Understanding Fragrance Notes
When it comes to candle fragrances, scents unfold in layers – each note comes together to create a beautiful aroma. Let me break down the different fragrance notes for you.
First up are the Top Notes. These are the fresh, bright scents that you smell right away when you first light the candle. Citrus, herbs, and light florals often make up the top notes. They give you that instant burst of scent when you light a candle. These scents are strong for the first 15 minutes.
Next up are the Middle or Heart Notes. These emerge after the top notes fade, creating the core of the fragrance. Floral scents like rose, spices like cinnamon, and fruits like peach tend to be heart notes. They add depth and richness to the scent. They tend to take over after 20 minutes and last around an hour.
Finally, we have the Base Notes. These ground the fragrance and linger the longest in the air. Base notes are often woodsy, musky, resinous, and deep. Sandalwood, vanilla, amber – these add staying power. Base notes linger after the candle is blown out.
The notes unfold over time when burning a candle. The bright top notes draw you in, the heart notes tell the story, and the base notes leave that trailing scent. Looking at fragrance descriptions, make sure to look for top, middle, and base notes to understand how the scent will evolve when diffused from the candle.
Below is a short list of scents and their note classifications. You can always Google search a scent and find their notes. Some notes can be in more than one category depending on how they are blended with the other notes.
| TOP NOTES | MIDDLE NOTES | BASE NOTES |
| Anise | Allspice | Amyris |
| Basil | Anise | Angelica Root |
| Bay Laurel | Bay | Balsam |
| Bergamot | Bergamot | Benzoin |
| Cypress | Black Pepper | Cedarwood |
| Eucalyptus | Blue Tansy | Coffee |
| Fennel | Bois de Rose | Cumin |
| Fir Needle | Cajeput | Cypress |
| Fragonia | Camphor | Frankincense |
| Galbanum | Cananga | Ginger |
| Grapefruit | Cannabis | Labdanum |
| Hemlock Spruce | Caraway | Musk (Dark) |
| Ho Leaf | Cardamom | Myrrh |
| Holy Basil | Carrot Seed | Oakmoss |
| Kunzea | Cassia | Olibanum |
| Laurel Leaf | Catnip | Oud |
| Lavender | Chamomile | Patchouli |
| Lemon | Cilantro | Rock Rose |
| Lemongrass | Coriander | Sandalwood |
| Lime | Cinnamon | Spikenard |
| Mandarin | Citronella | Tobacco |
| Melissa | Clary Sage | Tonka Bean |
| Myrtle | Clove | Vanilla |
| Orange | Cumin | Vetiver |
| Peppermint | Cypress | Ylang Ylang |
| Petitgrain | Dill Seed | |
| Pine | Eucalyptus | |
| Rosalina | Fennel | |
| Sage | Fir Needle | |
| Scotch Pine | Geranium | |
| Silver Fir | Ginger | |
| Spearmint | Gurjum Balsam | |
| Spike Lavender | Hemp | |
| Spruce | Hinoki | |
| Tangerine | Hops | |
| Tea Tree | Hyssop | |
| Tuberose | Jasmine | |
| Tulsi | Juniper | |
| White Fir | Lavender | |
| Wintergreen | Lemon Balm | |
| Yuzu | Linden Blossom | |
| Marjoram | ||
| Melissa | ||
| Myrrh | ||
| Myrtle | ||
| Neroli | ||
| Nutmeg | ||
| Oregano | ||
| Palmarosa | ||
| Palo Santo | ||
| Parsley | ||
| Pimento | ||
| Rose | ||
| Rosemary | ||
| Rosewood | ||
| Sage | ||
| Tea Tree | ||
| Thyme | ||
| Violet | ||
| Yarrow | ||
| Ylang Ylang |
This article is for information purposes only. Please click here to read the legal disclaimers.
The information contained in this article is general information based on publically accessible data from various sources on the internet. Information can differ from source to source and it is the reader’s responsibility to verify and information before adding it to their candle-making business.