Fragrance Threshold and Saturation Point of Scents in Candles
Posted by Lyschel Bersch on
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Most candle makers know that there is a limit to the amount of oil a wax can hold but few understand that there is also a fragrance threshold. A fragrance threshold is the tipping point between barely being able to smell a scent and really getting the full effect of the scent. At this point the true, intended scent does not get any stronger.
There is also a point that I call the super saturation of a scent. When you reach this point the scent may still get "stronger" but you no longer get the scent that was intended. By adding too much scent into your candle you cover up some of the more delicate notes that truly make the scent what it is supposed to be. And high end, complex scents will have a lot of pretty notes that can get overwhelmed. For instance, our Sultry Angel has many different layers and notes at only .6oz per pound. Once you hit the fragrance threshold the scent doesn't get stronger, it just changes. When too much is added the ethereal top notes are overwhelmed with the more musky base notes. It totally changes the scent. The scent gets super saturated and is no longer the intended scent. Another example is my Fairy Dust and Twinkle Toes the saturation point gives more grapefruit and less of the other citrus which cause the entire scent to dampen down and not "pop" like I am used to with this scent.
When adding your scent to you wax it is always a good idea to start with the manufacturers directed usage. From that point you will be able to adjust your amount used depending on your wax. (Different waxes will use different amounts of scent to reach their fragrance threshold.) I usually make three candles for testing scent threshold. One candle using the suggested amount (lets say .6oz per pound), one candle using a little less (.5oz per pound) and one using a little more (.7oz per pound) I would hold all of my other variables constant (wick, wax, jar, pour temp, dye, temp add the scent, etc). After curing I would test burn my candles. I would BLINDLY burn and make observations. Blindly burning is when you don't know which candle you are smelling until after you have made your observation of it's strength. Only after I burned the entire candles I would look at my notes to see what the scent amount was that I needed to get the most full bodied fragrance.
By looking at my notes I would then decide which of the candles I could smell well, what were the differences in the smell if any, did any of the burns smell too "heavy"? It always amazes me that more is not always better with concentrated oils! It is AMAZING the difference .1oz can make in a concentrated oil!!!
To sum up, it is best to stick to using scent at the fragrance threshold. Over the threshold is the super saturation point. At the super saturation point either the scent does not get any stronger or it changes the intended outcome of the scent. The saturation point doesn't make the scent stronger, just different. Not to mention that it is a waste of oil and money!
Moral of the story, test for the scent threshold and super saturation point. It may take longer but you will know your candles better and end up saving a money in the long run! All of my oils are labeled from my testing of the scent threshold and super saturation points for a specific wax. Your tests may differ with your wax, additives, wick, etc.
Happy testing!!!
Lyschel
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