Candle making is an art that allows you to infuse your living space with delightful fragrances, creating a cozy and inviting ambiance. One popular way to enhance the aromatic experience of candles is with essential oils.
These potent plant extracts not only add captivating scents to your candles but also offer potential therapeutic benefits. However, it’s important to understand the nuances of using essential oils in candle making to ensure a successful and safe outcome.
Let’s learn some truths about essential oils in candles that you may not have thought about – it’s always best to be on the safe side.
Here’s what’s in store:
Understanding Essential Oils and Candle Making
Yes, you can use essential oils for candle making, but there are some important considerations to keep in mind. Essential oils have a lower flash point and are more volatile compared to fragrance oils – This means that they can evaporate when exposed to the high temperatures of hot candle wax.
As a result, not all essential oils are suitable for candle making.
Next, let’s look at aromatherapy oils are generally safe for use in hot wax, next to open flames.
Essential Oils That Work Well for Candle Making
Some essential oils are better suited for candle making due to their higher flash points and compatibility with the wax.
Here are some categories of essential oils that are good options:
- Camphorous Essential Oils – Eucalyptus, pine, and tea tree oils are known for their refreshing and invigorating scents. They can add a natural and cleansing aroma to your candles.
- Floral Essential Oils: Lavender, jasmine, and rose oils offer delicate and soothing aromas that can promote relaxation and tranquility.
- Herbal Essential Oils: Basil, rosemary, sage, and even marjoram oils introduce earthy and herbaceous notes to your candles, adding a touch of nature to your space.
- Mint Essential Oil: Peppermint, spearmint, and pennyroyal oils are excellent for use in candles intended for the morning or evening — These invigorating scents can help wake you up or provide a refreshing wind-down.
Note that some of these oils are safe for general use, but not necessarily around pets (I’ll share more on that below).
Why Some Essential Oils Are Not Recommended for Candles
The decision to use or avoid specific essential oils in candle making stems from various factors. When you choose a fragrance for your candles, you need to consider scent, volatility, scent retention, cost, compatibility with wax, and carriers.
Let’s explore these factors in more detail.
First, some essential oils may not produce pleasant aromas when burned, affecting the overall candle experience.
Next, certain essential oils have lower boiling points than wax and evaporate more quickly when exposed to heat, leading to a shorter-lasting scent.
Here are some essential oils with low boiling points:
- Humulene (hops & cannabis) has the lowest boiling point of all popular terpenes at 225°F (107°C)
- Lavender oil boils at 204°F, which is lower than the boiling point of water at 212°F (100°C)
- Frankincense essential oil has a flash point of 156°F (69°C)
- Rosemary oil has a flash point of 117°F (47°C)
Some other essential oils with low flash points include sweet orange, grapefruit, peppermint, Roman chamomile, and black pepper.
Hence, candles with some of these essential oils may not retain their scent as effectively as candles with fragrance oils, resulting in a less potent aroma over time.
Plus, certain essential oils can be expensive, influencing your choice based on budget and affordability – if this is a concern, artificial fragrance oils can provide an alternative.
Furthermore, essential oils may not always blend seamlessly with candle wax, potentially causing issues during the candle-making process – carrier oils can help this.
Some good carrier oils to use include:
Some carriers used to dilute essential oils might not be soluble in wax (jojoba oil, for example) or could pose safety concerns, further affecting their suitability for candle making.
Safety Considerations and Pets
When using essential oils in candle making, it’s crucial to prioritize safety, especially if you have pets.
Some essential oils can be toxic to pets when inhaled, such as:
- Anise
- Clove
- Juniper
- Thyme
- Wintergreen
- Yarrow
- Garlic
- Horseradish (I’ve yet to see these last two in a candle, but there’s a first time for everything)
Avoid using these oils in candles or any other products that could expose pets to their vapors.
Essential Oils That Become Toxic in Sunlight
Certain essential oils, such as bergamot, bitter orange, grapefruit, key lime, lemon, mandarin, and marigold (tagetes), can become toxic when exposed to sunlight.
This is part of the reason why these, many essential oils, and extracts should be stored in dark-colored glass bottles.
If you plan to place your candles in areas with direct sunlight, it’s best to avoid these oils or house the candles in brown or amber jars with lids to ensure the safety of both people and pets.
Citrus-Scented Candles 101
Certain essential oils, particularly those with low flash points, should generally be avoided in candle making, as they can quickly evaporate and diminish the scent of your candles.
Citrus essential oils, such as lemon and lime, fall into this category — While you can use citrus essential oils in candles, it’s important to know that their fragrances may not last as long as desired.
If you’re looking to avoid citrus essential oils, you can still add scent your candles using natural ingredients like:
- Citrus extracts
- Citrus peels & dried citrus slices
- “Natural” citrus fragrance oils (this isn’t my favorite alternative, as these are made in a lab)
These substitutes can add unique and pleasing fragrances to your candles without the potential evaporation issues associated with citrus essential oils.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can use regular essential oils for candle making, but some essential oils may have low flash points and evaporate quickly when exposed to heat.
Essential oils with higher flash points, such as camphorous, floral, herbal, and mint oils, are generally safe for candle making.
While you can use many synthetic fragrance oils for candle making, they have different properties and considerations compared to essential oils.
The best essential oil for scented candles depends on your preferences and the desired ambiance. Lavender, citrus, and eucalyptus are popular choices.
Some essential oils have low flash points, leading to potential evaporation when added to hot wax. And, some may not retain their scent well in candles.
Both essential oils and fragrance oils have their benefits and considerations. Essential oils offer natural scents, while fragrance oils provide a wider variety of options.
Fragrance oils are synthetic scents specifically designed for candle making, while essential oils are natural extracts from plants.
Final Thoughts
While you can use essential oils for candle making, and its a really fun way to include aromatherapy in your home or product offer, there are some considerations you should take into account. Above all, you need to choose oils with higher flash points and consider their compatibility with wax – And, it’s important to keep the safety of pets and children in mind.
By making informed choices and understanding the nuances of essential oils, you can create beautifully scented candles that enhance your space and well-being. Remember to prioritize safety and consider the potential effects on pets and sunlight exposure when crafting your aromatic creations.
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