What Can I Use To Add Scent To My Candles?

Scent is one of the most important aspects of a candle. It can set the mood, evoke memories, and create an ambiance. Choosing the right fragrance is key to making a great candle. There are several options when it comes to adding scent to candles including essential oils, fragrance oils, dried botanicals, water-soluble fragrances, and essential oil blends.

Essential oils and fragrance oils are two of the most commonly used candle scents. Essential oils are extracted from plants and capture the plant’s natural aroma. Fragrance oils are synthetic or artificially created scents designed to mimic natural fragrances. While essential oils offer an authentic, pure scent, fragrance oils allow for more complex, stable, and affordable scent options. When added to soy, paraffin, or other wax candles, these oils will provide a lovely aroma as the candle burns.

This article will explore the different scent additives for candles, from essential oils to fragrance blends. We’ll cover how to choose the right fragrance, use proper measurements, store oils, and safely work with these candle scents. With the right information, you can create custom, incredible-smelling candles.

Essential Oils

Essential oils are concentrated extracts derived from plants like flowers, herbs, and trees (source: https://www.candlescience.com/essential-oil/all-candle-essential-oils/). They contain the true scent of the plant and are highly concentrated, so only a small amount is needed. Essential oils are volatile, meaning they evaporate quickly at room temperature. Popular essential oils used in candle making include lavender, lemon, peppermint, eucalyptus, tea tree, rosemary, and orange (source: https://www.brambleberry.com/shop-by-craft/candles/essential-oils).

To use essential oils in candles, add a few drops directly into the wax once it has cooled slightly below melting point. Overheating essential oils can cause them to lose their beneficial properties. A good rule of thumb is to add 0.5-1% essential oil by weight of the wax. Always test candles with essential oils before selling or gifting as some may cause allergic reactions.

Fragrance Oils

Fragrance oils, also known as aromatic oils or scented oils, are synthetic oil-based fragrances used to scent candles, soaps, lotions and other products. They are different from essential oils which are derived from plants. Fragrance oils are made artificially by combining aroma chemicals, solvents, fixatives and preservatives. The main benefit of fragrance oils is that they are less expensive than essential oils, and their scent lasts longer.

Common types of fragrance oils include floral, fruity, bakery, spice and seasonal scents like pine or pumpkin [1]. Fragrance oil blends combine multiple scents into one oil, such as lavender-vanilla or coconut-lime. Blended fragrance oils provide a more complex, layered scent.

[1] CandleScience. “Shop Fragrance Oils For Candles and Soaps.” https://www.candlescience.com/fragrance-oil/all-fragrance-oils/. Accessed [today’s date].

Dried Botanicals

Dried flowers, herbs, and spices are a popular way to naturally scent candles. Some commonly used dried botanicals for candles include:

Lavender – The aromatic dried buds add a light floral scent.https://www.amazon.com/Flowers-Candle-Caffeine-Free-Gluten-Free-Lemonade-Fragrance/dp/B077CQGP73

Rose petals – Dried rose petals provide a sweet, rosy fragrance.

Chamomile – The dried flowers emit a mild herbal aroma.

To prepare dried botanicals for candles, grind or crush them into a coarse powder. Use around 1-2 teaspoons of dried botanical material per pound of wax. Mix the dried ingredients directly into melted wax before pouring candles. Herbs and flowers can also be sprinkled on the top of poured candles for decoration.

When using dried botanicals, it’s important to test for scent throw and burning issues. Some plants may not release much fragrance, while others can affect burn quality. Always test candles with botanicals on a small scale first.

Dried ingredients like flowers and petals can also be pressed into candle wax to decorate candle sides or tops.

Overall, dried flowers, herbs, and spices provide a simple way to add natural fragrance to homemade candles.

Water-Soluble Fragrance

Water-soluble fragrances are fragrance oils that dissolve in water instead of oil. They are designed to be used in water-based products like lotions, creams, and gels. Water-soluble fragrances can also be used to scent candles made from a wax melt base.

To use water-soluble fragrance in wax melts, simply add a few drops directly into the melted wax base before pouring into molds. The fragrance will evenly distribute throughout the wax. For jar candles, add the water-soluble fragrance to the wax once it has fully melted prior to pouring into the container. Use 0.5-1 ounce of fragrance per pound of wax. Ensure the wax temperature is below 180°F before adding fragrance.

