Scent plays a powerful role in setting the ambience of your home, evoking fond memories, and enhancing your mood. Remember when you could smell the yeasty aroma of freshly baked bread or the scent of newly laundered sheets just off the line? Well – whether it’s a cosy evening by the fireplace where you can relax and unwind, or a refreshing morning in your workspace where you need a mood-boost and sharp focus to meet that important deadline – the right fragrance can transform any space. However, getting the most out of your home fragrance requires a little know-how. Here are some handy hints and tips to help you maximize the impact of your favourite scents.
Hot and Cold Throw
When selecting candles or other fragranced products, it’s essential to understand the concept of hot and cold throw. A cold throw refers to the scent released when the candle is not lit. You can smell the fragrance even though the candle hasn’t been lit. A good cold throw is the reason you would probably decide to buy a particular product. The hot throw refers to the fragrance emitted whilst the candle is burning. Look for products that offer both a strong hot and cold throw to ensure your space is filled with delightful fragrance even when the candle isn’t burning.
Properly Burning Your Candle
To avoid tunnelling and ensure an even burn, it’s crucial to allow your candle to create a full wax pool during the very first burn. This means letting the candle burn for a few hours until the melted wax reaches the edges of the container. This initial step sets the stage for subsequent burns, ensuring a longer lasting and more fragrant experience. Remember – it might be tempting to light your new candle purchase straight away but do make sure you’ll be home for at least a few hours if you do!
Positioning Your Candle
Where you place your candle can significantly impact its effectiveness. For maximum scent dispersion, position your candle in a central location within the room, away from draughts or open windows. This allows the fragrance to circulate evenly, filling the space with divine scent without overpowering it. Selecting the right size candle for your space is crucial for achieving the desired scent intensity. Larger rooms may require multiple candles or larger jar sizes to effectively fill the space with fragrance, while smaller rooms may benefit from smaller candles. Consider the square footage and airflow of each room when choosing candle sizes to ensure optimal scent diffusion. You might prefer instead to use a reed diffuser in smaller spaces that are used infrequently. Then you’ll have no flames to worry about and a long-lasting, wonderful, scent experience. You can also spritz a complementary room spray for instant ambience!
Avoiding Wick Bloom
I’m sure you will have experienced the dreaded wick bloom at some point. That nasty build-up of carbon that settles at the top of the wick like a black blob. This sooty deposit can affect the quality of your candle burn and scent throw. To prevent this bloom, trim the wick to about 1/4 inch before each burn. This helps maintain a clean burn and ensures your candle continues to perform at its very best. Use a wick trimmer rather than scissors because the wick trimmer has long handles and a wide spade-like cutter to catch the discarded wick and any bloom and stop it from falling into (and spoiling) your lovely fragrant wax!
Layering Scents
For a more complex and personalised fragrance experience, consider layering scents throughout your home. Choose complementary fragrances for different rooms or mix and match scented products like candles, diffusers, and room sprays to create a comforting balance and an intimate atmosphere that reflects your own unique style.
To make it easy for you we have created the perfect pairings in one product! There’s a great selection to choose from. White Blossom and Sandalwood is one option! Sandalwood offers a rich, woody aroma with warm and creamy undertones, providing a grounding and comforting presence. White Blossom introduces a delicate floral note with its ethereal and fresh scent, infusing the blend with a sense of purity and tranquility. Together, Sandalwood and White Blossom create a luxurious and serene fragrance combination that balances the earthy richness of wood with the airy sweetness of blossoms, perfect for enhancing relaxation and sophistication in any space.
If you need a fresh, revitalising ambience then try With Love, layering fruity with floral, to offer a refreshing and uplifting aroma that energizes and invigorates the senses. A top note of fresh Rhubarb brings a fruity punch. Add in some floral notes, to bring a balanced elegance to the mix. Just perfect for brightening up kitchens, bathrooms, or workspaces.
Re-Purposing Candle Jars
Here at Heart and Home, we are proud of our sustainable policies. In recent years there has been a move away from paraffin-based wax towards candles made from more sustainable, eco-friendly materials such as soy. Soy candles are more friendly than those made from paraffin-based wax because the soy beans used to make the wax can be replanted indefinitely. Paraffin-based candles are produced by refining crude oil, which is a finite resource. And, unlike beeswax, no animal products are involved in the making of soy wax. Soy holds scent beautifully and melts at a lower temperature giving a long lasting and fragrant burn time. Once your candle has burned down, don’t let the beautiful container go to waste. Clean out any remaining wax and reuse the jar as a stylish storage container, a small vase for flowers, or a holder for makeup brushes or office supplies. Get creative and give your used candle jars a new lease of life.
Choosing the Best Scents for Your Spaces
Finally, consider the function and mood you want to create in each room when selecting fragrances. For example, calming scents like lavender and chamomile are perfect for bedrooms, while invigorating citrus scents are ideal for kitchens and workspaces. Experiment with different fragrances to find the perfect match for every corner of your home. With these handy hints and tips, you can elevate your home fragrance experience to new heights. By understanding the nuances of scent dispersion, proper burning techniques, and creative scent layering, you can establish a welcoming and inviting atmosphere that delights the senses and transforms your living space into a sanctuary of scent. So go ahead, indulge in your favourite fragrances, and let your home reflect your signature scent style.
If in any doubt, you can always check out our Candle Safety section. There’s lots more advice for using candles carefully. Enjoy your candle and don’t forget to tag us in your socials – we love to hear from you!
