Strong scented candles can smell faint once you get them home. Plenty of people say so online. Most of the time it is a burning problem, not a bad candle. The fix is simple. Give the candle time, pick the right spot and keep the air still. Here is how to get the smell you loved in the shop.

Strong Scented Candles Need a Full Melt Pool

Wax only gives off its smell once it turns to liquid. The circle of liquid wax around the wick is called the melt pool. A small pool gives a small smell.

Let your jar burn until the pool reaches the edge of the glass. For most jar candles that takes about two hours. Stop sooner and you leave wax behind, and the next burn smells weaker too.

A candle supplier makes a similar point. One supplier's guide to weak candle scent lists a wick that is too small as a cause. It says a small wick makes a narrow pool and a weak smell. That is a maker's view, not a lab test, but you can see it on your own jar.

Which candle fills a big room best?

A wide jar with three wicks makes a wide pool, so more wax gives off scent at once. The 3-wick jars are the ones that fill a whole living room.

Fragrance in Candles Needs Still Air

Moving air carries scent away before you notice it. Draughts, fans and open doors all do this. Put the candle where the air is calm, a metre or two from where you sit.

• Keep it out of draughts and away from ceiling fans.
• Light one candle in each room you use.
• Close the door of a small room.
• Light it before guests arrive, not as they walk in.

Your nose gets used to a smell after a while, so it may seem weaker than it is. Step out of the room for a minute. When you come back, the scent will seem stronger again.

Wax Melts Add a Second Source of Scent

If one jar is not enough, add a second source. A wax melt warms in a small dish and fills a small room quickly. It is a good partner for a candle in a bedroom or study.

For a sweet, cosy smell, start with the Indulgent range. Those scents sit close to bakery and vanilla, so they feel warm and full.

Quick answers

Why does my scented candle smell weak?

Most often it has not burned long enough. Let the wax melt right across the jar, which takes about two hours, and keep the candle away from draughts.

How many scented candles does a big room need?

Start with one wide 3-wick jar for a living room. Add a second candle or a wax melt only if the room is open plan or very large.

If you want a stronger smell without a fuss, have a look at the 3-wick jars and the candle range. Pick a scent you already love, give it two hours, and see how the room feels.

Related reading

• Candle Fragrance Fading? It May Be Your Nose, Not The Wax: why a scent seems to fade when it has not.
• Three Wick Candles: Choose The Right Room For A Wide Jar: which rooms suit a wide jar.
• Candle With Fragrance: How Long Should You Burn It?: the first burn and why it matters.