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Candle Scentology 101
By Laurie | May 5, 2008
The following information was recently shared with me by Scentsy President, Orville Thompson. It was in response to a discussion about how it appears some people enjoy candle scents when they are first warmed or burned but then it seems like the scent goes away quickly. Actually that may not be the case. Read the explanation below - I found it fascinating, and hope you do too.
Fragrance is a molecule that is released in the air. When there is a fragrance molecule in the air, it hits receptors in the nose. Everyone has thousands in their nose. If the scent hits your receptors in certain patterns/formulas – our brains interpret them in a certain way. (Ex. if receptors x y z all hit at the same time – your brain would register that as “skunk” or “roses”, etc).
Everyone has different set of receptors – some smell more acutely than others. When people are exposed to fragrances – the same over and over again, generally because we like to melt our favorites – the receptors can get overloaded. Your body can get immune to it – become anosmic to fragrance. (Similar to drug addicts needing more and more).
Candle companies, and specifically in this discussion, Scentsy, has never made any changes to cut back on the amount of good stink put into the wax (in fact Scentsy has only added more fragrance). It’s the same thing as when people sometimes go away on vacation, but then come back home and really smell it the same wax that they previously complained wasn’t scented as strongly. Same as smokers who tend to lose their sense of smell but then quit smoking and suddenly smell more.
Also, when fragrances are warmed, high humidity fragrance will last longer. In dry areas, the air has nothing to hold onto the scents – whereas humidity will hold the vapors longer. When heat is on, fragrances linger longer. The change in atmospheric pressure and positioning of warmer (drawn into intake vent??) will also affect the way people perceive strength in the scents.
Top notes vs. heavy notes. Citrus is a highnote that won’t last as long in the air. Vanilla, musk, clove, cinnamon, bakery, spicy are heavy and last a long time. Grapefruit, limes, don’t last as long. Yet the amount of molecules being released in the air is the same in all fragrances.
So there you have it. When you think it’s the wax, it’s more likely your own sniffer behaving as it was created! Time to try a different scent for a while.
Topics: Direct Sales, Entrepreneur, Parenting, Scentsy Wickless Candles |
May 8th, 2008 at 10:01
Wow that was very interesting reading. I just love your blog!
June 17th, 2008 at 15:27
Thanks Laurie!
I always knew we got used to certain smells but I wasn’t sure why! That is a really interesting! You are so fun to read!