We’ve all been there: an odor that remains in a house, be it from the kitchen, the pets or any other reason. When in a fix, most people use scented candles to help make the air fresh. But does burning a scented candle help to eliminate smells from the air or only hide them? That is why in this blog post, we will answer this frequently asked question, describe how scented candles operate, and teach you when and how they are useful to eliminate unpleasant odors. The candle is one of the most used home fragrance solutions, as people like its calm scent and warm atmosphere. Buy online today from bulk-price and save more on your shopping.
But beyond just making a room smell nice, many people wonder:
Is burning of scented candles effective in clearing off bad smells or are they simply masking the bad smell?
This is a question that will concern every homeowner, especially those who own pets, as well as anyone who wants to make their home environment better. In this post, we will see how scented candles work with odors, if they really eliminate them, and how to use them effectively.
By the end, you will know whether it is possible to light a scented candle the next time you are faced with a bad smell in your home or whether you need to look for other options that could deal with the bad smell.
How Do Scented Candles Work?
First, let’s learn how scented candles function before we discuss how well they can eliminate the smell. Scented candles diffuse fragrance through a process known as evaporation or volatilization, whereby the fragrance particles the essential oils evaporated through the heat generated by the burning candle flame. These vaporized molecules act upon our olfactory nerve to give us the pleasurable fragrance we connect with candles.
However, as far as the odor is concerned, it would be pertinent to mention here that scented candles do not function through the process of adsorption or elimination of the odor. Rather, they produce a smell that is similar to, or counteracts, the stink that is given off.
So, while they can make a room smell better, they may not necessarily neutralize the cause of the odor.
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Do Scented Candles Remove Odors?
So, do they remove odors? The answer will vary depending on the kind of candle, as well as the smell in question. Let’s break it down:
- Masking vs. Neutralizing Odors
Scented candles though do not eliminate smells in the real sense, they are one of the most efficient odor neutralizers. For instance, if your kitchen has a smell of garlic that you just prepared, lighting a candle with fresh, floral or citrus smell will mask the cooking smell and make the room smell more fresh.
However, there are candles that are labelled as “odor neutralizers.” Many of these candles contain chemicals that can chemically bind to smell molecules, thus making them difficult to be smelled. For instance, certain candles have embedded ozone molecules that can eliminate specific smells, for example, smoke or pet smell, by changing the chemical nature of the smell.
- The Kinds of Odors that Scented Candle Can Cover
Food Odors: Peculiar smells that people attempt to mask involve food preparation aromas such as the smell of fish, garlic or onions. Scented candles are very useful in this case since they hide these smells, but one has to be very particular with the kind of scent used – something like lemons or any kind of natural scent would do the trick.
Pet Odors: Another thing that pet owners apply is to light scented candles to help them deal with the smell left behind by their pets. Besides, candles can also somehow conceal the smell for a short time but they cannot solve the root of the problem, for example, the smell of pet dander or urine. Special “odor-eliminating” candles, containing activated charcoal or other ingredients that fight odors may be more effective in such cases.
Smoke Odors: Smoke smell in the house if you have been around smokers or if there was a fire can be hard to get rid of. Some kinds of scented candles are useful because they produce a rather intense smell and can neutralize the smell of smoke. However, for the best outcome, you may require to use other techniques for air purification alongside candles.
- Chemistry of scented candles and Odors
Some of the scented candles function in that adsorbent like activated charcoal or zeolite that has the ability to attract and hold the molecules of odor. This can be especially useful for difficult to eliminate smells such as those from pets, cigarette smoking and mold.
Some brands even employ a microencapsulation process where the molecules of the scent are enclosed under tiny capsules that give off the scent over time. This enables the candle to keep on freshening the air for sometime after the flame has been put off.
- Scented candles vs air fresheners
In comparison with the other kinds of reek eliminators like aerosols or electrical devices, scented candles are more organic and delicate. When using air fresheners the smell can envelop the room with a fake smell, but with candles the smell is released slowly into the air.
Still, air fresheners usually have chemicals that counter the smell while candles only cover it up with their smell. If the smell is really set in and cannot be easily removed by simple cleaning, using an odor remover may be better than using a scented candle only.
Instructions on How to Use the Correct Scented Candle for Odor Elimination
If want to buy scented candles to help with odors, here are some tips to choose the best one:
Look for Odor-Neutralizing Candles: Choose those candles that are marketed as having odour eliminating properties. These may contain such additives as the activated charcoal, ozone or other materials that can neutralize unpleasant smells.
Go for Stronger Scents: Aroma candles that have good throws are more useful in the act of eliminating bad smells. Some of those scents are; citrus, eucalyptus as well as lavender which are used to cleanse and deodorize surfaces.
Consider Soy Wax or Beeswax Candles: These natural waxes are less toxic than others, they also have longer burn time meaning that you get to enjoy the scent and its ability to mask other smells for longer.
Use Candles as a Complementary Solution: One cannot completely use candles to get rid of the smell because one can use other means such as airing or using a ceiling fan or an air conditioner if the smell is really bad.
Conclusion
For a home to be pleasant, it has to have a pleasant-smelling house, and scented candles are perfect for this. They do not eradicate odor like other products in the market but they are very effective in hiding unpleasant smells and making the environment fresh. If you are trying to banish a truly stubborn stench, look for candles that boast of being specially formulated to combat smells or use these in combination with other smell-eradicating techniques.
In a nutshell, lighting a candle also goes beyond creating fragrance – it enhances the environment and acts as a natural purifier of odors. Have you ever used scented candles in a bid to eliminate smell in your house?