Chloe Adams
Candles are a great way to fill your home with fragrance and create a cosy atmosphere. But what happens when they're past their prime? Do they lose their scent, and is it still safe to burn them? The short answer is yes, candles do lose their scent over time. Natural fragrances tend to degrade faster than synthetic ones, but proper candle care can help prolong their lifespan. Old candles may also burn unevenly, with a small flame or constant flickering, and their colour may fade or change. While they might not offer the same luxurious experience, most old candles are still safe to burn, although it's important to follow safety instructions and store them away from heat and sunlight.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Scent | Weakens with age, eventually losing it entirely |
| Burning | Struggles to burn consistently, with a small flame that flickers out |
| Wick | Appears dry and weird |
| Wax | Pulls away from the sides of the jar, with a pitted look |
| Colour | Fades or changes |
| Performance | Poor wick and burn performance |
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What You'll Learn
Candles lose their scent over time
Expired candles may still be safe to burn, but they won't offer the same luxurious experience as when they were new. Their colour may fade or change, and the wax may become dry and cracked. Additionally, expired candles may not burn as well; you may struggle to light the wick, or the flame may be small or constantly flicker out.
To prolong the lifespan of your candles, proper care and maintenance are essential. Always store your candles in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight, heat sources, and high humidity. Keep them covered with lids or candle toppers to preserve the fragrance and prevent dust buildup. Regular cleaning of the candles between burns can also help keep them effective, and trimming the wick before each use promotes a clean, even burn, preserving wax quality and prolonging the candle's life.
While candles do lose their scent over time, you can still enjoy older candles safely by following the original burning instructions. The fragrance oils may still exist inside the candle, and lighting it can release the scent, although it may not be as strong as when the candle was new.
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Natural fragrances degrade faster
Natural fragrances are more susceptible to degradation over time compared to synthetic fragrances. This degradation is influenced by various factors, including temperature, light exposure, oxygen levels, humidity, and alcohol content.
Temperature plays a crucial role in the volatility and evaporation rates of natural fragrances. Higher temperatures increase the volatility of the essential oils, leading to faster evaporation. Similarly, exposure to light, both visible sunlight and UV light, can break down the fragrant molecules and alter their chemical bondings, resulting in changes to the scent profile.
Oxygen levels also impact the fragrance's longevity. When a fragrance is half empty, the increased oxygen inside accelerates alterations in its composition. Additionally, humidity can affect natural fragrances, with high humidity environments potentially impacting their quality.
The alcohol content in fragrances is another factor to consider. Alcohol acts as a preservative, and fragrances without it tend to have shorter shelf lives. However, higher alcohol content can also make essential oils more volatile, resulting in faster evaporation.
To extend the lifespan of natural fragrances, proper storage is essential. Keep them in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight, heat sources, and humidity. Additionally, using lids or covers can help preserve the fragrance and prevent dust accumulation.
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Proper candle care can preserve scent
Candles do lose their scent over time, but proper candle care can help preserve their fragrance and slow down this process.
Firstly, candles should be stored in a cool, dry, and dark place, such as a cupboard or basement. They should be kept away from direct sunlight, heaters, windows, and other sources of heat or light. Humidity can also affect candles, so it is best to avoid storing them in humid environments or places like the bathroom.
It is also important to cover candles with lids or candle toppers when not in use. This helps to preserve the scent and keep dust away. Additionally, storing candles upright prevents the wax from shifting or becoming damaged. If you have multiple scented candles, store them separately to avoid mixing scents.
Another way to care for your candles is to ensure proper burning techniques. During the first burn of a new candle, it is important to let the surface of the candle melt completely. Putting it out too early can create a rim of hard wax that never melts, even as the wick and central wax continue to burn down—a phenomenon known as "tunneling." As a standard practice, it is recommended to burn a new candle for around one to three hours before extinguishing the flame.
To maintain the quality of the candle, it is also important to trim the wick with a candle wick trimmer before each burn, keeping it about a quarter of an inch above the wax. This helps prevent soot and promotes a clean, even burn, preserving the wax quality and prolonging the life of the candle.
By following these simple steps, you can help preserve the scent of your candles and ensure a better burning experience.
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Discolouration is a sign of expiry
Candles are a delightful addition to any home, offering warm, flickering light and immersive, alluring scents. However, like all good things, candles, too, come with an expiry date. While candles do not spoil like food or drinks, they do expire and become weak, losing their scent and burning capabilities over time.
One tell-tale sign of an expired candle is discolouration. Over time, heat and sunlight can cause yellowing or other discolouration in candles. If a candle uses dyes to achieve a specific wax colour, those dyes can also fade. This is especially true for candles made with natural waxes like soy, beeswax, or coconut oil, where the wax can become rancid due to oxidation, leading to discolouration and an unpleasant odour.
UV rays from sunlight can cause the wax to melt and discolour, affecting the overall quality of the candle. Candles stored in damp locations may also discolour and are best discarded or used only for ornamental purposes. Discolouration can also be a sign of mould or other forms of contamination, which is unsafe to burn.
To prevent discolouration, it is essential to store candles correctly. Keep them in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight and sources of heat or humidity. Additionally, ensure they are stored upright and covered to prevent dust and debris from settling on the wax.
While discolouration may not always indicate expiration, it is a sign that the candle's quality has diminished. Expired candles may still be safe to burn, but they won't offer the same luxurious experience, with reduced fragrance and uneven burning.
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Older candles may burn unevenly
Candles are a great way to fill your space with warm, flickering light and your favourite fragrances. However, with time, candles can lose their scent and burn quality. While older candles can still be safely enjoyed, they may not offer the same luxurious experience as when they were first purchased.
To extend the life of your candles, proper storage is essential. Keep them in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight, heat sources, and humidity. If your candles are on display, cover them with lids or candle toppers to preserve the fragrance and keep dust at bay. Additionally, trimming the wick to a quarter of an inch before each burn helps promote a clean, even burn and preserves wax quality.
You can still safely burn older candles, but they may not provide the same immersive, alluring scent and consistent burn as a new candle. If you notice your candle has discoloured or the fragrance is weak, it may be past its prime. To test this, gently scratch the surface, and if it still doesn't smell, it's probably time for a new one.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, candles do lose their scent over time. Candles with natural fragrances tend to degrade faster than those with synthetic fragrances. However, candles with a combination of natural essential oils and perfume-quality fragrances tend to have the best lifespan and scent.
Check the candle's cold throw (the fragrance of an unlit candle), if it's hard to detect, gently scratch the outer surface and if it still doesn't smell, it may be past its prime. Also, observe the colour of the candle, if it has faded or changed, it is likely expired.
Always keep your candles in a cool place away from direct sunlight. If your candles are on display, cover them with lids or candle toppers to preserve the fragrance and keep dust away.
