel wax is composed primarily of mineral oil, polymers, and fragrance oil (Rustig, 2020). The mineral oil gives gel wax its clear, gel-like appearance and flexibility when poured into molds. Polymers like polyethylene or polypropylene provide gel wax with a gel structure that holds its shape as it cools and hardens (Ella & I, 2022). Fragrance oils are added for scent and make up 5-10% of a gel wax blend. The specific combination of these three ingredients gives gel wax its unique properties compared to other candle waxes.

How Gel Wax Holds Scent

Gel wax is able to hold scent well due to its unique composition. Gel wax contains polymers that help give it a crystal clear appearance. These polymers also allow gel wax to trap and hold fragrance molecules within the wax structure (Source). The polymers create a lattice-like structure that fragrance oil molecules can get caught in as the wax cures. This allows the fragrance to remain trapped in the solid wax, leading to a strong scent throw when the candle is burned.

Due to the ability of the polymers to trap scent molecules, gel wax can hold a higher concentration of fragrance than paraffin wax. Gel wax candles usually hold around 10-12% fragrance oil, compared to 6-8% for paraffin candles (Source). The increased fragrance load allows gel wax to give off a stronger scent presence when melted.

Factors That Impact Scent Strength

There are several key factors that determine how strong the scent will be in a gel wax candle:

Wax quality – The quality and purity of the wax impacts scent diffusion. Higher quality gel wax with fewer impurities allows fragrance oils to move freely through the wax when melted, producing a stronger scent. Low quality or impure waxes can mute or distort the intended fragrance.

Fragrance quality – High quality, concentrated fragrance oils will provide a stronger scent throw than diluted oils. The purity and strength of the fragrance oil is key for maximizing scent intensity.

Candle design – Wider diameter containers allow more wax to pool and diffuse fragrance when lit. The amount of wax and size of the candle impacts how well scent is dispersed into the air. Small or narrow candles may have weaker scent throw.

References:

[1] https://suffolkcandles.co.uk/blogs/candles/how-to-make-a-candle-smell-stronger

[2] https://support.candlescience.com/hc/en-us/articles/201352274-How-do-I-get-the-fragrance-to-smell-stronger

Maximizing Scent Throw

There are a few techniques you can use to maximize scent throw when making gel candles:

Double wicking can help boost fragrance. Using two wicks instead of one increases the melt pool area, which releases more fragrance as the candle burns. Make sure to use smaller diameter wicks when double wicking to avoid issues like tunneling. Some recommend using CD-5 wicks (Source).

Proper wick length is also important. The wick should be trimmed to 1⁄4 inch to produce the ideal melt pool for maximum scent release. Wicks that are too short can lead to poor scent throw (Source).

Candle shape impacts scent as well. Containers with more surface area, like wide jars, will have a stronger scent than tall skinny containers. The greater melt pool area exposed releases more fragrance.

Adding More Fragrance

While it may be tempting to add extra fragrance oil to try to boost scent throw, there are risks and limits to this approach. According to candlemaking experts, adding more than the recommended usage rate (typically 5-10% of wax weight) does not necessarily result in a stronger scent (Lonestarcandlesupply.com, 2023).

Going over the limit can actually cause issues like fragrance burn-off, sooting, and poor wax adhesion. Too much oil can also overwhelm the wax, resulting in the scent smelling off or artificial. At most, adding 50% more fragrance can provide a moderate boost. However, the risks start to outweigh the benefits after that point.

It’s best to stay within the usage recommendations for that specific oil. Seeking out higher quality, concentrated fragrance oils designed for soy or other waxes is a safer bet for achieving scent intensity. Proper wicking, curing, and burning practices also help maximize scent throw without compromising candle quality and performance.

Storing Candles

Proper storage is crucial for maintaining a candle’s scent over time. According to Harlem Candle Company, you should cover candles when they are not in use to preserve fragrance and prevent dust buildup. Store candles with lids on them or place them under glass cloches.

It’s also important to store differently scented candles separately, as noted by Soy Delicious Candles. Allowing candles to be near each other can cause the scents to intermingle and become less distinctive. Store candles in different rooms or place them in sealed containers to keep the fragrances from mixing.

Storing candles properly by sealing them and keeping them dust-free will help maintain scent strength and prevent fading over time.

Heating Gel Wax

Heating gel wax, whether by burning the candle or using a candle warmer, causes the fragrance oils to evaporate and release scent into the air. However, heating the wax does not reduce the concentration of fragrance oils in the candle wax itself. The scent throw comes from the evaporation of fragrance oils, not from “using up” the oils in the wax.

Some people find that warming a candle with a candle warmer makes the scent fade faster compared to burning the candle. This is because with a warmer, all of the wax eventually melts and turns to liquid. The larger wax surface area leads to more fragrance evaporation. Burning the candle maintains a layer of unmelted wax which holds onto scent better (Source).

Overall, heating gel wax does not reduce the scent compounds present in the wax. But it does increase fragrance evaporation into the air, which can make the remaining candle scent weaker over time.

Scent Fading Over Time

Gel wax candles tend to retain their scent longer than other candle wax types like soy or paraffin. The high oil content in gel wax allows it to hold fragrance oils better than traditional waxes. Most gel candle manufacturers recommend their candles will retain a strong scent for up to 1 year if stored properly.

According to candle experts, scent degradation happens gradually over months of storage. While the scent may fade slightly over time, it often remains pleasant and noticeable for 6-12 months after purchase (Purcell & Woodcock, 2022). The longer a gel candle goes unused, the more the scent will diminish. But the scent loss is minimal in the first several months. Burning the candle periodically can help refresh the scent.

On candle forums, users report the scent lasting for up to 2 years in some gel candle brands like Yankee Candle. But the longevity depends on proper storage and the candle fragrance oil blend. In general, expect the scent to remain pleasant for about 1 year before becoming very faint (Harlem Candle Company, 2021).

Overall, gel wax has superior scent retention compared to other waxes. While the scent will fade gradually over time, gel candles often maintain a noticeable fragrance for up to a year when stored properly. Burning the candle occasionally can refresh and reactivate the scent.

Conclusion

In summary, gel wax does have the ability to hold fragrance oils and release scent when burned in candles. The scent strength will depend on factors like the wax composition, fragrance load, candle storage conditions, and burn time. While gel wax may not have as strong of a scent throw as paraffin wax, there are ways to maximize fragrance like adding more oil, storing candles properly, heating the wax fully, and refreshing the candle’s scent by rewicking. Over time, the scent can fade but can be revived. By understanding what impacts gel wax’s scent retention, crafters can make optimized gel candles.