General Wax & Candle Company

The difference in burning duration between a scented candle and an unscented candle are so close that it is generally not taken into consideration. Provided that the scent used is specifically produced for candles, the amount employed in a properly manufactured candle (around 2% in most cases) is not enough to affect the burning duration. Some scented candles however may be made with heavy essential oils. The heavy oils may affect the burn duration of the candle in that they may clog the wick, thus constricting the quantity of liquefied wax, which may be drawn up into the flame. This may give the impression of the candle burning longer, however less wax is actually consumed and the flame may be smaller and dimmer. In some cases the oil clogs the wick so much that after a while the candle ceases to burn at all. It would be difficult to conduct a scientifically valid experiment with candles that are bought off of a retail shelf. Very few candle manufacturers make scented and unscented versions of a particular style with the same formulation. General Wax manufactures two candles with the same process and very similar formulations. Our 3" x 6" column candles are available in fluted White/Jasmine (part #840602) and smooth White/Unscented (part #820602). These candles weigh just under a pound and have a burn time of 135-145 hours. Many other factors are taken into consideration when obtaining the burn time on a candle. Ambient temperature, draft, burning practices, and many other minute details contribute to the amount of time a candle will burn. So basically, if both of the candles were made properly by the same process, they should both burn at the same rate. The same is true with the color of a candle. Although in theory a black candle would be expected to burn faster than a white candle because black absorbs heat more readily than white, and the black wax should melt faster. However, the wick can only absorb so much wax at a time, so regardless of the color of the wax, the wick will "pump" the same amount of fuel into the flame of the candle.