Can Scented Candles Get Rid Of Bad Odors In My Home? – Our Guide

If you’ve got some guests arriving, or maybe there is an undesirable smell coming from the kitchen bin, you might be tempted to light up one of your scented candles, but do scented candles get rid of odor? 

Scented candles do not eliminate odor, they instead simply mask the odor with a new more pleasant smell, you can, however, find alternative candles which are specially designed to eliminate odors.

We’ve discussed in more detail below how candles work, which kinds of candles are useful for eliminating odor, how to choose the right scented candle and some alternatives for eliminating odor in your home.

How Do Candles Work? 

Most people would assume that a strong scented candle would get rid of odors in their home, but most candles don’t, they just simply mask the smell instead, contributing to more pollutants in your home. 

Candles are lit to simply provide a dim light and often a fragrance in your home, consisting of wax and a wick, the wax is technically used as fuel for the candle and provides combustion in order to keep the flame lit. 

Most candles are made with either paraffin wax or vegetable wax such as soy, paraffin wax candles can cover unpleasant odors if they are scented but they release soot into them due to the chemicals inside of the wax.

Best Candles To Eliminate Odors? Read On To Find Out..

If you want to choose the right type of candle to get rid of a bad smell, you need to avoid paraffin wax candles and choose all-natural candles instead which do not release chemicals into the air.

The theory behind these types of candles eliminating odors is that they release negatively charged ions into the air, odors attach to positively charged ions and therefore the vegetable wax candle will neutralize them.

It should be noted that the typical candle made out of paraffin wax can still help to mask nasty toilet smells, but will not ‘eliminate’ them, plus they can be bad for your health.

You can also check this article and find the Benefits & Cons of Each, which to use Soy Vs Beeswax Candles?

How To Find The Source Of Bad Odor In Your Home

If you’ve got an overpowering smell in your home and you don’t know where it’s coming from, then you need to track down the source odor to eliminate it. 

We’ve listed some common sources of bad odor in your home to check if you are suffering from unwanted smells.

• Wet clothing – Avoid hanging wet clothes in bathrooms, these can build up with mold since they get exposed to steam from the shower.
• Check furniture – VOC’s can affect the smell of your furniture and cause bad odors, placing a scented candle made with vegetable wax or an air purifier near the furniture can help to get rid of the odor.
• Trash can – Although trash itself smells, the bin can also be the source of a bad smell with crumbs and spills building up over time! Wash your trash can.
• Pets – Hairs can often fall off your pet and bacteria can grow causing smells to build up in your furniture.
• Bedding – Bedding can be a huge source of unpleasant smells, it absorbs lots of body oils and dirt if you don’t wash them regularly.

How To Choose The Right Scented Candle 

When looking for normal candles, you will likely have a large pick of scents to choose from, the candle scent you pick is important if you want it to mask certain areas or suit different places in your home. 

We’ve listed some factors to consider when choosing a scented candle for your home below.

• Purpose – If you’re buying types of candles with the intent of covering bad odors then you will want to consider buying candles which have a stronger more powerful scent like vanilla rather than scents.
• Season – Consider the season if you are struggling to pick scented candles, if it’s the summer or spring you might want to opt for more floral scented candles to brighten up the mood. Whether during the fall or winter, scents like pumpkin spice or cinnamon tend to be more comforting.
• Room – The place you’re going to put your scented candles is very important to consider. The room should be matching the candle, for example in the kitchen choose a food-scented candle and for the bedroom a calming scent like lavender oil.

You may check out the list of Best Selling Candle Scents.

Alternative Ways To Get Rid Of Odor In Your Home

If you don’t want to use precious candles to get rid of odor in your home, there are plenty of other alternatives to choose from which can help to eliminate odor rather than just mask it. 

We’ve listed some ways down below.

Use An Air Purifier 

Air purifiers are your best bet for filtering air and getting rid of odor, these purifiers contain HEPA filters and charcoal filters, which help to absorb bad particles and germs which are in the air as well as absorb bad odor thanks to charcoal.

Try Natural Alternatives 

There are many natural alternatives you can use to absorb bad odors in your home, for example, leaving a dish of coffee grounds or baking soda can help to absorb scent, and dabbing vanilla essence can also help to mask odors. 

Make Your Own Air Freshener

If you want to avoid masking odors or putting chemicals into your air inside then make your own air freshener at home! To make a natural air freshener you can simply use a teaspoon of baking soda, around ten drops of essential oil and a cup of water.

Frequently Asked Questions About Scented Candles & Odor 

Do scented candles pollute your home?

If scented candles are made from paraffin wax they can pollute your home since they are derived from petroleum and release chemicals when burned.

Can air fresheners release harmful chemicals in your home?

Yes, some air fresheners can release chemicals in your home and contribute to VOC’s build-up in the air.

Is a candle flame dangerous?

Candle flames are a fire hazard, they can get knocked over through drafts and the wind or if you leave them burning for too long they can cause glasses to explode if they get too hot.

What are odorless candles made from?

Odorless candles tend to be made from vegetable wax, not paraffin wax, therefore they do not contribute to air pollution.

Last Words

Overall, scented candles can eliminate odor if you choose candles which are made with vegetable wax instead of paraffin wax, paraffin wax candles tend to mask odor rather than eliminate it.

Burning natural candles is also better for your health and contributes to less air pollution inside.

Find out here the 6 Benefits Of Lavender Candles that may help you find an alternative to eliminating odor.