What Is Scent Throw?
Scent throw is how far and how strong your candle's fragrance travels. Cold throw is the scent when unlit. Hot throw is when burning.
Good scent throw isn't luck. It's chemistry.
The Three Factors
1. Fragrance Load
This is the percentage of fragrance oil in your wax. More isn't always better.
- 6% - Light, subtle. Good for bedrooms or small spaces.
- 8% - Standard. Fills a medium room without overwhelming.
- 10% - Strong. Maximum for most waxes. Risk of sweating.
Go above your wax's capacity and the fragrance separates. You'll see oily pools, sweating, poor burn quality.
2. Wax Type
Different waxes hold and release fragrance differently.
Soy wax: Good cold throw, moderate hot throw. Releases fragrance slowly - the scent builds as it burns.
Coconut wax: Excellent hot throw. The heat releases fragrance more efficiently than soy alone.
Soy-coconut blends (like Kerasoy): Best of both. Strong cold throw from the soy, powerful hot throw from the coconut.
Paraffin: Strongest throw of all, but that's not why we're here.
3. Temperature
Two temperatures matter: when you add fragrance, and the melt pool when burning.
Adding fragrance: Too hot and the top notes evaporate before the wax even sets. Too cool and it won't bind properly. 70-75°C is the sweet spot for most waxes.
Melt pool: A full melt pool releases more fragrance than a tunnelled one. This is why wick size matters - you need enough heat to melt edge-to-edge.
Why Some Candles Smell Stronger
You've probably noticed: some cheap candles have powerful throw. Some expensive ones barely smell.
The difference usually isn't fragrance quality. It's these factors:
- Higher fragrance load (sometimes too high - watch for sweating)
- Fragrance oils formulated for throw over complexity
- Wax optimised for release, not sustainability
- Correct wick size for the container
You can have strong throw AND quality ingredients. It just takes more testing.
Improving Your Scent Throw
If cold throw is weak:
- Increase fragrance load (if you have headroom)
- Cure longer - soy needs 1-2 weeks for full cold throw
- Try a different fragrance - some oils just don't throw cold
If hot throw is weak:
- Check your wick - you need a full melt pool
- Consider a wax with more coconut content
- Add fragrance at the right temperature (not too hot)
If throw fades quickly:
- The fragrance may be "flashing off" - add at lower temperature
- Try a fragrance with better staying power
- Check you're stirring long enough when adding
The Honest Truth
Natural waxes will never throw like paraffin. The molecular structure is different. But with the right wax, right load, and right technique, you can get excellent throw from sustainable wax.
Kerasoy at 8-10% fragrance load, properly cured, will fill a medium room. That's what most customers want.