BEHIND THE SCENTS:
2021 SPRING AND SUMMER FRAGRANCES
Brush back the curtain and go behind the scents for an insider look at eight new fragrances for Spring/Summer 2021.
The world has changed in the past year, and consumer habits certainly reflect the societal shift we’re all experiencing together. In this exploration of the driving themes behind this fragrance collection, you’ll pick up on a few common threads. Our connection to the natural world and the healing power of nature. The longing for adventure and escape. The comfort of indulging in the simplest luxuries.
But maybe these eight fragrances tell an entirely different story for you. One of the things that makes working with fragrance so exciting and special is the way a single scent can be so many different things to different people. Let our ideas and suggestions for each fragrance inspire you to create your own unique experience. Ready?
AT A GLANCE
Coconut is a classic scent for summer, but as you probably know if you’ve sampled a lot of coconut fragrances, it can be a difficult note to work with. It has a tendency to rely heavily on vanilla or can get a little chalky, particularly in soy wax.
Santal is a fragrance note with a bit of a cult following, thanks to the hugely popular Santal 33 from Le Labo. It’s derived from sandalwood and has a very similar character. We like to think of it as a luxury sandalwood scent--it definitely has a very high end vibe.
Combining these two notes, one a well-known classic and one a trendy go-getter, resulted in a gorgeous fragrance oil that was well worth the three modifications it took to get it just right.
BRANDING INSPIRATION
Our container choice and label design for Santal and Coconut takes inspiration from its summery yet luxurious character. We chose a clean, straightforward font on a white background to highlight the fragrance name, and love how the border of tropical foliage complements the design without taking over. If you’re considering other names for this fragrance, consider how your target market may react to the “Santal” part of the name. If it’s something they’re likely to recognize, you may want to carry it over to the new name in something like Beach Santal or Santal Sunset.
Alternative scent name ideas: Beach Santal, Sweet Amber and Coconut, Coconut and Blonde Woods
Love this label?
AT A GLANCE
Combining florals and earthy, woodsy notes is a fragrance trend that’s not going anywhere anytime soon. Lavender Driftwood captures the very best of this loved combination with a fresh, clean character. No one note takes over in this fragrance, rather, they blend together beautifully for a luxurious result. While some may put Lavender Driftwood in the “masculine” category, we think it has a truly universal appeal. More and more, it’s becoming less typical for fragrances to be identified as masculine or feminine and this is a great example of a scent that crosses over those boundaries.
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BRANDING INSPIRATION
Again, we kept it simple for this label design. (Sensing a theme here?) Tins are a wonderful container option--they travel well and come with lids, making them perfect for sets and scent samplers.
When considering alternate names for Lavender Driftwood, don’t be afraid to get creative and go all out. It’s a very conceptual scent that could fit with any number of different brandings and aesthetics. Think Midnight Lavender, Under the Moonlight, and Silent Shore as ideas to get you started.
Alternative scent name ideas: Midnight Lavender, Lavender Oasis, Ocean Driftwood
HIGHLIGHTS
Candle Safe: Yes
Soap Safe: Yes
Lotion Safe: Yes
Diffuser Base Compatible: Yes
Soy Performance:
Note Profile:
Top: Marine, Eucalyptus, Honeydew Melon, Green Leaves
Middle: Lavender, Sage
Base: Cedar, Amber, Benzoin, Cypress
AT A GLANCE
Palo Santo means “holy wood” or “wood of the saints,” and has been one of our most highly requested fragrances over the last few years. Popular in metaphysical and spiritual circles for quite some time, palo santo is said to have properties that clear negative energy and promote well-being. Even if you’re not so much a believer in its power to create a positive spiritual environment, the clean woodiness of this fragrance is widely appealing. And if your line focuses on wellness or the metaphysical, Palo Santo is a natural choice.
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BRANDING INSPIRATION
As you can probably tell, we have a penchant for clean, simple labels. When designing this label for Palo Santo, we again wanted to put the fragrance name front and center with a large, easy to read font. The White Nordic Ceramic Tumbler just might be one of our favorite containers; it has a modern, elegant look we didn’t want to cover up with a label, so we like the minimalism and simplicity of this one.
If Palo Santo is likely to be a desirable fragrance for your target market, and you plan to rename it, make sure that it’s still clear that this is a palo santo scent. Choose names that call back to it, like Sacred Wood, or even a name like Cleanse or Purify if your market is familiar with the properties of palo santo.
Alternative scent name ideas: Palo Santo Wood, Sacred Wood, Healing Wood
HIGHLIGHTS
Candle Safe: Yes
Soap Safe: Yes
Lotion Safe: Yes
Diffuser Base Compatible: Yes
Soy Performance:
Note Profile:
Top: Cardamom, Citrus
Middle: Palo Santo, Violet, Saffron
Base: Smoke, Wood, Sandalwood, Amber
AT A GLANCE
Sometimes, you smell a new fragrance and can’t quite put your finger on it. Not so with Fresh Cut Grass--this fragrance oil is true to its name. It also has a long development history. We’ve been working for years trying to land on a version of this scent that performs well in soy wax. Some versions were too floral to fit the bill, while others were beautiful when smelled out of the bottle but not so much while burning. Finally, Fresh Cut Grass became a reality.
This fragrance would be a perfect fit for lines or special collections that focus on memory or nostalgia. Hearken back to sunny days leaping through sprinklers on the front lawn; or waking to a bright Saturday morning buzzing with the sound of lawn mowers. Fresh Cut Grass takes you there!
