Ever Wonder What a Fragrance Note Is?
Fragrance notes explained by one of our favorite candle companies - LAFCO! Learn what fragrance notes mean and how to pick a candle based off of them.
When you breathe in the scent of your favorite fragrance, what you smell is actually a combination of different fragrances rather than a single aroma. Fragrance used in perfumery, aromatherapy, and other applications is made up of distinct layers known as “notes”.
These notes are divided into three separate elements:
Top notesMiddle notes (heart)
Base notes
Top notes are also known as opening or head notes because they are the first ones you’ll notice. These notes are also the most volatile – they come on strong but fade fast, though not completely. Though they fade fairly quickly, top notes are essential because they represent your first impression – the top notes are what drive your instinctive decision about whether you like the fragrance or not. Common top notes used in fragrance include citrus (like orange, bergamot, or lemon), light fruits (like berries and grapefruit), and fresh herbs (like lavender, basil, and sage).
Middle notes are also known as heart notes because they make up the heart of the fragrance. Once the top notes fade, the middle notes become more noticeable – these make up between 40% and 80% of the final fragrance. Middle notes are often made up of a smooth combination of fruit or floral scents like Lemon Verbena or Citrus Berry.
After the top notes fade and middle notes have appeared and matured, what’s left is the base notes that appear and hold the fragrance together. Base notes make up 10% to 25% of the final fragrance but they blend with the middle notes to create a deeper, more full-bodied fragrance. These notes make a lasting impression that can linger for hours after the top notes have dissipated. Common base notes include sandalwood, vanilla, amber, patchouli, and musk.
These notes are combined into fragrance families. The top, middle, and bottom notes are perfectly balanced to ensure a pleasant experience with each and every burn of your LAFCO candles.Shop for your favorite new candle here.
XOXO,