Expert: Neecie - 7/27/2007

Question
Hello:  I hope you can help me answer my questions.  I bought a candle from a lady who makes them herself.  The candle smelled like Victoria Secret's "Lovespell".  I'm trying to figure out how the lady added this fragrance.  I have attempted to add my perfume to waxes I have bought at a craft shop--soy and paraffin--and I suppose the addition of the alcohol causes the wax to sputter terribly.  Once I added the perfume, I've left it to heat for longer, hoping the alcohol would disappate, but no success.  If I let the wax cool for a bit, then add the perfume, once the candle is solid, it produces an enormous flame because of the alcohol trapped into the wax.  I guess my question is:  how do I incoporate my favorite scents into a candle?  I understand fragrance oils are an option except that "lovespell" does not come in such an oil...how did that lady do it?  Please help!

Answer
Erica,
Making candles is a craft that takes many, many months sometimes years to perfect. I'm sure the lady that you purchased your candle from took the time and money to perfect her craft. It scares me that added perfume to wax and then attempted to burn your candle. By adding straight perfume to wax does not and will never fragrance a candle. You've already found out that your flame either sputtered or it produced an enormous flame. These are very dangerous conditions in a candle. The reason being is that as you've said, perfume is alcohol and water based. I would highly suggest you do not try to make this in this way, My fear is that you can cause a flash fire that would obviously be harmful to you and your home.  So Please for your safety and the safety of others, take the time to learn how candles are made. Candlemaking is much like chemistry in a way. You need the correct combinations of wax, fragrance, wick, coloring to make it all burn correctly.  There are many different fragrances on the market today that one can purchase. In fact, there is a good share of them that are duplicates of your favorite perfumes. If you try to make another candle, be sure to research and learn on how to correctly produce a candle. Also, be sure to use fragrance oil that is made specifcally for candles and never perfume.