Burning candles, one scent or many...?
By gapeach65
@gapeach65 (805)
United States
May 13, 2007 11:53am CST
I have a lot of allergies, and even strong scents can irritate my nose. When I go into my mother-in-laws house, she always has candles burning. She lives with us, in her own little suite in the back of our house. So she has a separate bedroom and the rest is more one open space. She keeps one scented candle at her table and one on her end table. Usually the two scents don't mix, like sometimes she has a berry or melon scent and a vanilla one. The vanilla scent itself makes me sick, but paired with something else is awful. She often complains of headaches, I told her it's probably the different candle scents. She won't change her ways because she has heard that vanilla can get rid of some foods smells when cooking. It doesn't work, it just smells like the two candles and whatever she cooked. If I start to go in and the smell hits me in the face, I'll go in, tell her what I need to say and leave (I don't want a headache from it). When you're burning candles in your home, do you burn more than one scent at a time or just one scent?
6 people like this
19 responses
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
13 May 07
My husband used to burn candle and incense when he prays. The whole house smell of
rose as he uses rose scented incense. It smells sweet but don't know what is the rational behind burning candles together with incense during prayer. We are christians.
3 people like this
@lightningMD (5931)
• United States
13 May 07
I only burn one scent at a time. I either burn vanilla or berry scents. Flowered scents make me sick. Cinnamon is a good scent for me too. Even some laundry detergents irritate my allergies.
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
20 Jun 07
I have entered homes that have strong scented candles burning. I always tell the person I am visiting that I cannot tolerate strong scents and have them snuff the candle. They can always burn it when I leave.
I only burn one scent at a time. Berry scents are good and do not bother my sinuses. They do cover up some of the odors, but not entirely.
@dfollin (24172)
• United States
14 Jun 07
To help prevent allergy problems with candles,burn soy candles. Go to www.cwlight.com/rdmf If you like making them.
@Angelwhispers (8978)
• United States
14 May 07
Peach first off I want to say that I think it is wonderful that you have made room for your mother in law in your home. I only burn one scent at a time, as I have had the experience of two scents burning and just not complimenting each other also. For removing cooking odors I have found the Renewzit odor eliminator the best. It really works and leaves just a faint clean smell in the air. You might could buy her a bottle and ask her just to try it.
1 person likes this
@Angelwhispers (8978)
• United States
7 Jun 07
Thanks again my Friend for the BR :))))
1 person likes this
@daycarepal (1998)
• United States
13 May 07
I'm a big candle lover!! I think if you are burning candles in a smaller space, the candles should be the same scent. I burn candles every night. In the living room I'll burn one scent and in the dining room another scent. But the rooms are pretty big so there really isn't a super strong smell.
I don't like vanilla candles. Like you, they give me a headache. It seems to be such a strong scent. I'm kind of picky on my scents. I only like the fruity type scents.
1 person likes this
@Darkwing (21583)
•
14 May 07
I scent my own candles, and mix my oils as to my preferences. To my mind, vanilla can be used with several other fragrances; it's not a smell on its own. In fact, it smells quite good with sandalwood or patchouli. However, some ready-scented sandals can be a bit strong, and I would suggest that if she hasn't already tried a different brand, your mother-in-law does so, until she finds one which isn't quite as nauseating.
Scented candles aren't everybody's cup of tea, and if your mother-in-law and you get reactions from them, then maybe she should refrain from burning them and replace them with air fresheners? These would do the same job of neutralising cooking smells etc. and wouldn't waft through the rooms on smoke. In fact, the smoke may be more of a problem than the scent of the candles. Maybe she needs to find something which has a low-smoking wick.
I hope I may have been of some help, and that you can find a way to beat the allergies you both have. Brightest Blessings.
@lisado (1227)
• United States
17 Jun 07
I don't burn candles often, but when I do they're always the same scent. I have to be careful since my nose is so sensitive. I've smelled a chocolate cake one that was great, also one that smelled like iced carrot cake. Usually, though, I burn cinnamon apple ones or spiced vanilla. I do get headaches if they are overly strong or flowery. Lavender and such make me sneeze something awful!
1 person likes this
@Bizziebod (3497)
•
26 May 07
Hi, I'm not really a scented candle person, but I do like incense stick but only ever burn one fragrance at a time as like you say it can give you a headache. A friend of mine starts sneezing like mad when she smells strong fragrances like this too!
1 person likes this
@whyaskq (7523)
• Singapore
14 May 07
I don't burn candles or any scent at home. I am allergic to any scents, especially strong perfumes and even air freshener.
However, there was once I was given a candle, lavender scent. I have never liked lavender. The candle was rather cute and nice, so I just put it on my desk and it smells nice. It was the first time I like the smell of lavender. But, I do not light it. The smell is gone now.
@Rickrocks8 (1751)
• United States
14 May 07
I was once a partylite lady and I think the reason it smells so bad to you is because you have allergies. At any given show I could burn 5 - 9 different scents. It never smelled bad. Maybe its it the type of candle? I later found out I am very allergic to candles. I love them but I really cant burn them. I was so pick during that year I sold partylite. Good luck!
1 person likes this
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
13 May 07
I don't burn candles as I think they are dangerous and I hate the smokey smell when you put them out. I always have simmering potpourri liquids going 24/7. I get get a bottle in the dollar store and it lasts at least a week. Thats a lot cheaper than candles. I have vanilla scented simmering right now on a little cup warmer.
1 person likes this
@awonderfullife (2893)
• United States
13 May 07
Ugh, scented candles always give me a headache and often make it hard for me to breathe. I usually burn unscented candles. They look just as pretty and don't make me ill. Once in a while I'll burn a vanilla candle (the ones from Target don't bother me). The one scented candle that I LOVE and doesn't bother me at all is the Seda France (Japanses Quince). I LOVE those candles, although they are expensive! I would NEVER mix candle scents-- sounds confusing and a guaranteed headache for me!
1 person likes this
@Michele21 (3093)
• United States
13 May 07
I stick with one for the same reason you said. I don't think any two would really go good together =) And vanilla gives me headaches too so I never have candles with vanilla. I would definitely agree that your mother-in-law is giving herself headaches with mixing the scents. I have to stick with one =)
1 person likes this
@sojournseeker (1244)
• United States
6 Dec 07
It depends on the amount of 'extra money' (and really what is that) that allows for me at the end of the month to purchase a few different scents or all the same scent. If I burn for effect, a romantic interlude or upbeat energetic workout scent I often mix different berries; lemon and limes; vanilla with strawberry OR Orange; pine with mulberry OR ginger with cinnamon. For holiday, lots of cinnamon, pine, butterscotch, spiced apple, apple pie and ginger peach cobbler.
@mycandlefarm (22)
• United States
8 Aug 07
I too have many allergies and most candles bothered my sinuses. Most candle wax is made from petroleum products. I found a company that makes all natural veggie/soy wax candles. I can burn them for hours and different scents in different rooms with no trouble for my nose. I also have asthma and the smoke from regular candles was bad for that. The new candles are virturally soot and smoke free. I looked these so much I threw out ALL my old candles and became a distributor for the new candles. If you would like more information visit my website at www.mycandlefarm.com.
