Essential oils are highly volatile and can dissipate quickly during the candle-making process, especially when exposed to heat. That means by the time your candle cools and is ready to burn, much of the scent may already be gone — resulting in a candle that smells great in the jar, but doesn’t actually scent your space when burned.

Some essential oils don’t burn cleanly or evenly in wax, and others can produce an off-putting or even smoky aroma when lit. Because they don’t blend consistently, candles made with only essential oils can be unpredictable and difficult to replicate.

Many essential oils are extremely expensive due to how much plant material is required to extract a small amount of oil. For example, it takes over 250 pounds of lavender to make just one pound of lavender essential oil. To use only essential oils in candles would make them cost-prohibitive for most customers and unsustainable long-term.

Not all fragrances exist in essential oil form. Scents like vanilla, sea salt, or certain florals (like lilac) aren’t available as essential oils — or are incredibly rare and difficult to work with. By using naturally derived fragrance oils, we can offer a wider variety of beautiful, unique, and consistent scents — while still being conscious of safety and purity.