While you can go about sniffing unlit candles until you’ve overloaded your olfactory system, there is a better way. Find it out!
Step 1: Consider Your Space
The first to consider when choosing a candle scent is where you plan to use it. Take, for example, the size of the space you plan to use a candle in. You wouldn’t want to use a big overpowering scent in a small space such as a powder room, but in a large family room, the same scent might smell quite nice.
Step 2: Choose Your Candle Purpose
Candle Scents for Ambiance
Scented candles undoubtedly are one of the fastest ways to create ambiance. They can introduce a warm glow into any space, but it’s the candle scent that often gives the room a heightened ambiance.
Step 3: Choose Your Candle Fragrance Type
Once you’ve picked your space and purpose, the next thing to consider is the type of candle scent. As a candle maker, I’ve been asked many times over, “What is the best candle fragrance type? or “What is the best fragrance oil for candles?” There are three options when it comes to candle fragrance types and each has its own pros and cons.
Step 4: Choose Your Best Candle Scents Category
Now onto the part, you’ve been waiting for – choosing your best candle scents!! All scents can be broken into scent category types. What are the different types of scents? Fresh, Woody, Floral, and Exotic are the four main scent categories that match up with our four primary olfactory groups. Each group has a distinct list of characteristics that I share below.
Interestingly, everyone tends to have a scent category that they gravitate too over all other scents. This scent category more often than not reminds someone of a certain time in their life or evokes their sense of style almost perfectly.
These scent categories are a great way to uncover what the best candle scents for you are. Then you can look for candles that fall under that category. While some companies do sell their candles in scent categories, others that do not can be easily revealed by reading the descriptions of the fragrance. And if you’re making candles you’ll know what oils to look for.