How scented candles work - a guide
Scented candles are candles that emit a pleasant aroma when burned. They are made of wax, wick, fragrance, and sometimes colour and additives. Scented candles are widely used for various purposes, such as creating a relaxing atmosphere, enhancing the mood, improving the health, and decorating the home. In this report, we will explore the science behind scented candles and how they affect our senses. We will examine how scented candles are produced and how they release fragrance molecules into the air. We will also investigate how scented candles can influence our brain and nervous system through our olfactory system. Furthermore, we will analyze how scented candles can affect our other senses, such as sight, sound, taste, and touch. Finally, we will discuss the benefits and drawbacks of scented candles and provide some tips and recommendations on how to use them safely and effectively. This report aims to provide an informative and comprehensive overview of scented candles and their impact on our well-being and enjoyment.
The science behind scented candles
Scented candles are made of four main components: wax, wick, fragrance, and sometimes colour and additives. Wax is the solid material that holds the candle together and provides fuel for the flame. Wick is the thin string that runs through the center of the candle and draws the melted wax up to the flame. Fragrance is the liquid or solid substance that gives the candle its aroma. Color and additives are optional ingredients that can enhance the appearance and performance of the candle.
The quality and performance of scented candles depend on several factors, such as the type and ratio of wax, wick, fragrance, and additives, as well as the size, shape, and design of the candle. Different types of wax have different melting points, burning rates, and fragrance retention. For example, paraffin wax is a petroleum-based wax that has a high melting point, burns fast, and holds fragrance well. Soy wax is a vegetable-based wax that has a low melting point, burns slow, and holds fragrance moderately. Beeswax is an animal-based wax that has a medium melting point, burns slow, and holds fragrance poorly.
Different types of wick have different thicknesses, materials, and coatings. The thickness of the wick determines how much wax is drawn up to the flame and how big the flame is. The material of the wick affects how well it burns and how much smoke it produces. The coating of the wick can help it stay upright and prevent it from breaking or curling. For example, cotton wicks are natural fibers that burn well and produce little smoke. Wood wicks are wooden strips that burn well and produce a crackling sound. Zinc wicks are metal wires that are coated with wax to help them stay upright.
Different types of fragrance have different forms, concentrations, and compositions. The form of the fragrance can be either liquid or solid. Liquid fragrances are oils that are mixed with the melted wax before pouring into the mold. Solid fragrances are pellets or crystals that are embedded into the solid wax after cooling. The concentration of the fragrance determines how strong the aroma is and how long it lasts. The composition of the fragrance affects how complex and realistic the aroma is and how it interacts with other scents. For example, synthetic fragrances are man-made chemicals that have a high concentration, a simple composition, and a consistent aroma. Natural fragrances are plant or animal extracts that have a low concentration, a complex composition, and a variable aroma.
Scented candles release fragrance molecules into the air when they are burned. The heat from the flame melts the wax around the wick and vaporizes some of the fragrance molecules in the wax. The vaporized fragrance molecules then rise up with the hot air and spread throughout the room. The amount and speed of fragrance release depend on several factors, such as the temperature of the flame, the size of the candle, the type and concentration of fragrance, and the air circulation in the room.
The fragrance molecules in the air interact with our olfactory system when we inhale them through our nose or mouth. The olfactory system consists of three parts: the olfactory epithelium, the olfactory bulb, and the olfactory cortex. The olfactory epithelium is a thin layer of tissue that lines the inside of our nose and contains millions of olfactory receptors. The olfactory receptors are specialized nerve cells that detect different types of fragrance molecules based on their shape and size. The olfactory bulb is a small structure at the base of our brain that receives signals from the olfactory receptors and processes them into patterns. The olfactory cortex is a part of our brain that interprets the patterns from the olfactory bulb and associates them with memories, emotions, and behaviours.
Scented candles can influence our brain chemistry and our nervous system through our olfactory system. The fragrance molecules in scented candles can trigger different types of neurotransmitters in our brain that affect our mood, memory, relaxation, and health. For example, lavender scented candles can stimulate serotonin production in our brain that can make us feel calm and happy. Vanilla scented candles can activate dopamine release in our brain that can make us feel rewarded and satisfied. Citrus scented candles can increase norepinephrine levels in our brain that can make us feel alert and energised. Scented candles can also affect our nervous system by activating or inhibiting different types of nerves in our body that control our heart rate, blood pressure, breathing rate, muscle tension, immune response, and pain perception.
The effects of scented candles on the senses
Scented candles can affect not only our sense of smell, but also our other senses, such as sight, sound, taste, and touch. In this section, we will analyse how scented candles can influence each of these senses and how they can create a multisensory experience.
