Making candles with fragrances specially designed for the purpose is ideal and strongly recommended. These fragrances ensure a good scent throw, stability under heat and the best possible scent experience.
That said, a few problems can still crop up during production, even with suitable fragrances. In this article, we help you identify the most common problems and find practical solutions
As a reminder, essential oils are not well suited to candle making. There are several reasons for this, which we explain in our previous article.
Why is the fragrance rising to the surface of my candle?
A few days after making your candle, you may notice some liquid on the surface, along with a very strong smell. This is known as sweating, and it is often caused by too high a fragrance load or by adding the fragrance at too low a temperature. This prevents the fragrance from binding properly with the wax, which leads to visible separation and an uneven scent throw when the candle burns.
Add the fragrance between 72°C and 75°C
To make sure the wax and fragrance bind well, add the fragrance when the wax reaches a temperature between 72°C and 75°C. This temperature is ideal, especially for viscous fragrances, because it allows the fragrance to disperse evenly.
Stir gently for 2 minutes
Thorough mixing is crucial: stir your scented wax gently for at least 2 minutes. This step allows the fragrance oil to blend in completely. Just before you pour the wax into your containers, stir again to make sure it is perfectly even.
Adjust the amount of fragrance
More fragrance does not necessarily mean a stronger scent. Every wax has a maximum fragrance load it can hold, and going beyond that limit can cause problems. We recommend using 5% to 10% fragrance oil for your candles and 10% to 15% for your wax melts, except for specific fragrances designed to be used at 1%.
The fragrance blends poorly or gives off no scent
You notice that your fragrance oil is not blending in properly, or that your candle gives off no scent at all when it is lit.
Give your candles time to cure
For the best scent throw, let your candles rest for at least 48 hours. Ideally, wait a week before lighting or melting them. This curing time lets the fragrance settle into the wax, which improves the scent throw when the candle burns.
Conclusion
With the right techniques, you can avoid these setbacks and get the most out of your scented creations. Since every fragrance is unique, it is essential to adapt these recommendations to the type of fragrance and wax you use.
Fragrances can also change over time to keep up with regulations and raw material constraints. To understand these changes better, read our article “Fragrance reformulation: what does it mean for your scented creations?”
