Candles for Sensitive Noses: Why Unscented Is the Simple Choice

If strong smells bother you, the simplest candle is one with nothing added to it: no fragrance oil, no essential oil, no perfume of any kind. Candles for sensitive noses are not a special category with special ingredients. They are candles made from wax and a wick, and little else. This guide explains what to look for on the label, what "fragrance-free" really means, what an unscented candle smells like when it burns, and how to enjoy candlelight when you would rather not smell it.

What candles are best for sensitive noses?

Candles with no added fragrance: labelled unscented or fragrance-free, with a short ingredient list that names the wax. If the only ingredients are wax and a wick, there is no perfume in the candle to fill the room.

Most candles sold today are scented, and the fragrance is the reason they exist. That is fine if you enjoy it. But if you are someone who notices scent quickly, or simply prefers a room to smell of itself, a candle without fragrance gives you the part of a candle that matters most: the light. We wrote more about that idea in Unscented Candles: Why We Make Them and What They're For.

What does fragrance-free mean on a candle?

It means no fragrance oil and no essential oil has been added to the wax. On candles, "fragrance-free" and "unscented" are generally used for the same thing.

A few phrases sound similar but mean something different:

• "Lightly scented" or "subtle scent": fragrance has been added, just less of it.
• "Naturally scented" or "scented with essential oils": the fragrance comes from plant oils, but it is still fragrance.
• "Synthetic fragrance free": no synthetic fragrance, which does not rule out essential oils.
• "Unscented" or "fragrance-free": nothing added for scent at all.

If you want a candle that does not perfume the room, the last two words are the ones to look for.

Are essential oil candles unscented?

No. A candle with essential oils is a scented candle. Essential oils are concentrated plant fragrances, and they are added to wax for exactly that reason: to scent a room.

That is not a judgement on them, simply a matter of definition. For a sensitive nose the question is not where a scent comes from, but whether one has been added. A candle made only of wax and a wick has none.

Do fragrance-free candles smell of anything?

Very little. What you may notice is a faint, soft note of the wax itself, close to the candle, mostly just after it is lit or just after it is put out.

That note is the wax, not something anyone has added, and it does not travel across a room the way a perfumed candle does. Our pillar candles are made from a 50/50 blend of beeswax and soy wax, so their character is quiet and warm, and you notice it only when you are close. Once the candle is burning steadily, most people notice the light rather than any smell.

How do you read a candle label if you are sensitive to scent?

Look for three things: the word unscented or fragrance-free, a named wax, and no mention of fragrance, parfum or essential oils.

1. The front of the label. "Unscented" or "fragrance-free", stated plainly.
2. The ingredient list. A good label names every wax it contains. Ideally the list is short: wax and wick.
3. The small print. Words such as "fragrance", "parfum" or "essential oil", or substance names such as linalool or limonene, usually indicate that scent has been added.
4. The scent name. If a candle is called after a place, a flower or a mood, it is almost always scented.

"Unscented" tells you nothing about the wax, so if that matters to you as well, our guide to paraffin-free candles explains how to read the rest of the label.

Can you enjoy candlelight if strong smells bother you?

Yes. Choose a candle without added fragrance, and look after the wick and the flame. A calm flame and a careful ending are part of a quiet candle.

• Trim the wick to 0.5 to 1 cm before every burn. A wick at the right length keeps the flame small and steady. Our guide on how to trim a candle wick shows how.
• Keep it out of draughts. A candle in moving air flickers; a still spot keeps the flame calm.
• Burn for up to 4 hours at a time, and at least two hours the first time, so the wax melts evenly.
• Put it out gently. A snuffer, or dipping the wick into the melted wax, ends the flame without blowing air across the wax. See how to put out a candle.

What if scented candles give you a headache?

Some people notice a headache around strong scents, and the reasons differ from person to person. If it happens often, ask your GP.

We are a candle brand, not a doctor, so we will not tell you what causes it or what will prevent it. What we can say is what is in our candles and what is not. If you want to read more about the question itself, see Why Do Scented Candles Give Me a Headache?

Why we make only unscented candles

Because we think a candle's work is light, not perfume. We did not design our candles for a particular nose; we designed them for a room that already smells of its own life: cooking, coffee, flowers, the people in it.

LLIOR is a Dutch candle brand that makes unscented candles from a 50/50 blend of beeswax and soy wax, with a cotton wick and no paraffin, added fragrance or dye.

Our Four Tapers are made from soy wax and stand 27 cm tall, for the table or an evening. Our Signature Candle is 20 cm tall, 8 cm across and weighs 800 g, with a measured burn time of 180 to 200 hours. Every candle in the collection is unscented.

Frequently asked questions

What is a good candle for someone who does not like scented candles?

An unscented or fragrance-free candle: one made only of wax and a wick, with no fragrance oil or essential oil. It gives light without perfuming the room.

Is fragrance-free the same as unscented?

On candles, generally yes. Both mean no fragrance or essential oil has been added. Neither term tells you which wax is used, so check the label for that too.

Do unscented candles smell at all?

Very little. You may notice a faint note of the wax itself close to the candle, mostly when it is lit or just put out. It is not an added scent and does not fill the room.

Do LLIOR candles contain essential oils?

No. Every LLIOR candle is unscented. Our pillar candles are made from 50/50 beeswax and soy wax with a cotton wick, and our Four Tapers from soy wax, with no paraffin, added fragrance, essential oils or dye.

Are unscented candles suitable for people who are sensitive to smells?

They contain no added fragrance, so there is no perfume in them to notice. Whether a candle suits you is personal; if you have a health concern about scent, ask your GP.