Some popular water-soluble fragrance options include floral, fruity, vanilla, clean/fresh, and woodsy scents. Companies like Wellington Fragrance (1) offer a wide selection of water-soluble fragrances perfect for candle making.

Essential Oil Blends

Blending essential oils is an art that allows you to create unique scents for candles. Certain oil combinations complement each other beautifully. When blended, the scent notes come together in perfect harmony.

Here are some essential oil blend ideas for soy candles (according to Homemade Soy Candles with Essential Oils):

• Lemon & Lavender – A bright, refreshing blend.
• Orange & Cinnamon – A warm, spicy blend.
• Rosemary & Cedarwood – An earthy, herbaceous blend.

When blending, use 1-2 drops of each oil per ounce of wax. Add oils to the melted wax, allowing enough time for thorough incorporation before pouring into containers. Experiment with different oil combinations to create custom scents. Always test burn blended candles to ensure an even fragrance throw.

Testing and Measuring Fragrance Oils

When creating your own signature scents by blending fragrance oils, it’s important to test out your mixes before fully committing to them in a batch of candles. Here are some tips for testing fragrance oil blends:

Mix small samples of your oils together in proportions and allow to sit for 24-48 hours before smelling. This allows the scents to meld together.

Test on fabric strips to understand how the scent interacts with a wickless environment.

Always test at the recommended usage rate. A blend may smell pleasantly strong in an undiluted sample but become unbalanced when added to wax.

When adding to test candles, cure the candles as you normally would to see how the scent develops over time.

Ask unbiased friends and family to evaluate your scent blends to get additional feedback.

As for measurements, there is no universally agreed upon “perfect” fragrance load for candles. But a general guideline is 0.5-1.5 ounces of fragrance oil per pound of wax. For soy wax specifically, a good starting point is 1 ounce per pound.

Use candle fragrance calculators to determine the exact measurements needed for your candle dimensions and wax amount. And remember to weigh your fragrance oils for accuracy instead of relying on volume measurements.

Start on the low end of the recommended usage rate, assess the hot and cold scent throw, and make adjustments in future batches as needed. Proper testing and measuring will help dial in the ideal fragrance load over time.

Storing Fragrance Oils

Proper storage of fragrance oils is important for maintaining their shelf life and scent integrity. Fragrance oils can degrade when exposed to heat, light, air, or moisture over time.

For best results, store fragrance oils in a cool, dark place between 50-80°F. Avoid places that get hot like near appliances or in direct sunlight. Keep the bottles tightly sealed and store upright to prevent leakage.

It’s recommended to store fragrance oils in amber or cobalt blue glass bottles. These colored bottles help block light that can break down the fragrance oil molecules. According to The Flaming Candle, amber glass provides prolonged storage for fragrance oils.

Some fragrance oils like citrus, floral, and green scents are volatile and need refrigeration after opening. These oils can be kept in the refrigerator (not freezer) to extend their lifespan. Just allow them to return to room temperature before using. As noted by From Nature With Love, keeping fragrance oils in the refrigerator is ideal.

Safety

When working with fragrance oils, it’s important to keep in mind that some people are more sensitive to scents than others. According to this source, breathing fragrance oil vapors, even in small amounts, can cause headaches, dizziness, and nausea for those with sensitivities. It’s best to avoid overpowering scents and test candles in a well-ventilated area before gifting them.

Proper handling of fragrance oils is also crucial. This article recommends wearing gloves when working with oils, as some may irritate skin. Oils should be stored in dark, air-tight containers away from heat and sunlight which can degrade the scents. Spills should be cleaned up quickly to avoid slips. And all oils and candle-making supplies must be kept out of reach of children and pets.

Conclusion

In summary, there are several options for adding scent to candles, including essential oils, fragrance oils, dried botanicals, and water-soluble fragrances. Essential oils derived from plants offer natural scents but can be more expensive. Fragrance oils are synthetic and affordable, providing consistant smells. Dried botanicals like flowers, herbs, and spices infuse candles with subtle aromas. Water-soluble fragrances blended into wax disperse evenly when burning. Creating your own essential oil blends allows customization, while following proper testing, measuring, and storage ensures scent quality and safety.

To learn more about making great scented candles, check out this article on candle care tips from Real Simple.