Hot Throw vs Cold Throw: What They Mean
Cold throw is how a candle smells when it is not lit, sniffed in the jar or across a table. Hot throw is how it smells when it is burning and the melted wax is releasing fragrance into the room. One candle can be strong at one and gentle at the other, which is why a candle that smells wonderful in the shop can disappoint at home.
Cold throw
Cold throw comes from fragrance sitting in solid wax at room temperature. You smell it when you take the lid off or pick the candle up. It is concentrated, close to your nose, and it is the only thing you can test before buying. It tells you what the scent is. It does not tell you how far it will travel.
Hot throw
Hot throw comes from the pool of melted wax. Warm wax releases fragrance much faster than solid wax, and it spreads through the room on the air the flame moves around. Hot throw is what you are buying a candle for, and it depends on more than the scent itself: the size of the melt pool, how long the candle has been lit, the size of the room and whether there is a draft.
Why the two can be so different
Fragrance oils are blends of ingredients that evaporate at different temperatures. Some notes are loud at room temperature and fade when heated. Others barely register in the jar and open up once the wax melts. Wax type matters too. Soy wax tends to give a softer hot throw than paraffin, and some people find it smells more natural for the same reason. The amount of fragrance oil, called the fragrance load, sets the upper limit for both. Our candles use 6%, a normal level for soy.
How to judge a candle's hot throw
Light it in a medium room with the door closed and let it burn for an hour, long enough for the pool to spread to the edges. Leave the room for ten minutes so your nose resets, then walk back in. What you smell in the first few seconds is the hot throw. Judging it in the first fifteen minutes, or while sitting next to it, will make almost any candle seem weak.
Getting a better hot throw
Let the pool reach the edges of the jar on every burn. Keep the wick trimmed to about a quarter of an inch. Move the candle away from open windows and air vents. Match the candle to the room: one 9 oz candle suits a bedroom or bathroom, while a big open-plan space may need two. If the pool is full, the room is small and you still cannot smell it, read why your candle does not smell for the less common causes.
Frequently asked questions
Is a strong cold throw a sign of a good candle?
It is a sign of a strong scent in the jar. It does not guarantee a strong hot throw. The only real test is burning it.
Which has a better hot throw, soy or paraffin?
Paraffin usually throws more strongly. Soy is softer, which many people prefer in small rooms and bedrooms.
Does the wick affect hot throw?
Yes. A wick that is too small makes a small pool and a weak throw. A wick that is too long burns hot and smoky. Trimming to about a quarter of an inch keeps it in the right range.
Which of your scents throw the most?
The warm and evergreen ones: Fresh Balsam, Comfort Spice and Cinnamon & Vanilla. Clean Cotton and Sea Breeze are lighter by design. The scent guide describes all 14.
Every candle in the shop is the same 9 oz soy candle in your choice of 14 scents. See all the labels.