It sounds logical. Pour more scent oil into the wax and the candle should smell stronger. But fragrance in candles does not work quite like that. Every wax has a limit, safety rules set a ceiling, and the wick and jar matter as much as the oil. Here is what really decides how strong a candle smells, and why "more" can make a candle worse.

How Much Fragrance in Candles Is Too Much?

Makers talk about fragrance load, which means how much scent oil is in the wax. It is measured as a share of the wax's weight. A 10% load in a 100g candle means 10g of oil.

Each wax can only hold so much. Supplier Nature's Garden explains that going past the wax maker's limit can cause a poor burn. The oil can also seep out, so the candle looks like it is sweating.

Why does my candle look wet on top?

One possible cause is too much oil for the wax to hold. The extra scent works its way to the surface. It looks oily, and the candle may not burn evenly.

Who Sets the Rules on Candle Scent Oil?

There is a second limit, and it is about safety, not looks. The International Fragrance Association (IFRA) publishes the IFRA Standards. These ban some ingredients, limit others and set rules for the rest. IFRA says its members make around 80% of the world's fragrance by volume.

Limits change with the type of product. CandleScience, a candle supplies firm, notes that candles and wax melts sit in IFRA Category 12. That covers air care products not meant to touch skin.

The key point is that the maximum is a ceiling. CandleScience is clear it is not a target for the best result.

What Really Makes a Candle Smell Strong

A strong scent comes from balance. These all play a part:

• The wax blend and how well it holds oil
• A wick sized to melt the whole top
• The size of the room and any draughts
• How long your nose has been in the room

The tealights in our 2026 Advent Calendar use a soy paraffin wax blend with an 8% fragrance load. Each one also goes through our 45-point quality check. We chose that balance for rich scent from first light to last.

Quick answers

Does more fragrance oil make a candle stronger?

Not always. Every wax has a maximum it can hold. Past that point, oil can seep out and the candle can burn badly. Good balance with the wick and wax matters more.

What is IFRA in candles?

IFRA is the International Fragrance Association. Its Standards ban, limit or set rules for fragrance ingredients. Candles fall into IFRA Category 12, for air care products not meant for skin.

So next time a candle smells faint, it may not need more oil. It may need a longer burn or a smaller room. If you would like to try 12 balanced Christmas scents, the Glow Advent Calendar has two of each.

Related reading

• Strong Scented Candles Fading? Blame Your Nose, Not the Wax: why your nose stops noticing a scent.
• Soy vs Paraffin Candles: What the Research Actually Says: the wax debate, with the evidence.
• Sustainable Candles Start With Our 45-Point Quality Check: what we test before a candle leaves us.