How Do Scented Candles Work?

Scented candles are a great way to fill your space with smells you love. But how do they work, exactly?

Here's an easy-to-follow guide to help you better understand scented candles and why we all enjoy them so much.

What Is the Science Behind Scented Candles?

The science behind scented candles begins with the candle-making process, so let's take it from the top. 

First, the candle maker selects a type of wax to work with. Some of the most common types are soy wax, vegetable wax, beeswax, and paraffin wax.

The selected wax is then put over simmering water and watched carefully to avoid overheating. Once the wax melts, fragrance oils or essential oils are added to create the candle’s scent. 

A wick, typically made of wood or cotton, is attached to the bottom of an empty container and the liquid is poured in. The candle is then left to solidify. 

Here’s where the candle fragrance really comes into play. When you light the candle wick, its heat melts the wax, leading to evaporation. As a result, molecules from the fragrance oil get released into the air in the form of vapor.

These molecules travel up your nose to your olfactory receptors — cells in your nasal cavity that help you to detect and identify smells. In other words, these cells are why you’re able to smell your scented candle burning.

How Long Does It Take for Scented Candles To Release Their Scent?

The time it takes to smell a candle’s scent after lighting it depends on factors like the type of wax used, ingredient quality, fragrance oil concentration, wick size, and how ventilated the room is.

That said, you’ll usually be able to smell a light aroma within a few minutes of lighting a standard-sized candle. However, you might not be able to identify the candle’s full scent throw, which is how effectively it fills the room, until after about 15 minutes.

Why Do Scents Have Positive Associations?

Many scents have positive associations because there’s a connection between smell and memory. Basically, certain smells can remind us of past memories. 

For example, maybe you have a fond memory of eating creamsicles with your friends over the summer. Now, when you smell a citrus fragrance, your visceral reaction is feelings of happiness and nostalgia.

In other instances, we’re conditioned to link smells to certain feelings. For example, roses are commonly associated with feelings of romance and desire because they get used so often at dates and weddings. As a result, the floral aroma of roses typically elicits a positive response.

We’re proud to share that all of our scented candles are eco-friendly, cruelty-free, and made with 100% cotton wicks.

Where Does the Wax Go When You Burn Candles?

Wax doesn’t just vanish into thin air. Well, sort of.

As we’ve explained, when you burn a candle, the wax turns into liquid. Over time, this melted wax actually gets pulled up the wick and into the flame, and this combination of heat and liquid results in gas. 

The gas gets burnt, helping the flame continue glowing and spreading the candle’s scent. This is why your candle’s wax starts to disappear — it’s actually being turned into a liquid and then into a burnt gas.

Light It Up

To put it simply, scented candles are a combination of heat, wax, and fragrance oils. With a little help from our olfactory receptors, we’re able to enjoy their scents and improve the ambiance in our homes.

Now that you understand how scented candles work, it’s time for you to light up some of your own. Shop Snif scented candles for a high-quality, clean burn every time. 

Sources:

Elements of a Candle: Wax | National Candle Association

Olfactory receptor function | PubMed

Concepts and types of ventilation - Natural Ventilation for Infection Control in Health-Care Settings | NCBI Bookshelf

The Connections Between Smell, Memory, and Health | Harvard Medicine Magazine