Scent is one of the main factors involved in candle making and determining the type of fragrance oils for our candles is a crucial step in the process. Choosing the right scent candle can be a tricky process, but we do our best to get right.
As with our senses of taste and touch, our sense of smell is linked to memories of specific feelings, and thus the right fragrance oil can produce a scent that makes us feel happy, calm, relaxed and a variety of other emotions.
“Scent is the strongest tie to memory.” - Maggie Stiefvater
When choosing a scent for our candles, we consider the following:
The Space
When selecting a candle smell, the first thing we consider is where you intend to use it. The general size and mood. You wouldn’t use a strong scent in a small room where it could become overpowering or a lighter scent that is difficult to detect in a large room. The same can also be said for the type of room, you want a clean and fresh scent in the kitchen, and a relaxing scent in your bedroom. You’ll need to avoid the scent that can keep you awake in your bedroom or the scent that could interfere with food aromas in your kitchen resulting in an unappealing smell.
The Ambiance
Do we want our customers to create a warm and inviting ambiance in their homes? Or do we want them to look for something a little more powerful and energetic?
The right candle scent can help set the mood and create ambiance in any room.
If our customers want their homes to feel more relaxed, try our aromatherapy candle with a more subtle scent, such as eucalyptus or lavender. These scents have been shown to have positive effects on both your physical and mental health.
Scents that are meant to stimulate the mind are best served by scented candles that are more citrus-based or floral-based. Citrus has been shown in scientific studies to increase focus and alertness -- making this a great scent for studying or working at the computer.
Floral-based scents have been shown to promote positive feelings and relaxation, both of which make them excellent choices for bedrooms or living rooms. For those who want their homes to evoke feelings of warmth, try using candles that smell like baked goods or other food items like chocolate chip cookies, blueberry muffins, or even cinnamon buns!
Scent Categories
The major fragrance categories include woody, floral, fresh, and oriental.
Floral: These fragrances are light, refreshing scents that evoke warm memories of springtime. They are great for use in living rooms and dining rooms where spend most of their time. Blends include Lilies, Roses, and Jasmine.
Woody: These types of scents produce a very warm and cozy atmosphere. They are good for the winter season and are popular for candles with Christmas-themed candles. Woody fragrances include Oakmoss, Patchouli, and Sandalwood.
Oriental: These fragrances have exotic scents that are rich and warm without being overpowering. They're great for bedrooms where such strong scents won't interfere with conversation or other activities. Sandalwood, vanilla, musk, and amber are some of the oriental fragrances.
Fresh: These scents are clean-smelling with hints of fruits such as lemon, lime, orange peels, and berries or garden scents like mint leaves, lilac, and honeysuckle. Fresh scents are great for kitchens or bathrooms.