candle fragrance competing

If you’ve ever asked yourself, “Why can’t I smell my candle?”, you’re not alone. While common factors like nose blindness, room size, and airflow are often to blame, sometimes the cause is less obvious. Let’s explore other reasons your scented jar candle might seem faint and how to fix it.

Scents Interfering With One Another

When you have multiple sources of fragrance in your home, such as air fresheners, wax melts, or other candles, your sense of smell can become overwhelmed. Instead of focusing on one aroma, your senses may struggle to process competing scents, making it harder to notice your candle’s fragrance. Wearing heavily scented lotions or perfumes can add to this effect. To help, try burning just one scented jar candle at a time, and avoid using other fragranced products simultaneously.

Lingering Effects of COVID-19 or the COVID-19 Vaccine

Many people experience changes in their sense of smell after having COVID-19 or receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. This can include temporary or long-term loss of smell (anosmia) or the perception that scents seem weaker or different from before. Recovery times vary, but many people notice gradual improvement over weeks or months. In the meantime, rotating the types of fragrances you burn may help stimulate your sense of smell.

The Power of Fragrance Rotation

Burning the same candle scent every day can make you go nose blind to it. By switching between fragrance types, such as sweet, fresh, fruity, spicy, or herbal, you can help keep your nose engaged and better able to detect scents. For example, you might alternate between french vanilla, ocean breeze, apple, or sage scents. This keeps your home feeling fresh and your nose more alert.

Using Strong Fragrances to Mask Other Odors

Sometimes, other odors in your home, such as cooking smells, pet odors, or cigarette smoke, can overpower your candle’s scent. In these situations, candles designed to neutralize odors can be more effective. Our Smoke Eater scented jar candle, for example, is specially made to help cover strong odors like cigarette smoke, leaving your space fresher.

Final Tips to Make Your Candle Smell Stronger

To maximize your candle’s fragrance, rotate fragrance types regularly and avoid burning competing scents at the same time. Let the wax pool fully melt across the jar before extinguishing the flame, and keep your wick trimmed to about 1/4 inch. Choosing the right candle size for your space is also important. Explore our full collection of scented jar candles designed to fill your home with beautiful, lasting fragrance.