Making “Scents” of
candles
The addition of
fragrance to a candle formulation is commonplace in the United States. In fact, an
estimated 75 percent of candles sold in the U.S. are scented. Candle
manufacturers work closely with fragrance companies to develop scented
formulations that are not only pleasing, but will burn safely and properly.
The aroma from a
lighted scented candle is released through the evaporation of the fragrance
from the hot wax pool and from the solid candle itself. Like unscented candles,
properly-formulated scented candles will primarily produce water vapor and
carbon dioxide when burned. The only difference is that a fragrance is also
released with a scented candle.
Most scented
candles contain a combination of natural and synthetic fragrances. These
fragrance materials may be derived from essential oils or from synthetic aroma
chemicals. A well-made candle will contain only fragrance materials approved
for candle use; the addition of fragrance to a candle formulation should be
carefully monitored to ensure that the candle will burn cleanly and properly.
Candle
manufacturers can select from an estimated 500 to 800 aroma chemicals and
essential oils to develop scents that are both pleasing to consumers and
compatible with candle use. These fragrance materials are safe, high-quality
ingredients that are also found in many perfumes, bath soaps, lotions and
shampoos.
Various health and
safety tests are conducted on the raw fragrance materials that are used in
candles and other consumer products. Reputable candle manufacturers use only
expertly-formulated fragrances specifically approved for candle use.
Popular Fragrances of Candles
Kitchen
Aromas:
Vanilla and vanilla-based aromas have remained the most popular candle scent
for almost a decade. Other favorites in this category include cinnamon, coffee,
mocha, gingerbread, pumpkin, apple pie, brown sugar and hazelnut.
Fruits: Fruity fragrances
generally form the second most popular scent grouping for candles. Citrus and
apple scents offer an especially broad range of fragrance notes, from light and
breezy to warm and comforting. Other popular fruit scents include peach, black
cherry and melon.
Floral: Soft and light floral
scents continue to be in favor, with special emphasis on lavender, lilac, rose,
peony, jasmine and gardenia.
Spa/Zen: This category features scents associated with
relaxation and mood enhancement. Popular candle scents in this category include
ginger, mint, eucalyptus, sandalwood, green tea and ylang ylang.
Fantasy: This relatively new category includes such
hard-to-describe but distinctive and increasingly popular fragrances such as
ocean breeze, rain, fresh laundry, etc.
Aromatherapy and Candles
The sense of smell
is one of the most powerful senses, and the influence of fragrance on human
behavior and response is well known. Although many consumers associate scented
candles with aromatherapy, most fragranced candles are not true
"aromatherapy" candles.
Aromatherapy calls
for creating physiological or therapeutic effects through the use of essential
oils extracted from plants and absorbed in the body through massage, ingestion
or olfaction. Most scented candles do not contain essential oils, or do not
contain amounts large enough to produce true aromatherapy effects.
Instead, most
scented candles create pleasing psychological effects from the ambient aroma of
fragrances. This is sometimes known as "aroma-chology," rather than
aromatherapy. In any case, the popularity of scented candles continues to grow.
