Who doesn’t want their home to smell like flowers, cleanliness, or a favorite fragrance? Scents are very personal, but we often want something that makes our home or workspace feel cozy and safe. Besides air fresheners, one of the most common (and aesthetic) ways to add a pleasant scent is with candles. Candle scents are popular because more and more people use them to decorate and find their unique and favorite fragrance.
If you want to know how to choose the perfect scent for your space or why scented candles have become one of the most popular ways to add aroma, keep reading, as we’re about to share some tips!
How Are Candle Scents Made?
Candle scents are specially formulated fragrances that give candles a pleasant and distinctive aroma when burned. They are designed to disperse into the air when the candle is lit, providing a sensory experience that complements the candle’s light and atmosphere.
The scent is released when the wax melts around the wick. This hot, liquid wax allows the oils and fragrances to evaporate slowly, dispersing the scent into the environment. The amount and type of fragrance in the candle determine the intensity and duration of the aroma. These are mainly obtained through two methods:
Natural Essential Oils
These liquids are natural aromatic compounds found in plants and are extracted using various methods, depending on the plant and the desired fragrance. The main methods are:
Steam Distillation
The most common method for extracting essential oils from flowers, leaves, bark, and roots. The process involves passing steam through the plant to release its aromatic components, which are then condensed and separated from the water. This method is used for oils like lavender, eucalyptus, and mint.
Cold Pressing
This method is mainly used for citrus fruits like lemon, orange, and bergamot. It involves pressing the fruit peels to extract the essential oils without applying heat, helping preserve their aromatic properties.
Solvent Extraction
Used for delicate plants and flowers that can’t withstand the heat of distillation. Solvents (like hexane) are used to dissolve aromatic compounds, which are then separated from the solvent. This method is used for flowers like jasmine or vanilla, though the resulting products are not considered pure essential oils.
CO₂ Extraction
Carbon dioxide is used at high pressure to act as a solvent and extract essential oils. It’s a costly process but produces high-purity oils with an intense, true-to-plant aroma.
Synthetic Fragrances
Synthetic fragrances are created in laboratories by combining chemical compounds to imitate or create specific scents. These candle scents are obtained through:
Analysis and Replica of Natural Scents
Chemists can analyze the volatile components of a plant or material (like the scent of a flower or food) and recreate its molecular structure in the lab. This allows for replicating natural scents or adjusting their intensity and duration to be more stable in a candle.
Creating Unique Scents
Unlike essential oils, synthetic fragrances allow for experimenting with blends and creating scents that don’t exist in nature, like fresh cotton or apple pie. These are designed in laboratories by combining different aromatic molecules to generate the desired scent.
Mixing Aromatic Compounds
Synthetic fragrances usually contain a blend of compounds, including aldehydes, ketones, alcohols, and esters, which combine to create a specific scent. These fragrances also tend to be longer-lasting and stable, making them ideal for candles.
Combining Essential Oils and Synthetic Fragrances
In candle-making, it’s common to combine essential oils and synthetic fragrances to achieve a balanced and lasting aroma. This allows for harnessing the therapeutic properties of essential oils while adding stability to the scent with synthetic fragrances.
How to Choose the Most Suitable Scent?
Choosing the best scent depends on several factors, though the main goal is always to improve our mood and environment. Beyond knowing all the candle scents, it’s also essential to understand which one to pick, as it depends on several factors. That’s why we’ve created a small guide to help you choose your unique and personal scent:
Define the Purpose
For relaxing environments (like a bedroom or meditation room), look for soft and calming candle scents. Essential oils like lavender, chamomile, or eucalyptus are ideal options, as they help reduce stress and promote tranquility.
If the candle is for active spaces like an office or kitchen, fresh and energizing scents like mint, citrus (lemon, orange, bergamot), or ginger are great options. These help to revitalize and refresh the space.
If you want to leverage the therapeutic properties of essential oils, choose candles with specific oils for particular benefits, such as rosemary for improved concentration or incense for meditation.
Consider Size and Space
In smaller rooms, choose gentle and fresh candle scents that won’t be overwhelming, like clean cotton, soft vanilla, or white tea. In larger spaces or areas with airflow, you can opt for more intense scents like sandalwood, cinnamon, or pine, which will disperse well without being too concentrated. Some scents work better in specific areas. For example, citrus or herbal scents (like lemon or rosemary) are refreshing and work well in the kitchen. In the dining room, cozy scents like cedar are often pleasant, while in the bathroom, fresh and clean scents like eucalyptus or mint are ideal.
