Many candle makers experience disappointment when their candle does not smell as they expected when lit. A cold candle may smell great, but once you light it, the scent is weak or completely gone.

This is one of the most common queries in candle making - and it has several logical causes. In this article, we'll look at the most common scenting mistakes and how to fix them so your candles smell exactly the way you want them to.

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Why a candle doesn't smell when it burns

When a candle doesn't smell when it's burning, there may be a problem:

• the amount of fragrance essence,
• the way it is added,
• the choice of scent or combination of wax and wick.

A cold candle can smell intensely, but when burning, the situation is different: the scent must be released from the melted wax layer, a more complex process.

Most common mistakes made when scenting candles

Insufficient amount of fragrance essence

If you use too little fragrance essence, the scent will not be distinctive when burning. The recommended amount varies from wax to wax, but as a guide:

• 40 drops of fragrance per 100 grams of wax for a delicate scent,
• some scents may need more, others less.

Too low a concentration is the most common reason why a candle does not smell.

Adding fragrance at the wrong temperature

The wax must not be too hot. This would not only cause the candle to perform poorly but also cause the added fragrance to evaporate.

Scent that does not "activate"

Not all scents work the same. Some do not release well when burning or are too weak. So the problem may also be with the brand of fragrance you choose. Follow the reviews for fragrances and choose those verified by other fragrance makers.

Bad combination of fragrance and wax

Each wax has a different profile - some hold fragrance better, others less so. For example:

• soy waxes may require a different percentage of fragrance than, say, coconut waxes,
• some fragrances are not suitable for a given wax.

Correct selection by wax type is key.

Test fragrances before major production

Are you looking to produce a larger quantity of candles? Make one test candle, test it while burning, and adjust the scent addition accordingly. Testing will save you time and materials.

➡️ series on the most common problems in candle making is complete. Check out the full series on our blog.