When you invest in a premium candle, you want it to do more than just look pretty on the coffee table — you want it to fill the room with incredible fragrance. That’s where scent throw comes in. Whether you love warm, spicy blends like Tobacco Royale (Type) or fresh, citrusy scents, understanding and improving scent throw will help you get the most out of every burn.
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What is Scent Throw?
Scent throw is simply how far and how strongly a candle’s fragrance spreads. There are two main types:
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Cold Throw – The fragrance your candle gives off when it’s unlit. It’s what you smell when you open the lid or sniff the wax.
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Hot Throw – The fragrance your candle gives off while it’s burning. This is the “room-filling” aroma most people are after.
💡 A candle can have a great cold throw but a weak hot throw — or vice versa — depending on the wax blend, fragrance load, wick type, and how it’s burned.
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Tips for Maximizing Your Candle’s Scent Throw
1️⃣ Give It a Perfect First Burn
The first burn sets the foundation for the rest of your candle’s life. Let the wax melt all the way to the edges of the jarbefore extinguishing it (usually 2–3 hours). This creates an even melt pool that releases fragrance evenly in future burns.
2️⃣ Trim Your Wick
Before each burn, trim the wick to about ¼ inch. A wick that’s too long will burn too hot, which can burn off fragrance oils too quickly.
3️⃣ Burn in the Right Room Size
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Small rooms → Almost any quality candle will fill the space.
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Medium rooms → Choose stronger fragrances with a proven hot throw.
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Large/open rooms → Use 2 candles at opposite ends for even coverage.
4️⃣ Avoid Drafty Areas
Fans, vents, and open windows disturb the flame and can cause uneven melting, which reduces scent throw. Keep your candle in a stable, draft-free spot.
5️⃣ Don’t Overburn
Stick to a maximum of 4 hours per burn. Overheating the wax can degrade the fragrance oils, making the scent weaker over time.
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Final Thoughts
Great scent throw comes down to quality + technique. Use these tips to get the best performance from your candles, and you’ll enjoy rich, room-filling fragrance from first light to last flicker.
🔥 Want to make your candles last even longer? Read our Candle Care 101 for more burn tips.