- The effects of scented candles on the sense of smell and taste
- Scented candles can enhance our sense of smell by providing a variety of aromas that can stimulate our olfactory receptors and our brain. Scented candles can also affect our sense of taste by altering our perception of flavours and sweetness. This is because our sense of smell and taste are closely linked and share some common pathways in the brain. For example, chocolate scented candles can make us crave for chocolate and increase our sensitivity to its flavor. Mint scented candles can make us feel refreshed and reduce our appetite. Cinnamon scented candles can make us feel warm and cosy and enhance our perception of sweetness.
- The effects of scented candles on the sense of sight and sound
- Scented candles can affect our sense of sight by creating a visual appeal and a mood lighting. Scented candles can also affect our sense of sound by producing a soothing noise and a rhythmic pattern. This is because our sense of sight and sound are also connected and influence each other in the brain. For example, red scented candles can make us feel passionate and excited and attract our attention. Blue scented candles can make us feel calm and relaxed and soothe our eyes. Wood wick scented candles can make us feel cosy and nostalgic and create a crackling sound.
- The effects of scented candles on the sense of touch and temperature
- Scented candles can also affect our sense of temperature by creating a heat source and a thermal sensation. This is because our sense of touch and temperature are also related and depend on the stimulation of nerve endings in the skin. For example, massage oil scented candles can make us feel pampered and relaxed and offer a smooth texture. Hot pepper scented candles can make us feel spicy and adventurous and induce a burning sensation. Ice cream scented candles can make us feel sweet and playful and evoke a cooling sensation.
Scented candles can create a multisensory experience by combining different effects on different senses. A multisensory experience is an experience that involves more than one sensory modality at the same time. A multisensory experience can enhance our enjoyment, memory, and emotion of an event or an object. For example, a romantic dinner with scented candles can create a multisensory experience by combining the effects of sight (the candlelight), sound (the music), smell (the fragrance), taste (the food), touch (the kiss), and temperature (the warmth). A multisensory experience with scented candles can make us feel more immersed, engaged, and satisfied.
The benefits of scented candles
Scented candles have both benefits and drawbacks that should be considered before using them. In this section, we will highlight the positive and negative effects of scented candles and provide some tips and recommendations on how to use them safely and effectively.
- The positives of scented candles
- Scented candles can have positive effects on our mood, memory, relaxation, and health. Scented candles can help us feel calm, happy, rewarded, satisfied, alert, energized, passionate, excited, cozy, nostalgic, pampered, relaxed, spicy, adventurous, sweet, and playful. Scented candles can also help us recall pleasant memories, reduce stress and anxiety, improve sleep quality and duration, enhance cognitive performance and creativity, boost immune system and healing process, and relieve pain and discomfort.
- Scented candles can also have positive effects on our home decor and ambiance. They can create a visual appeal and a mood lighting that can complement our interior design and style. Scented candles can also create a soothing noise and a rhythmic pattern that can add to the acoustic environment and harmony, and can also create a heat source and a thermal sensation that can adjust the temperature and humidity of the room.
- Tips and recommendations on how to use scented candles safely and effectively
- To use scented candles safely, we should follow some basic precautions and guidelines. Keep scented candles away from flammable materials, children, pets, drafts, vents, fans, or windows. We should trim the wick to about 1/4 inch before lighting it to avoid a large flame or excessive smoke. We should burn scented candles in a well-ventilated room to avoid inhaling too much smoke or fragrance. We should never leave scented candles unattended or burn them for more than 4 hours at a time. We should extinguish scented candles with a snuffer or a lid to avoid splashing wax or spreading smoke.
- To use scented candles effectively, we should follow some simple tips and tricks. We should choose scented candles that suit our mood, personality, purpose, occasion, season, and preference. We should match them with our interior design, style, color scheme, theme, and mood lighting. We should layer scented candles with other sources of fragrance such as diffusers, sprays, oils, or flowers to create a complex and realistic aroma. We should experiment with different combinations of scents to find our favorite ones or create our own ones. We should enjoy scented candles with other sensory stimuli such as music, food, massage, or books to create a multisensory experience.
Conclusion on scented candles
Scented candles are candles that emit a pleasant aroma when burned. They can affect our senses, mood, memory, relaxation, health, decor, and ambiance in various ways. Scented candles can have positive effects such as making us feel calm, happy, rewarded, satisfied, alert, energised, passionate, excited, cosy, nostalgic, pampered, relaxed, spicy, adventurous, sweet, and playful. We should use scented candles wisely and responsibly to enjoy their benefits without suffering from their drawbacks. We should follow some basic precautions and guidelines to use scented candles safely. We should also follow some simple tips and tricks to use scented candles effectively.
Our scented candles
All of our scented candles are hand made in the UK from 100% vegan soy wax. We only use fully recyclable packaging and all of our products are cruelty free.