How to Make Candles Smell Stronger at Home

Candles, with their warm glow and enticing aromas, have the ability to improve the atmosphere of any room. If you have ever wondered how to make candles smell better, you are not alone. The purpose of this blog post is to demonstrate how to make candles smell stronger.

Why Do Some Candles Have Weak Scent?

If your candle smells weak, it's possible that you didn't use enough fragrance. A decent candle should include between 6 and 10% fragrance oil. If there isn't enough fragrance oil, the candle becomes merely a waxy light. However, too much oil can also have an effect on the scent—it's all about finding the right balance.

How to Make Candles Smell Stronger

You can make your candles smell stronger by using various ways, such as choosing the right wax, fragrance load, wick size, etc.

1. Choose Right Wax

Wax choice affects scent throw: paraffin wax gives a strong fragrance, soy wax offers a softer aroma, and coconut balances scents. Proper curing, correct wicks, and compatible fragrance oils maximise fragrance release.

2. Use Correct Fragrance Load

Another factor in how to make strong candle scents is fragrance load. We recommend a fragrance load of 6-10%; however, you can always modify according to your needs. Just make sure you don't exceed the wax's maximum fragrance load recommended.

3. Add Fragrance Oil at Right Temperature

It is vital to add fragrance oil at the right temperature. Adding fragrance oil at about 185°F ensures proper wax binding, stronger scent throw, safer candles, and prevents oil separation, sweating, weak fragrance, and potential hazards.

4. Use High-Quality Fragrance Oils

Another vital thing on how to make a strong-smelling candle is using high-quality, candle-specific fragrance oils, because they are formulated for stability and potency in wax, unlike some essential oils that fade or degrade with heat.

5. Choose Right Wick Size

Choosing the proper wick ensures a strong scent throw. This is because a too-small wick causes tunnelling, and a too-large wick overheats. Wax type, container size, fragrance load and burn testing determine the ideal wick.

6. Cure Candles Properly

Proper candle curing lets fragrance fully bind with wax, which improves hot and cold scent throw. Skipping curing, especially with soy wax, causes weak fragrance; 1–2 weeks of curing ensures optimal scent performance.

7. Store Candles Correctly

Storing candles properly is vital to making strong scented candles. Store candles in a cool, dark, dry place, preferably airtight or boxed container, to preserve and maximise fragrance throw. Avoid heat and sunlight, which reduce scent strength and deform wax.

How to Make Soy Candles Smell Stronger

If you are wondering “how to make soy candles smell stronger”, you should use high-quality fragrance oils, add them to the wax at 185°F, swirl for at least two minutes, and cure for 1-2 weeks. A wider jar or multi-wicking creates a larger melt pool for better fragrance release, and choosing a Candle wax with good smell throw is crucial.

Common Mistakes to Avoid While Making Candle Smell Stronger

After knowing how to make a candle smell stronger, you should now know the common mistakes to avoid. Correct temperatures, precise measuring, high-quality oils, patience during curing, and the proper wick/room size are essential for maximising smell. Here are the common mistakes in brief:

1. Choosing Low-Quality Oils

The use of inexpensive oils is another standard error to avoid. Low-quality oils don't retain fragrance well. To improve the scent throw, spend money on premium fragrances that are tailored for candles.

2. Adding Oil at Wrong Temperature

When the wax is too hot, adding scent causes it to burn off, and when the wax is too cool, it prevents blending. Add within the suggested range (between 175 and 185 degrees Fahrenheit or 79 and 85 degrees Celsius).

3. Not Testing Wicks

Failure to test wicks will almost surely result in a poor or inconsistent fragrance throw and safety issues. To work, the wick must match the wax, fragrance oil, and container.

4. Ignoring Cure Time

Another common mistake to avoid for better fragrance throw is not allowing enough time to cure. Lighting too soon produces a poor fragrance. To achieve the finest effects, enable candles to cure for 1-2 weeks.

Conclusion

Now you would probably know how to make a candle scent stronger. Enhancing the aroma of your candles hinges on a careful balance of quality ingredients, precise techniques, and proper curing. By selecting the right wax, fragrance load, and wick size, along with adhering to optimal temperature guidelines, you can create candles that not only illuminate but also fill your space with captivating scents.

FAQs

Q. How do I make my homemade candles smell stronger?

If you are wondering “how do I make my homemade candles smell stronger”, you can use a variety of strategies, including increasing the fragrance load, using high-quality fragrance oil, utilizing the correct wick size and type, and adjusting the container size.

Q. Why can’t I smell my candles when burning?

You may not smell your candle due to nose blindness, incomplete melt pool, small candle size, poor airflow, or low-quality or insufficient fragrance oil.

Q. What is the best wax for strongly scented candles?

Paraffin wax, which makes fragrant candles, is a popular candle wax. Paraffin wax can carry strong smells, making it appropriate for scented candles.

Q. Can I use essential oils instead of fragrance oils?

You can use essential oils instead of fragrance oils in candles for a natural smell. They typically recreate unique olfactory sensations like newly dried linen or sea air.

Q. How do I make soy candles smell stronger naturally?

If you are wondering how to make strong-smelling soy candles naturally, use 6–10% fragrance oil, add at 185°F, stir well, ensure proper wicking, and cure candles for 1–2 weeks.