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BRANDING INSPIRATION
For Fresh Cut Grass, you can’t go wrong with simple, clean, and green. This fragrance is true-to-life that we wanted to make its name the focus with a bold, easy-to-read font and a grassy green color. If you’re considering alternate name choices, we’d recommend names that still capture the authenticity and nostalgia of this fragrance. Think names like Summer Meadow, Green Grass, or Front Lawn.
Alternative scent name ideas: Green Grass, Green Meadow, Sweet Grass, Summer Meadow
HIGHLIGHTS
Candle Safe: Yes
Soap Safe: Yes
Lotion Safe: Yes
Diffuser Base Compatible: Yes
Soy Performance:
Note Profile:
Top: Citrus, Lemongrass
Middle: Grass, Green Leaves
Base: Sage, Moss
AT A GLANCE
Apple Peppercorn has an interesting development story. We gave the perfumers we work with free reign to create a unique fragrance that they’ve always wanted to try, but maybe didn’t have enough support for. We received some incredible submissions, but when we sampled what became Apple Peppercorn we knew we had something special.
We think you’ll agree once you get a chance to try this fragrance. It has a beautiful balance of fruity, green, and peppery notes--not to mention a strong hot and cold throw. If unique, out-of-the-box fragrances are on-brand for you, this is one you don’t want to miss.
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BRANDING INSPIRATION
Surprise! Another minimalist label design for Apple Peppercorn. This scent has a lot of possibilities as far as branding and design. You could lean in to the green, botanical aspect of the fragrance; the tart, bright fruitiness of the apple; or even highlight the uniqueness of the peppercorn. When considering alternate name choices, names like Sungold and Ivy, Apple and Arugula, or even a name like An Apple a Day if you want to have some fun with it!
Alternative scent name ideas: Apple and Ivy, Apples and Herbs, Sungold and Ivy
HIGHLIGHTS
Candle Safe: Yes
Soap Safe: Yes
Lotion Safe: Yes
Diffuser Base Compatible: Yes
Soy Performance:
Note Profile:
Top: Green Leaves, Green Floral
Middle: Apple, Peppercorn, Pear
Base: Spice, Light Musk, Nutmeg
AT A GLANCE
Ahh, neroli. Another fragrance note that seems to be everywhere these days! And we completely understand why. Frequently found in fine fragrance, neroli is derived from the blossoms of the bitter orange tree and has a sweet and distinctive aroma.
Neroli and White Jasmine is the happy accident of this fragrance launch. We originally briefed for a Meyer lemon blossom, but upon receiving this fragrance we were absolutely delighted with its very true-to-life neroli and jasmine notes.
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BRANDING INSPIRATION
Vertical-oriented labels are a trendy style we’ve been seeing more and more of. It’s definitely a fresh look! For this design, we couldn’t resist making use of Avery’s new rose gold, copper, gold, and silver elements. If you want some help designing a similar label, head over to avery.com/candlescience (and get 10% off your label orders, too).
Alternative scent name ideas: Night Blooming Jasmine, Neroli and Sweet Jasmine, White Neroli, Cape Jasmine
HIGHLIGHTS
Candle Safe: Yes
Soap Safe: Yes
Lotion Safe: Yes
Diffuser Base Compatible: Yes
Soy Performance:
Note Profile:
Top: Green Leaves, Petitgrain, Citrus
Middle: Neroli, Jasmine, Orange Blossom
Base: Powder, Patchouli
AT A GLANCE
If you’re a fan of sweet, sugary fragrances, we think you’ll adore the whimsical Pink Sugar Crystals. Pink Sugar Crystals is a rather sophisticated sugary scent, with all the sweet goodness that fans of this family of fragrances love. This is a delightful fragrance that you can have a lot of fun with!
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BRANDING INSPIRATION
This fragrance doesn’t take itself too seriously, so don’t lose that in your branding and label design. Those who gravitate towards this type of scent tend to have a love of the whimsical, so we wanted to reflect that in our container and label choice. We’re wild about how the design elements on the label coordinate with the Copper Electroplated Tumbler for a fun, eye-catching result.
If you’re thinking about alternate names, don’t shy away from the sweet, sugary aspect of Pink Sugar Crystals. Spun Sugar, Candy Floss, and Sugared Petals are some ideas to get you started!
Alternative scent name ideas: Sugared Petals, PInk Spun Sugar, Sugared Berry
HIGHLIGHTS
Candle Safe: Yes
Soap Safe: Yes
Lotion Safe: Yes
Diffuser Base Compatible: Yes
Soy Performance:
Note Profile:
Top: Black Currant, Strawberry, Raspberry
Middle: Sugar, Freesia
Base: Tonka, Vanilla, Light Musk
AT A GLANCE
Black Coral and Moss is a masculine take on an oceany, marine fragrance. We tested multiple versions of this scent concept--something dark, aquatic, and aromatic. Reminiscent of a high end cologne, this fragrance exudes mystery and sensuality.
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BRANDING INSPIRATION
For this fragrance, it felt appropriate to pour into our Charcoal Nordic Ceramic Tumbler. We chose a modern label design featuring geometric elements to complement the jar. One quick note about labeling our Ceramic Tumblers: since they taper slightly towards the bottom, you’ll want to choose a label size that isn’t too tall or you may have difficulty applying the label without it “wrinkling” a bit. In our experience labels under 2.5” tall work best.
If you’re considering renaming Black Coral and Moss, we recommend a name that alludes to its mysterious, darkly aquatic character. Think Moonlit Waters or Midnight Coast.
Alternative scent name ideas: Moonlit Waters, Midnight Coast, Seaside Volcano
