Why People are OBSESSED with Scented Candles

Scented candles have been growing in popularity and as they have brought into question what these things are actually made of and what that means for people who use them.

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Script: Holly Maley
Editor: Melody David
Lead Editor: Kirsten Stanley
Project Manager: Lurana McClure Rodríguez
Host: Levi Hildebrand

[RetroSpacer]

The solution is clearly scented lightbulbs.

[mind-of-neo]

"Who would have thought that it would be so hard to find reliable sources on candles" YES, this is a major problem with the fragrance industry in general, finding reliable information is VERY difficult, that knowledge is gatekept more than in almost any other industry.

[browneyedguitargirl]

There’s something primal about watching a flame, whether it’s a campfire, a bonfire, the fireplace, or a candle. While I cannot stand the huge candle company that I will not name, I love having a lit candle in my home. It does not matter to me if it is scented, but it is a bonus if it has a pleasant fragrance. I was surprised to not hear anything about Yankee Candle in this episode, though. They’re definitely what I think of first when I think of scented candles in the US.

[anulu-momento]

monke smell, smell good, neuron activation

[Dtgray]

I love candles. I'm a grown man and a nice aroma can improve my mood.

[maddiem]

Scented candles are so terrible for animals. When I worked at a pet store I’d have to warn new bird owners that any candles that weren’t 100% beeswax would actually kill their birds

[FC-dsve]

I have a small candle company so make my own with coconut and rapeseed wax and good quality locally sourced fragrance oil.
I was never a candle person but got into making them in 2021 for something to do.
I work hard to make good candles for a reasonable price and people seem to love them 😊

[RoseKindred]

As someone who makes candles and has plans to open a business, I have nothing really to disagree with in this video. You were well-researched and listed many concerns, especially about soy farming and marketing, not to mention the fast-fashion comparison. The labels are a big concern I have and believe there needs to be a standard.

[_xeere]

It took me a hot minute to realise that BBW Candles stood for Bath & Body Works. Thought something shifty was going on for a bit there.

[madmakoe]

I used to work in the safety testing lab at a factory that produced the bath and body works 3 wick candles. I have to say if nothing else, we tested new fragrances to DEATH to make sure the candles weren't a safety hazard. I don't know the safety in regards to air quality and what not, however, as long as they're burned as instructed on the bottom of the jar, they are some of the safest ones to burn.

[rebekahmui]

Sitting here in my pajamas casually watching a video and seeing a clip of my tallow candle project! Gave me a kick for sure!

[mind-of-neo]

Bath and Body Works is actually one of my biggest obsessions, so this is a wild crossover to see. Butterfly is soo good by the way. They do engage in a lot of manipulative tactics like artificial scarcity though.

[JasmineDreams]

I worked at BBW for several years, and had my first migraine about halfway through that time, and started getting them from time to time after that. I got so sick of the artificial fragrances that I stopped using artificially fragranced products entirely after I quit working there, and as soon as my body started to detox from all the scents, I started to get migraines even more regularly. I really think that store ruined my neurological health. Now I have to be super careful about avoiding artificial fragrances, and anytime my neighbors clean with something strongly fragranced like Fabuloso, I have to leave the apartment right away and stay gone until the scent airs out of the place, or I will get an immediate migraine. Same thing if I’m stuck in an enclosed space with someone wearing a strong cologne or perfume - I have to go, and fast lol. I speed through the fragrance sections of stores like Maceys… the research might not have caught up to the reality of these products yet, but there is zero doubt in my mind that they are toxic and I’m sure I’m not the only person they’ve had this kind of effect on.

[ValerieT]

It's not just white ladies at the mall buying this stuff anymore. All kinds of people shop at the one near me. I can hardly walk past these stores - the smell is overwhelming.

[ashb]

I love that you're so above it all. I mean, thats the point I took away from this video. "Are they toxic? lol idk. Maybe? I dont even understand candles with smell in them, they're dumb and i'm smart. Whats the name of the store we spent weeks researching? I'll pretend I dont know so I can play it cool 😊."

[dawsonnance]

I’m a candle guy but I’m good with French vanilla or like a season fall one that’s a classic. Anyways loved the vid, you should do one about car air fresheners👀. That would be interesting

[yeetyeet]

this whole thing sounds like something south park would make an episode about, where the whole town slowly gets consumed by the smell of scented candles and randy takes the wife and kids and tries to escape to canada, only to realise that they actually eat scented candles.

[La_Segua_Games]

I mean there are some big misses on this one, but the biggest one is to fail to acknowledge the Quality of their candles and even how they manage standards. Is hard to find candles as good as theirs

[Martial-Mat]

Candle maker here, and ignoring your patronising tone from start to finish, you are misleading and factually wrong on LOTS of the points made throughout this video.
Candles should not produce soot if they use the correct wick for the candle size, type of wax, and scent load (the ratio of scent to wax). If they are producing soot, it is likely because the wicks are burning the material too fast.
Paraffin is used because it is harder, making it suitable for use in what is known as a "pillar candle, " ie, a self supporting candle. Scent throw does NOT mean a candle's ability to hold a scent - it's how well the scent is distributed. Hot scent throw is how well it distributes when lit, cold scent throw is kind of like using the unlit candle as an air freshener or diffuser.
Better to have LESS paraffin in a soy blend, than all paraffin.
You're completely wrong about beeswax being the only other option. Coconut wax is at least as common, and there are other vegetable blends for scented or coloured wax.
In Europe, there are strict labelling regulations that cover the fragrance oils as well as the wax.
Candles exploded in popularity during covid, when sales increased 800%. This was partly because many people were staying indoors to enjoy them, and partly because many people were making them as hobbies.
You've built a narrative about the entire industry based upon your experiences with a single business. That would be like building your picture of the burger industry based upon McDonalds.
Females AND males enjoy scented candles because they create a pleasant ambience. They are absolutely no different to an air freshener in that regard.

[jennag]

As someone who has chronic migraines that are triggered by fragrance, there is not one item at BBW that is of interest to me. I literally have to hold my breath when I walk past the store at the local mall.