When you’re looking for the perfect scented candle, it’s important to understand the different types of fragrances that are available and how to identify them. You should also have a good idea of what you personally like in a candle. With so many scented soy candles on the market, it can be hard to know which one is right for you. But don’t worry, I’m here to help!
In this article, I’ll give you some tips on how to understand fragrance notes and what to look out for when your shopping for candles online.
What are fragrance notes and why do they matter? We see them on every candle, but what do they mean. Fragrances are split into 3 categories. The top notes, middle (heart) notes, and base (bottom) notes.
The top notes are what you smell first and the fastest to go. These will most likely be fresh and light scents like citrus, floral and fresh. These notes are what the candle first smells like when you pick it up and get a sniff of for the first time. Top notes last for about 15 minutes on the first burn.
The middle notes are what you smell next. These basically make up the “body” of the candle, about 40-80%. Since your candle is going to give off the aroma of these notes here, I suggest to pay close attention to them when looking at candles!
The base notes are the last ones you smell, typically at the end of your candle. These are typically rich and complex scents that give a round and balanced fragrance to your candle, like amber and vanilla.
Okay, we know what notes make up a candle, now what?
*Use this fragrance wheel to guide you during your shopping experience. Take a moment to look at the different types of notes and scents that there are.
When you’re shopping for a candle, keep all 3 notes in mind. The top notes last briefly, middle notes make up the candle, and base notes will be the background linger.
For instance, if you’re not a fan of woody scents, avoid leather and smokey in your middle and top notes. If you like sweet scents, look out for sugar and vanilla in the base and top notes.
Another bonus tip to help you find your perfect scented candle, is to look how the scents are combined on the wheel.
Fragrances that are next to each other on the wheel will have well blended and in harmony fragrances. Fragrances complementary of each other will complement one another and have a complex fragrance
I hope you found this little guide useful, happy candle shopping!