Explained: What You Should Know About Fragrance Notes

With a seemingly endless selection of fragrances to choose from, it's no wonder shopping for the perfect scented candle can become overwhelming. To make sure you get just what your home (and nose) desires, keep these tips in mind for selecting and enjoying the ideal scented candle.

 

Fragrance notes are the different scents that come together to create a specific fragrance. Most fragrances have three main notes — top, middle, and bottom notes.  When blended correctly, all of these notes work together to create the unique aroma of a particular scent.

Top Notes

Top notes are the scents that you'll notice right away when you light your candle. They're usually the most volatile and fleeting, meaning they'll evaporate relatively quickly. Examples of top notes might include citrus, fruits or herbal scents, like bergamot or lavender.

Middle Notes

Middle notes, also known as heart notes, are the scents that become more noticeable after the top notes start to fade. They're typically more well-rounded and make up the bulk of the candle's fragrance. Examples of middle notes might include floral, gourmand or spiced scents, like jasmine, sugar and cinnamon.

Bottom Notes

Bottom notes are the scents that linger the longest and provide the foundation for the candle's fragrance. They're usually the heaviest and most long-lasting, and can help balance out the other scents in the candle. Examples of bottom notes might include woody or musky scents, like sandalwood or patchouli.

When you're choosing a candle, it's a good idea to pay attention to the fragrance notes to get a sense of what kind of scent experience you'll be in for. Some candles might have a mix of different fragrance notes, while others might focus on one particular note. Ultimately, it all comes down to personal preference and what kind of mood or atmosphere you're trying to create with your candle.