Our sense of smell is directly connected to our emotions. In fact, using a term coined by Dr. Rachel Herz, of Brown university, through olfactory-emotion translation, humans evolved to use emotions to navigate the world in the same way that animals use scents. Whereas animals respond directly to odors, humans make connections between odors and emotions and then use the emotions to interpret their surroundings. The scent and the emotion remain connected. You should be aware of this when choosing a fragrance for your candles.
For example, in the months after 9/11/2001, there was a distinctive odor in the air in New York City that emanated from the site of the collapsed World Trade Center. Whenever the odor wafted under the nose of New Yorkers, they were instantly aware of it and often experienced sensations of panic. Researchers from the Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia went to New York to study the odor. They too noticed the odor, and categorized it as a "complex mixture of chemicals that smelled rubbery, bitter, and sweet at the same time." The researchers found the odor unusual and distinctive, yet they had no emotional reaction to it whatsoever. The difference was that the researchers' first encounter with the odor was part of an investigation; whereas native New Yorkers first smelled the odor during the terrorist attack.
As a second example, the smell of flowers is another candle fragrance that is usually connected with pleasant emotions. Perhaps it evokes memories of springtime or summer. Yet some people dislike the aroma of flowers. Several people have reported that the first memory they have of smelling certain flowers was when they were children and a close relative had died; these people now find the scent of flowers unpleasant because it makes them remember that sad time in their life.
The third example is something that many people have experienced, which is a strong aversion to the smell of a certain food based on one incident. Dr Herz discusses that, as a child, she contracted stomach flu at the same time that she first tasted pepperoni pizza. She intellectually knew that the pizza was not the problem, but for the longest time she could not tolerate the smell of pepperoni. I experienced a similar incident with yogurt. I remember how excited that I was to try yogurt. But something didn't sit right with me. After that, I couldn't tolerate the smell of yogurt. It took over 20 years for me to consider eating it once more.
What all this means to you the candle maker is that you may get unexpected reactions to the scents that you choose for your candles. If you are making candles for yourself, then you only have your preferences to consider. If you are making candles for others as gifts, then you may want to discover if those people have any scent aversions. Do not be offended if an aroma that you consider to be fabulous is not well-received by others.
There are no wrong or right scents for a candle. How a person responds to a smell is based on that person's emotions and experiences. Don't let others emotions interfere with your confidence as a capable candle maker.
Reference: The Scent of Desire, Discovering Our Enigmatic Sense of Smell, by Rachel Herz, 2007 William Morrow.
Mary Martha Deane is the Queen of Candle Making. She knows more about making candles than most people can imagine. She thinks that Candle Making is a fantastic hobby, both for those who consider themselves creative, as well as for those folks who don't yet know how creative they are. To learn more about candle fragrances, visit Candle Wax-Making Beautiful Candles.
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