How to Use Scented Candles – Do’s and Don’ts

How does your house smell? When your friends visit you, do they comment on how fragrant your home environments are? Well, know that scented candles can work small miracles in your daily life, improving your mood and the pleasure of being at home.

To make your home even more cozy, we brought you some advice from how to use scented candles.

The right scent can add romance, set the tone for a party or get-together, and even attract a potential buyer if you’re looking to sell it.

Reasons to use scented candles

1) Having the house smell nice

There’s nothing better than walking through your house and smelling a cleansing, rose, or soothing scent.

So, in the same way that you take the time to choose the scent of your perfume or body cream, it is also important to choose the smell of your home that will contribute to your well-being.

2) Have an original and personal scent in your home

Just as we have a scent of our own, so does our house. And that smell will be kept in your affective memory. Whenever you feel it, you will remember that phase of your life or your old home.

3) Create a welcoming environment

An aromatic candle can create a friendlier atmosphere in your home. Your home will be inviting and your guests will feel that warmth.

I bet they will always want to visit you precisely because of the feeling that your home conveys.

4) In case of a power outage, you will be prepared!

Did the light go out? No desperation and opening cupboards to find a common candle. Your scented candles will be available to brighten your home while the electricity doesn’t come back. And, by the way, it will perfume you.

How to use scented candles?

Step 1: Buy candles with soy or beeswax

The type of wax used in the composition of the candle is very important and makes all the difference in the aroma. Opt for soy or beeswax candles and avoid cheaper paraffin or petroleum products.

It is also interesting to verify that the wick does not contain lead. If you have many options, look for versions without dyes and other substances that can cause allergies, such as phthalates.

Step 2: Trim the wick

The first step in using scented candles is to trim the wick to 1/4 inch each time you light it. This action will prevent the candle from creating soot marks on the container it is in.

To do this is very simple, just use ordinary scissors or a nail clipper. But do this when the wax is completely dry.

Step 3: Don’t burn the whole candle the first time

In order for the candle to light evenly and last as long as possible, it is necessary to let it burn for about 3 hours the first time you light it.

Step 4: Burn the candle for a maximum of 6 hours at a time

If you leave the candle burning for more than 6 hours, it will overheat. So it may be that the wick will float to the side. After that, it will continue to burn unevenly.

And of course, always keep a lit candle in your sights. Never leave it burning alone in another room. And always remember to blow out the candles when you leave the house.

Step 5: Blow out the candle

Never blow out a candle to extinguish it. Blowing can cause the small particles of black ash to stick to the wax or spread around the house. These ash contain many bacteria and germs. That is, blowing out candles causes bacteria and germs to spread throughout your home.

The best way to extinguish a candle is to use a lid to smother the flame.

extra tip

If a candle burned incorrectly, you don’t have to give it up. You can use a hair dryer on low heat to even out the surface of the wax.

Another option is to put the candle in the oven at 175 degrees for about 5 minutes. Then just remove the wax that flows over the wick.

Either of these options will melt the wax so it is smooth and even on top.

extra tip 2

So that your guests can already smell a delicious aroma when they enter your house, light the candle an hour before they arrive.

Where to use scented candles?

The ideal is to place the scented candles in a lower place. Thus, its scent is felt sooner. They look beautiful, for example, at the foot of a staircase wrapped in a glass cylinder. This cylinder helps to release the fragrance more strongly into the environment.

In addition to being great ways to leave a pleasant aroma in the air and improve the energy of the environment, candles are great decoration pieces. With this function, they can be used in every room of the house.

WC

The bathroom is a great place to set up a candle arrangement, using glass or metal holders. In addition to illuminating, candles will bring calm and coziness to the bathroom.

After an exhausting day, try turning off the lights and lighting the scented candles while taking a relaxing bath at night. It will be like having your own spa at home.

Another benefit of using scented candles in the bathroom is that they always leave the room smelling clean.

Good options for this purpose are Sicilian lemon and pine candles, which also bring a feeling of freshness.

Living room

In the living room, there are countless ways to use scented candles. You can place them on shelves or in niches.

If you want to spice up your living room decor a little, you can choose to use candlesticks, which make the environment beautiful.

Another option is to buy one candle of each color and place them on a tray on the coffee table or sideboard.

For a special occasion, combine candles with floral arrangements, pine cones, fabrics or dried leaves.

Dining room

Scented candles provide super romantic lighting, ideal for a dinner for two, as it creates an intimate atmosphere.

If you are having a celebration with more friends, you can make a combination of candles of different sizes arranged in a beautiful candlestick.

Don’t want to spend money buying a suitable support? You can put the candles inside glass jars, like the mayonnaise ones. Or even on the base of inverted cups.

Avoid placing candles on the table where meals will be served as the aroma of the candle can become unpleasant when mixed with the smell of food.

bedroom

Scented candles with soft scents like roses or lavender make the bedroom atmosphere more relaxing.

In decoration, they can be mixed with books, picture frames or flower pots.

What scented candle colors to choose?

The choice of scented candle color should be done according to the feeling you want to bring to the environment or the moment.

See below what attracts each scented candle color:

white candles – attract harmony, peace and spirituality. They help calm the environment and relax the people in it. Candles that have this color usually have scents such as chamomile, myrrh and sandalwood.

pink candles – improve relationships, bring romanticism and delicacy to the environment. They can also be used to lessen a heavier climate. Typically, candles with floral scents have this color.

violet candles – purifies the environment and fights stress and melancholy. Candles of this color usually have scents of lavender, violet and jasmine.

red candles – is the color of passion, beauty and sensuality. The aromas of the red candle are usually patchouli, chocolate and musk.

orange candles – Increases mental power and helps with concentration. They also attract joy and prosperity. They usually have a lavender fragrance.

blue candles – create a calm and balanced environment, strengthening our energies. They are great to be lit in moments of insecurity and fear. They usually have the scent of cloves.

yellow candles – this candle is associated with communication and intellect. When lit in a work environment, it helps to stimulate creativity. Among the aromas available in this color are fennel, cinnamon, peach, vanilla and wood.

Which scented candle fragrances match each environment?

When choosing the fragrance of scented candles, you need to think about where you want to use it and for what occasion.

For example, heavier scents, such as amber, wood and jasmine, stay in the environment longer.

More citrusy and floral aromas are weaker and harder to feel. They need heat to be better perceived, so they are ideal for use in spring or summer.

For a more intimate winter night, woody or incense notes go very well. Precious woods help to release serotonin and bring well-being.

When you have a headache or aren’t feeling very well, soft, fresh scents are best.

For dinner or lunch, the ideal is to use candles with weaker aromas, such as herbs, which combine well with the smell of food. Stronger or floral aromas are not indicated.

In the bathroom, you can opt for a more citrus scent, such as orange, which will create a spa atmosphere.

The living room, as a place for socializing, the best option is to use older scents, such as sandalwood.

How not to use scented candles

• Do not use candles to mask odors;
• Avoid buying scented candles that are too cheap because they can have a bad smell;
• Be careful not to choose the wrong scents for certain types of environments, as we explained earlier.
• Do not light two more candles in the same room;
• Never forget lit candles when you leave the house or go to sleep;
• Keep candles away from anything that can easily catch fire, such as curtains, bedding, and tablecloths.