Hi Bethea, thanks for your honest review. Pure essential oil candles generally tend to have more of a subtle scent as the fragrances aren’t made artificially to optimize scent throw, but rather, every oil has a different flash point and burn off differently depending on their each individual characteristics. An overwhelming portion of candles on the market is now scented with a blend of fragrance and essential oils because of this, but that takes away from a clean candle. We recommend keeping the candle lit for a longer burn for the scent to permeate and you should definitely be able to smell the difference. If you’re still having problems, feel free the email me at ohello@evenkeelsoap.com and I’ll be happy to troubleshoot it with you!