Why Gentle Soy Candles are better for Sensitive Noses

Remember the last time you walked through a mall, passed a candle store, and were completely overwhelmed by the outpouring fragrance? That's partially to lure you in, but also to get you in the mood to buy. If you're sensitive to scents like me, it actually has the opposite effect. Well if you've ever wanted to have some scent in your home without it being completely overpowering, a lightly scented candle that gently releases fragrance is a better solution. Here's why. 

Why lightly scented is a better alternative

1. A staggering number of people can't tolerate strong scents

Almost 40% of Americans report some sensitivity to strong fragrances in the form of headaches, irritated airways, sneezing fits, and more. Roughly 1 in 5 people report issues like migraines or breathing trouble specifically from air fresheners or very strong scent sources. Among these, many are actually okay with some level of fragrance. In candles, cheap additives or certain wax types (phthalates and paraffin wax) are commonly responsible for these types of reactions. 

2. It's Classier

Unless you're in a fragrance house or perfumer, overwhelming your senses with scent isn't sophisticated. Think about it, if you go into a high end clothing store, they gently add aroma so they're memorable, but they don't overwhelm you with it. 

3. Less Sensory Fatigue

After a while of having the same scent in one space, you become increasingly noseblind to it. Also known as olfactory fatigue, it means your brain "mutes" the smell (adapts) when it's too intense. That's why if you're visiting a friend's house and they've been burning candles, they can barely smell them while you're hit with a wall of scent.

4. Life With Others

Americans are concentrated in cities and apartment-living has never been more common. Naturally, that comes with roommates and neighbors. If you're burning a strongly scented candle, that means someone else is likely to smell it. In apartments or tight spaces, a lightly scented candle won't "leak" throughout the building as much.

5. Life in Small Spaces 

Along with the last point, you might just be in a compact space yourself. It could be an apartment or a bedroom, but you might just want to keep the scent contained within a smaller physical area. Heavier candles in a confined space means that thick fragrance in the air accumulates. 

Find your light match

Retail candles can be useful in some cases, but they're better saved for larger houses or open concept areas that are built with a lot of ventilation. Otherwise, a lightly scented alternative could serve you better. 

I make subtly scented 100% soy candles for people who want to avoid sensory overload and people who want to scent smaller spaces. They're single wick (cotton), vegan, dye-free, and I handcraft them all in New York. They have an odor eliminator to help reduce other scents so that the light fragrance doesn't have to work as hard to be noticed. Try one today and see if you can enjoy a candle experience longer.