Many people like to use candles to add or change the smells in their homes. Some candles can have very strong scents even when they are not lit; others have more of a gentle, background aroma.
Beeswax candles do smell; their natural fragrance provides sweet floral notes to your room. Their delicate fragrance does not release toxins in the air. However, one hundred percent natural beeswax candles do not have an overpowering scent that will eliminate odors from your home.
Candles made from beeswax offer you a choice of wax that does not contain any artificial ingredients. They burn brightly and offer a lightly scented option of candles. Continue reading to understand what scent to expect from beeswax candles.
Scents from Beeswax Candles
After some people buy or make beeswax candles, they are dissatisfied with their scent. That maybe, in part, because of people’s expectations. Many people are more familiar with candles that have artificially made fragrances added to them. Adjusting to and familiarizing yourself with what to expect from beeswax candles is a good way to become accustomed to their subtle aroma.
The Aroma of Beeswax Candles
An all-natural wax, beeswax is produced by bees in the honey-making process. In the hive, bees secret wax that is then chewed and molded to create honeycombs. In the honeycombs, the bees store their honey, which has been gathered from different plants, pollen, and nectar. The honey and the beeswax are affected by the types of plants that the bees feast upon.
Beeswax from this process will have the scent of the plants available in the area of the hives. From these steps, beeswax is a naturally scented wax. It will have been seeped with the scent of honey and flowers. Depending upon your olfactory nerves, everyone has different depths of scents that we can smell.
Some people will smell a lit beeswax candle and find a slight aroma; others will smell a strong honey fragrance; others will not smell anything. Enjoyment of scents varies from person to person. Beeswax candles will burn brightly and cleanly since they are all natural, regardless of their scent.
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Variations in Beeswax
There will be variations in the scent of the beeswax from season to season and from hive to hive. Each batch of wax will have its own unique properties. Bees will feed on any flora near their hive. Therefore, the pollen and nectar available to the bees will change the scent of the wax. If hives are located in an area where there is a great variety of plants, there will not be one strong note of a special fragrance.
Hives located near fields that have one type of plant will produce wax that will smell like that plant. For example, bees who feed on clover fields will generate a milder and lighter scent of honey. Plants that are a darker green and stronger scented flowers will cause the beeswax to have a more potent scent.
Some larger beekeeping operations will time the harvesting of the honey and beeswax to match growing seasons. If they have a field of lavender with hives, the honey and wax will only be collected at the end of the season. This will produce honey and wax with one type of pollen. The flavor of the honey and scent of the wax will have the highest absorption of the one plant.
Additionally, the filtration of the wax will impact the strength of the scent. Beeswax that has not been filtered or lightly purified will retain most of its scent. Any beeswax that has undergone significant purification will have lost much of its scent.
Differences Between Beeswax and Artificial Scents
All candle waxes can have scents added to them. Depending upon the fragrances used, it can be inexpensive. Therefore, powerful aromas can be added to candles and waxes at low cost. Some of the candles that people become accustomed to burning are going to be much stronger than beeswax. However, many of these candles and their fragrances are made from chemicals. This can cause particles to be emitted into your air when these candles are lit.
Adding Scent to Beeswax Candles
You can add essential oils to beeswax candles that you make yourself. Essential oils are from plants, so they are a natural product. Their scent is concentrated in the bottle. Once you add it to your beeswax, it will not be as overwhelming.
You can select essential oils that will complement the natural scent of the beeswax. Choosing scents from flowers would be a great starting point. If the beeswax you are using is from a local hive, you can ask the beekeeper about the plants near the hives. If the hives are near herb gardens, enhance the scent of the wax with rosemary or basil.
You can use essential oils from flowers to add depth to the beeswax. Create seasonal fragrances. Explore what flowers bloom in the spring and early summer. Follow the same thought process for later summer and fall. Lavender, geranium, magnolia, or jasmine are all great scents to get you started. Winter scents can focus on peppermint for the holidays.
There are so many options from which to choose. Just a couple of reminders. Essential oils scent can be heightened with adding coconut oil to your melted wax. Also, be sure to let your wax cool to under 180 degrees Fahrenheit. Otherwise, the heat of the wax can ruin the essential oils.
The strength of your newly scented candles will vary. The amount of essential oil you add will impact how strong the scent throw is for your candles. It is a good idea to create test batches. This way you will not waste wax or oils.
While essential oils are made from plants, the quality of the oils can differ. Essential oils that have been meticulously extracted from the plants will offer sharper scents. Oils that have been carelessly extracted can have impurities in the oils. When you are creating your test batches, note which brands of oils worked best for you.
Other Considerations of Scents
The placement of your candles should be thought through. In addition to only lighting candles in safe places, there are locations that will maximize the scent throw of your candle. Generally speaking, smaller rooms can be managed with smaller candles. Votives or tea lights candles from beeswax create a calming scent in bathrooms and computer rooms.
Bedrooms tend to be larger, so pillar beeswax candles will produce enough scent for this room. Pillar beeswax candles are also effective in kitchens and dens. Depending upon the size of each or other scents in the kitchen, two or more pillar candles will cast a wonderful scent.
Dining rooms or other tables around which a group will gather do well with taper candles. The taller candles will still emit their gentle scents, but tapers are easier to see around and do not take up much space.
When burning multiple candles, be sure to leave enough space between them.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is scent throw?
Scent throw is a term used to describe the intensity of a candle’s fragrance. Cold throw refers to the smell a candle disperses in a room when it is not lit or when it is cold. Conversely, hot throw describes the aroma that is emitted from a lit or a hot candle.
What is scent sensitivity?
Scent or fragrance sensitivity is when a person’s air passage is irritated by aromas. This sensitivity can be caused by natural and chemically produced fragrances. Symptoms can vary, but they can include headaches, watery eyes, and/or sneezing. When burning heavily scented candles, it is important to know of people’s scent sensitivities.
What are environmental scent implications?
Environmental scent implications can impact your capability to smell. If you are burning candles to offset strong odors from cooking or smoking, you may not be able to smell your candle. Remember when selecting scented candles that you need to be aware of the environment in which you will use them.
What is the impact of a candle’s wax pool on its scent?
The wax pool is the area of melted wax around a burning candle’s flame, which directly impacts the scent throw of a candle. Wicks that are too large cause too high a heat and the fragrance burns off. Conversely, wicks that are too small do not burn hot enough to throw their scent.
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Meet Shawn Chun: Entrepreneur and Candle Business Fan.
I’m a happy individual who happens to be an entrepreneur. I have owned several types of businesses in my life from a coffee shop to an import and export business to an online review business plus a few more and now I create online candle business resources for those interested in starting new ventures. It’s demanding work but I love it. I do it for those passionate about their business and their goals. That’s why when I meet a candle business owner at a craft fair, farmers market, retail location or anywhere else I see myself. I know how hard the struggle is to obtain and retain clients, finding good employees all while trying to stay competitive. That’s why I created Candle Business Boss: I want to help candle business owners like you build a thriving business that brings you endless joy and supports your ideal lifestyle.