Mixing Candle Fragrance Oils: What You Need To Know

Creating your own unique candle scents by mixing fragrance oils can be a fun and creative process, but it can also be a bit tricky. Blending fragrances is a lot like cooking with spices – you can add whatever you like and adjust as needed. There is no right or wrong way to mix fragrances, and with a bit of know-how and creativity, anyone can become a fragrance mixologist. The key is to experiment with different combinations and find what works best for your taste and preferences.

Blending basics

Blending fragrance oils is a fun process, but it can be a little tricky and intimidating for beginners. The good news is that there is no right or wrong way to blend fragrances, and it is all about personal preference. The more you work with different scents, the more refined your nose for fragrance will become.

When blending, it is best to start with fragrances you are already familiar with. This way, you know how a standalone scent performs in terms of cold and hot throws, which will help you perfect your desired blend more easily. It is also recommended to stick to basic, simple scents when you are just starting out.

The language of scent is described in terms of fragrance notes: top notes, middle notes, and base notes. Top notes are what you smell first, and they tend to be lighter, sharper, and more volatile, such as citrus or soft florals. Middle notes, or the "heart" of the fragrance, provide balance and are usually brighter florals, gourmands, fruits, or lighter woods. Base notes are deep, warm, and thick, providing depth and longevity to the aroma, such as vanilla, spices, or musk. Generally, blends that consist of a combination of these three types of notes are more complex and appealing.

When creating a blend, it is important to use blotters to get a basic creation and then work in small batches to avoid wasting oils and getting unexpected results. You can start by adding one drop of each oil you want to blend on a blotter, smelling the combination, and then adding more drops as needed. Keep in mind that some scents may smell great on their own but don't mix well, while others may develop more favourably when combined with other aromas.

Once you have created your desired ratio by drops, you can then move on to creating larger formulas. For example, a 1-ounce bottle is 30 milliliters, and pipettes can measure up to 3 milliliters at a time. So, if you have a ratio of 1 drop of Fragrance #1 and 9 drops of Fragrance #2, you would use 1 pipette of Fragrance #1 and 9 pipettes of Fragrance #2 to create a 1-ounce bottle. It is important to test your ratios in small batches first to ensure you are getting the desired results before creating larger batches.

Additionally, it is crucial to keep track of your ratios and take detailed notes during the blending process. This will allow you to duplicate your favourite fragrances and avoid losing track of your creations.

By following these blending basics, you'll be well on your way to becoming a fragrance mixologist, creating unique and captivating scent combinations.

Top, middle and base notes

When creating a fragrance, the individual scents that make up the final product are called notes. These notes are separated into three categories: top, middle, and base. Each type of note plays a different role in the fragrance, and understanding them is key to creating a well-rounded scent.

Top notes, also known as headnotes, are the first scents that you smell when experiencing a fragrance. They create the initial impression of a perfume, drawing you in or turning you away. These notes tend to be lighter, fresh, and uplifting, and are often citrusy or soft florals. Due to their lighter molecular structure, they evaporate quickly, usually within 5-15 minutes of application. Common top notes include lemon, bergamot, grapefruit, and eucalyptus.

Middle notes, also referred to as the "heart" of a fragrance, emerge after the top notes dissipate. They provide balance between the top and base notes and are usually well-rounded and full-bodied, and longer-lasting than top notes, with a typical duration of 20-60 minutes. Middle notes are often warm, floral, or herbal, and are blended from flowers and trees. Examples of middle notes include lavender, tea tree, rosemary, and geranium.

Base notes are the foundation of a fragrance, providing depth and longevity. With their heavier molecular structure, these notes are the least volatile, lingering on for six hours or more. They are often deep, rich, warm, earthy, musky, or resinous. Common base notes include vanilla, spices, musks, woods, amber, frankincense, and clary sage.

When blending fragrance oils, it is important to consider the different notes and their roles. A balanced blend will typically consist of 50-75% middle notes, 20-40% top notes, and 5-10% base notes.

How much oil to add

When it comes to blending fragrances, there is no right or wrong. However, it is important to understand the basics of fragrance notes and how they combine to create a unique scent profile.

The top notes of a fragrance are the initial aromas that draw you in. These are usually lighter, citrusy, or soft floral scents. The middle notes, or the "heart," provide a balance and are typically bright florals, gourmands, fruits, or lighter woods. The base notes are the anchor of the fragrance, lending depth and longevity with scents like vanilla, spices, musks, woods, or amber.

When blending fragrances, it is recommended to start with familiar fragrances and stick to more basic scents for the best results. You can use blotter strips to test out different fragrance combinations and train your nose to pick out the notes. Dip the blotter into the fragrance bottle, allowing it to dry, and then fan it under your nose to get an impression of the blend.

