FAQ
What are scented candles made of?
As with perfume, creating a home fragrance is an art that is more complicated than it seems at first glance. Candles can be made from different types of wax and each has its own advantages. Soy or paraffin (also known as mineral) waxes are the most common. Soy is generally preferred because it burns more slowly and is more environmentally friendly. Paraffin is cheaper and more readily available because it is a by-product of the oil industry.
“Each type of wax has a different personality,” says Liz Drew. “Soy wax is the most popular of the more eco-friendly options and has a nice clean burn, but it doesn’t have as strong an odor as mineral wax. Other options are beeswax, which gives a nice long-lasting burn, and coconut or rapeseed wax, which retains the scent very well.” Beeswax also gives the “cleanest” burn, free of soot and smoke.
“Cheaper scented candles are usually made from a petroleum-based wax, and people are unsure whether they give off nasties or not,” says Drew. “My opinion is there’s nothing bad about them — it’s just a matter of personal taste and how strong you want the scent.”
How are scented candles scented?
There are also several ways to scent the candle itself. “Some customers like all natural essential oil-based fragrances, and there are brands that specialize in that,” continues Drew. “But then more manufactured or artificial oils can still be incredibly high quality – it just depends on what you’re looking for. As long as it’s a high quality candle you shouldn’t have any problems.”
Most candles use a mixture of natural and manufactured scents. Essential oils (such as lavender, jasmine, and bergamot) smell great and have calming properties, but go away quickly, Drew says.