Improving Scent Throw in Soy Wax Candles

It's common to experience poor scent throw when using essential oils in soy wax candles. Essential oils are volatile and may not disperse or bind effectively with soy wax, or they can degrade at burning temperatures.

Here are some recommendations to improve the scent throw:

• Use Candle-Specific Fragrance Oils: Essential oils are natural but often not optimized for candle making. Dedicated candle fragrance oils are synthetic or blended and formulated to perform better in wax, providing a stronger and more consistent scent throw.
• Increase Fragrance Load: While 3-5% is a starting point, some soy waxes can handle a higher percentage of fragrance oil (up to 8-10% or sometimes more, depending on the wax). Always test small batches.
• Add Fragrance at the Correct Temperature: Ensure you add the fragrance oil when the wax is at the temperature recommended by the wax supplier. Adding it too hot can cause the fragrance to burn off, while adding it too cool might prevent it from binding properly.
• Cure Your Candles: Soy wax candles benefit significantly from a curing period. Allow your candles to sit for at least 1-2 weeks (sometimes longer) before burning. This allows the fragrance molecules to bind with the wax, improving scent throw.
• Wick Selection: Using the correct wick size and type for your specific wax and container is crucial for a proper burn pool, which in turn affects scent throw.

Regarding using a substance to make the scent more durable (a fixative), some materials can help anchor volatile fragrance components. However, their effectiveness varies greatly depending on the specific fragrance and fixative used, and they need to be suitable for use in candles. Dedicated candle fragrance oils are often already formulated with components that help with scent throw and stability.