How do we create such realistic fragrances? (Hint: It’s not magic… But it’s close)

Ever lit a candle and found yourself suddenly transported to a cozy log cabin? Or a beach at golden hour, waves crashing and salt in the air? Yeah, same. It’s one of those quiet miracles of good candle making — capturing the true-to-life essence of a place, a memory, even a season — and pouring it into wax.

But how exactly do we get a candle to smell like a cabin in the woods or a hot cross bun still warm from the oven?

Let’s demystify the process — just a little.

1. It Starts With the Nose

Every great candle starts with scent inspiration. At The Richmond Candle Co., we’re constantly sniffing the air (in a non-creepy way) for real-world experiences we want to capture: the cedar panels of a yoga studio, the delicate hint of spice in a baked hot cross bun, or the mentholated sonata you breathe from the crushed leaves of a eucalyptus tree.

From there, it’s about building a scent story, layering top, middle, and base notes that work together in harmony — just like a good perfume.

2. Fragrance Oils: Nature Meets Chemistry

We use premium, cruelty-free fragrance oils — some made from natural essential oils, some created in labs — blended for complexity and safety. Synthetic doesn't mean soulless and it doesn't mean danger. In fact, some of the most convincing "natural" smells (think rain on concrete or warm leather) can only be mimicked with a little chemical wizardry. Synthetic fragrance we use adheres to strict guidelines from the IFRA and RIFM so you can be assured of their safety.

These blends are meticulously crafted to smell not just pleasant, but recognizable. Nostalgic. Real.

3. The Wax Test: Because Not All Scents Survive Fire

Here’s where it gets tricky. A fragrance might smell like heaven in the bottle, but when it hits molten wax? Different story. Heat changes everything.

That’s why we test each blend rigorously in our 100% natural soy wax. We adjust concentrations, swap out clashing notes, and sometimes scrap entire blends if they don't pass the burn test. It’s a little heartbreaking, honestly. But necessary.

We’re chasing balance: bold, but not overpowering. Present, but not cloying. We want you to walk into a room and feel the candle before you even see it.

4. Time, Patience, and a Slight Scent Obsession

Scent development takes time. (Ask us about the months we spent perfecting our Aspen Apothecary range of fragrances — we had many sleepless nights until it was done!)

There’s blending, curing, burning, re-blending, and the occasional existential crisis. But it’s worth it, because when someone lights one of our candles and says, “This smells exactly like the nature reserve I love to walk through,” we know we’ve done our job.

TL;DR: Realistic candles aren’t an accident. They’re the result of craft, chemistry, and a frankly obsessive attention to scent detail. So the next time one of our candles whisks you away — just know, we planned it that way 😁