Experiment with Aroma Intensity
If you prefer a scent that isn’t too dominant, opt for light fragrances like green tea, lavender, or cotton. If you enjoy bold scents that fill the space quickly, look for candles with fragrances like cinnamon, amber, sandalwood, or exotic fruits.
Season
While it may not seem essential, seasons influence the scents we look for. Warm seasons pair well with fresh, floral scents like rose, lavender, citrus, and orange blossom. Fruity scents like watermelon or melon can also be a great choice.
In colder seasons, warm and spicy scents like cinnamon, vanilla, cedar, nutmeg, or clove are popular. These create a cozy and comforting atmosphere.
Candles with Scent Blends
Some candles come with fragrance blends to offer a more complex aromatic experience. For instance, a lavender and vanilla candle provides a relaxing and sweet aroma, while a mint and eucalyptus combination is more energizing. Blends are also an excellent choice if you want a less monotonous, more balanced scent.
Essential Oils or Synthetic Fragrances
Essential oils are ideal if you prefer an authentic aroma and want to benefit from aromatherapy. Although they can be more expensive, they tend to have a softer, less persistent scent. If you’re looking for intense or unique scents that aren’t found in nature, synthetic fragrances will captivate you. Synthetic scents also tend to be more affordable and long-lasting.
Samples or Small Candles
If you’re unsure, try small candles or sample kits. This allows you to experiment with different options without committing to a single scent. Once you find your favorites, you can choose larger candles.
Evaluate Candle Ingredients and Quality
It’s important to ensure that candles are made with quality wax (like soy wax, beeswax, or additive-free paraffin) and that the scent comes from safe-to-burn oils. High-quality candles have better scent diffusion and are generally healthier for the home. In these cases, it’s best to trust a reputable company.
Can We Benefit from Scent?
To show you that scent does more than relax or make a space “smell nice,” we’ve selected some benefits you can gain from candle scents:
Create the Perfect Atmosphere
Candle scents are a powerful tool for transforming a space’s ambiance. You can make a room feel cozier or more calming depending on the scent you choose.
Enhance Focus and Productivity
Although candles are often promoted as relaxing, choosing the right scent can help improve concentration and keep the mind alert. Scents like rosemary, lemon, and mint are associated with improved mental clarity and memory. This feature is especially useful in offices or study spaces where an environment that fosters focus and creativity is needed.
Aromatherapy Benefits
This technique leverages the effects of essential oils on emotional and physical well-being. For instance, incense can help reduce anxiety, while ginger may relieve stomach discomfort. Scents can stimulate the brain’s limbic system, which is related to emotions, enhancing mood and promoting a general sense of well-being.
Support Better Sleep
Certain scents, like lavender and chamomile, are especially beneficial for promoting sleep. They help relax the body and mind, facilitating a deeper, more restful sleep. Placing a candle with these fragrances in the bedroom can naturally improve sleep quality.
Neutralize Odors
Scented candles are also effective in neutralizing unwanted odors. Fresh scents like lemon or pine help to reduce bad smells in areas like the kitchen or bathroom. In addition to masking them, some essential oils have antibacterial properties that can help keep the environment fresh and clean.
Improve Mood
Certain scents can uplift the mood and enhance emotional well-being. Citrus scents like orange and mandarin are known for their ability to lift the spirit and reduce symptoms of stress or sadness. Using candles with these scents can naturally bring positivity and joy to your space.
Add a Personal Touch to Your Home
Well-chosen candle scents can also reflect your personality and style, as scents have the power to evoke memories and emotions. Selecting a specific scent can make your spaces unique, welcoming, and aligned with your lifestyle.
Awaken the Senses and Positive Memories
Scents have the power to evoke memories and emotions. A vanilla scent might remind you of your grandmother’s house or freshly baked cookies, stirring feelings of nostalgia and comfort.
We know scents affect our mood, but did you know that flavors do too? That’s why at Cosmos Aromática, we work and strive daily to improve our aroma production for the food sector. If you want to learn more about how we can help, just contact our team, who will assist you with anything you need.
