When you find that must-have signature scent you've been looking for, sometimes you want to buy the entire inventory so you will never run out. (We've been there.) But then you stop and wonder... do candles lose their scent?

So... do candles lose their scent?

Whether or not a candle will lose its smell is based on quite a few different factors including: type of wax, type of fragrance, fragrance load, age and storage. Our Hotel Lobby Candles are 100% soy wax and have the highest concentration of fragrance oils that our wax can hold. This is to ensure your HLC experience is always five-star with the exquisite fragrances you've come to expect. But in general, yes - some candles eventually do lose their scent. However it usually takes more than six months to a year for this to happen.

How long do candles last?

The answer to this question is a bit complicated. Of course the first thing to note is if you have burned your candle or not. Most candle manufacturers will note their burn time in the product details. Here at Hotel Lobby Candle, our burn time is 65 hours. If your candle is lit, it will only last around as long as the manufacturer's burn time suggests.

As far as how long your candle will last unlit - it depends on the type of wax, fragrance, and other ingredients in your candle. However, most candles generally last around 12 to 16 months when properly stored.

Why does my candle not smell?

There are many factors at play when determining why your candle no longer smells. First of all, it could be because you are burning the candle in too large of a space. Try moving the candle to a smaller room like a bathroom for a while and see if that impacts the smell. Another reason your candle seems to no longer have a scent is because you have become nose blind to it. If you smell the same scent for too long, it will no longer stand out as much. Try burning a different candle for a while and then switch back to see if your candle still has a fragrance.

If neither of those work, it might be because you're not burning your candle long enough. You should always burn your candle for 3-4 hours on the first burn to make sure the wax pool reaches all the way to the edge of the vessel. This will also aid in proper long term candle care.

Still no smell? Try putting your candle very close to your nose (while it's unlit and cooled of course) to see if you can still smell it. The cold throw should give off a slight fragrance. This ensures there is still fragrance in your candle. Last but not least, if none of those things work, the fragrance might have degraded from your candle over time.

If you're concerned about lighting or burning your candle, you might want to try a candle warmer. But whichever method of use you prefer, we recommend you use your candles within 1 year of purchase for the best experience.