Before we get any further, let’s talk about fragrance notes. Fragrance notes are the different layers and aromas that make up a complete fragrance. The way the fragrance notes combine is what gives every scent its own unique profile.

• The top notes of a fragrance are what you smell first, the aromas that give you an initial impression and draw you in. Top notes are usually lighter in smell and tend to be citrusy or soft florals. These are the most volatile notes, meaning that they tend to fade more quickly than the others. 

• The middle notes, also referred to as the “heart,” provide a balance between the top and base notes. These are often bright florals, gourmands, fruits, or lighter woods. The middle notes are usually the most prominent aromas you will smell when a candle is burning.  

• Base notes are the anchor of every fragrance, lending depth and longevity to the aroma. Typically these notes will be things like vanilla, spices, musks, woods, or amber. These are the notes that tend to linger in a room after a candle is extinguished and leave a lasting impression of the scent.

The fragrance families are how we categorize different groups of scents with comparable qualities. If you look at different fragrance wheels, you might see some slight variations but they will generally be the same.

The fragrance families we identify are: Spicy, Gourmand, Amber, Woody, Aromatic, Floral, Citrus, Marine/Ozonic, Green, and Fruity.

Spicy fragrances are exciting and electrifying, full of intensity and vibrancy. Spices have an ability to bring a contrast of cooling notes like pink pepper, cardamom, and ginger as well as warm notes like cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg, giving the power to create an undeniable signature.

Spicy fragrances are often described with words like:

They include notes like: Allspice, Cardamom, Peppercorn, Ginger, Chili Pepper, Nutmeg, and Coriander.

Gourmand fragrances are sweet and addictively delicious. They add a touch of caramelized charm with notes like caramel and butterscotch; creaminess from vanilla, chocolate, and marshmallow; a nutty character from praline or hazelnut; or even a decadent kick from rum, amaretto, or whiskey. It's the perfect combination of taste and smell, adding sensuality and pleasure to the olfactory experience.

Gourmand scents are often described with words like:

They include notes like: Bourbon, Brown Sugar, Buttercream, Caramel, Coconut, Pecan, Maple

Amber is an infusion of intoxicating musks, exotic resins, and woody inflections, providing warmth, sensuality, and sophistication to a fragrance. Ambers can smell musky and sweet or powdery and soft.

Amber scents are often described with words like:

They include notes like: Benzoin, Dark Musk, Embers, Olibanum, Incense, Light Musk, Myrrh, Powder

Woody fragrances have a rich, timeless character that is rooted in nature. From warm and creamy woods like sandalwood to dry smoky notes like patchouli, woody notes give a deep sense of comfort and a rich long-lastingness with earthy textures and leathery nuances that adds a unique quality.

Woody scents are often described with words like:

They include notes like: Amyris, Balsam, Cedar, Oak, Oakmoss, Oud, Palo Santo

Aromatic encompasses the heady and natural feel of evergreen ingredients such as pine, juniper, and eucalyptus as well as herbal facets from sage, mints, and rosemary. These notes are often found in masculine fragrances, adding a sense of freshness and robustness.

Aromatic scents are often described with words like:

They include notes like: Basil, Black Tea, Camphor, Chamomile, Cypress, Gin, Hemp, Juniper, Mint, Peppermint, Rosemary, Saffron

Inspired by the natural beauty around us, voluptuous florals are the backbone of perfumery, creating a textured, layered, and natural appeal. From colorful rich garden florals such as Rose, Cherry Blossom, and Lily to luminous white florals such as jasmine, gardenia, and ylang-ylang, they inspire a sense of happiness and peace.

Floral scents are often described with words like:

They include notes like: Carnation, Cherry Blossom, Chrysanthemum, Freesia, Gardenia, Green Floral, Jasmine, Lily of the Valley, Magnolia, Mimosa

Citruses add both a sparkling character with notes like lemon, orange, and lime as well as zestiness from bergamot and grapefruit. Citrus scents energize the senses with an invigorating feeling of brightness and energy.

Citrus scents are often described with words like:

They include notes like: Bergamot, Grapefruit, Lemon Verbena, Lemongrass, Mandarin, Orange Peel, Tangerine

Marine/Ozonic scents offer the sensation of a brisk, cool breeze or the crisp aroma of the salty sea. They bring a fresh and clean character, transporting you to a beachside escape or to the top of a mountain.

Marine/Ozonic scents are often described with words like:

They include notes like: Ozone, Sea Salt, Aquatic

Green fragrances are inspired by natural elements, including crisp notes from cucumber, lushness from bamboo, and leafy green goodness from grass, verbena or tomato leaf. Green notes mimic nature at its truest, adding a sense of liveliness.

Green scents are often described with words like:

They include notes like: Grass, Agave, Aloe, Bamboo, Cucumber, Green Leaves, Moss, Palm, Rhubarb

Delicious fruity notes add mouthwatering juiciness and vibrant sweetness to a fragrance. Fragrances come alive with orchard fruits like apple and peach or succulent red fruits like strawberry, cherry, and cassis for playfulness. Tropical fruits like mango, pineapple, and coconut invoke a sense of escapism.

Fruity scents are often described with words like:

They include notes like: Apple, Berry, Black Cherry, Cranberry, Fig, Guava, Melon, Mango, Peach, Red Currant

Great question! Let’s look at a few practical applications. First, download the fragrance wheel printable and keep it on hand for this section. 

1. Train your nose and deepen your understanding of fragrance.

The fragrance wheel is a great tool for “training” your sense of smell. Grab your favorite fragrance oil, put it on a blotter strip, and fan it in front of your nose to start taking in the scent. Identify where the fragrance as a whole falls on the fragrance wheel. Is it an aromatic fragrance? Is it green and herbal?

Then, see if you can identify individual notes in the fragrance. Take a look at the notes we call out on the fragrance oil’s product page, and see if you can pick them out.

• What do you smell most strongly?
• What do you smell in the background?
• What are you having trouble smelling at all?

Once you’ve identified a few of the notes, look at the fragrance wheel and see if you can tell whether these notes are complementary, or kindred. Think about why the fragrance works and what it is that makes you love it. Is it the contrast of fruity and aromatic notes that creates a compelling result? Is it the melding of citrus and marine notes that creates something comforting and familiar?

Practicing this skill will hone your nose and train you to identify notes and visualize where they fall on the fragrance wheel–and as a result, deepen your understanding and experience of fragrance as a whole.

2. Help you develop your marketing around each scent, like the description on your website, the notes you want to include, imagery, etc.

Your intimate knowledge about your fragrances can help inform how you choose to market your products to your customers. It could be something as simple as categorizing your fragrances on your website, the words you use in your fragrance descriptions, or a new name for the scent. It could even help you decide on the general vibe of your brand! Maybe the majority of your fragrances include complementary notes that convey a sense of complexity and luxury, so you opt for high end containers and clean, minimalistic label designs. 

Let’s work through a couple examples. 

We hope this exploration of the fragrance wheel proved useful, and deepened your understanding of the complexities and nuances of fragrance. It’s a lot of information to digest, but it will prove useful for anyone involved in the creation of home fragrance. 

What else do you want to know about fragrance? Drop your comments below!