In terms of how much oil to add, a good rule of thumb is to use about 1 ounce of fragrance oil per pound of wax. However, this can vary depending on the type of wax. For soy wax, you might use around 1.5 ounces per pound, while paraffin wax typically requires less, around 0.8 ounces per pound. Always check the specific recommendations for your chosen wax and fragrance oil combination.

It's important to find the right balance when adding fragrance oils to your candles. Adding too much oil can make the candle overpowering or prevent it from burning properly, while adding too little may result in a weak scent. Experiment with different fragrance oil candle recipes to find your perfect scent combination.

Types of oil

There are two types of scent for candles: fragrance oils and essential oils.

Fragrance Oils

Fragrance oils are formulated from many aromatic ingredients, some natural and some created by scientific methods. Natural ingredients include essential oils, resins, and absolutes. Synthetic ingredients are man-made but are also found in nature and are reproduced synthetically using scientific techniques.

Not all fragrance oils are created equal. Many fragrance oils from suppliers are formulated for bath and body use, and may not be suitable for candles. The IFRA (International Fragrance Association), RIFM (Research Institute for Fragrance Materials), and FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) regulate standards for safety, purity, and the maximum amount of fragrance oil that can be used in products like soaps and cosmetics. This is much less concentrated than what you can put in candles.

Some fragrance oils are all-natural and made entirely from plants. However, it can be difficult to find lists of ingredients for fragrance oils, and you should assume that any that don't specifically claim to be naturally derived are chemical-based, even if they have natural-sounding names.

Essential Oils

Essential oils are distilled from the oil of the plant from which they were extracted. While essential oils are natural and may provide therapeutic benefits, there are several drawbacks to using them in candles:

• Many essential oils lose their therapeutic benefits when burned in a candle.
• Essential oils are typically much more expensive than fragrance oils, and prices can fluctuate based on weather, crops, and trade relationships.
• While essential oils may provide a good cold throw, they provide very little scent when burned in a candle. It takes a lot more essential oil to try and achieve the strength of scent from a fragrance oil, which is also cost-prohibitive.
• Essential oils do not offer the variety of scents that fragrance oils provide.
• Essential oils can cause just as many allergic reactions as fragrance oils (and perhaps even more).
• Some essential oils can be toxic to pets, whether taken internally, applied to the skin, or inhaled.

Testing blends

Understanding Fragrance Notes

Fragrances are described in terms of top notes, middle notes, and base notes. Top notes are the initial aromas that tend to be light and citrusy or soft florals. Middle notes, or the "heart," provide balance and are usually bright florals, gourmands, fruits, or lighter woods. Base notes anchor the fragrance and lend depth, often including scents like vanilla, spices, musks, woods, or amber. Understanding these notes is crucial for identifying good scent combinations.

Choosing Familiar Fragrances

It is recommended to start with familiar fragrances when creating blends. This is because knowing how a standalone scent performs in terms of cold and hot throws will help you perfect your desired blend more easily. Having a refined sense of smell and an understanding of fragrance notes will guide you in creating unique and appealing combinations.

Using Blotter or Smelling Strips

A quick and easy way to test fragrance combinations is by using blotter or smelling strips. Dip the strip into the fragrance bottle, allowing it to absorb the oil. Wait for about 10 seconds, then fan the strip under your nose to get a good impression of the blend. Take detailed notes on the scent combinations, ratios, and whether you plan to test them in a candle.

Creating Small Wax Melts

For a more accurate test, you can create small wax melts to observe how the fragrance behaves when mixed with wax. Melt a small amount of wax (about 50 grams) and add the fragrance oil at the recommended concentration (usually 6-10%). Stir thoroughly, pour into a mould, and allow it to cool. Use a wax melt burner to observe the scent throw and how the fragrance evolves as it burns.

Additional Testing Methods

You can also explore other testing methods to gain different insights. Mix the fragrance oil with a carrier oil and use it in a reed diffuser to understand its throw and longevity. Create a room spray by diluting the oil in water or alcohol to see how it disperses in the air. Alternatively, incorporate the oil into a small batch of soap to observe its interaction with different ingredients.

Practical Tips for Effective Testing

• Start with small batches to save costs and avoid waste.
• Use consistent materials, such as the same wax type, wick size, and fragrance concentration, to isolate the variable you're testing.
• Label each sample with relevant information, including the fragrance name, concentration, wax type, and date.
• Allow your wax melt or candle to cure for at least 10-14 days before testing to give the fragrance time to integrate fully with the wax.
• Test your candles in different settings, including small and large rooms, with and without drafts.
• Gather feedback from a small group of trusted testers to get a well-rounded view of the fragrance's performance.
• Keep a testing journal to record your observations, feedback, and any adjustments made.

Frequently asked questions