04/22/2021
WHAT ARE SCENT NOTES?
Candles can be scented in a variety of different manners. In some candles, the fragrances of flowers and herbs are infused by steeping the wax with the desired plants during the wax melting process. One may find that this method provides a beautiful appearance; however the scent may be short lived. Some candles have essential oils added directly to the wax to provide the scent. This provides a strong scent at first, however,over time, some of these scents may fade away. Other candle makers utilize fragrance oils that are blended to assure a complex fragrance profile, stability of the scent when suspended in the wax and a longer lasting fragrance. At It’s Wickcraft Candle Co, our candles are created utilizing professionally blended essential oils to create a well rounded, full bodied candle scent that lasts the duration of the candles life.
The essence of each scent blended to create the candles we prepare are referred to as ‘notes’. Just as a wine connoisseur may train his/her palate to taste the season the grapes were picked, the additional juices added during the fermentation process and the wood of the barrel the wine was fermented in, a candle connoisseur can likewise train his/her olfactory sense to smell top, middle, and base notes of a candle.
Top notes are the first impression one gets of a candle scent when the lid is removed yet the candle has not been lit. The scents apparent when the candle is not lit are also referred to as the candle’s “cold throw”. The top notes of a candle are often the brighter, pleasant fragrances associated with the blend, such as the citrus scents used to help fill out the full scent profile. These scents can continue to be smelled throughout the burn of the candle, however, they tend to dissipate more quickly because they are lighter than the other supporting fragrances on a molecular level. This does not mean, however, that once a candle has been lit, those top scents are gone. On the contrary, when the candle returns to its fully cool state, the cold throw becomes apparent once again and can lightly permeate the room simply by leaving the jar without it’s lid.
Middle notes are the fragrances that one smells after the candle has been lit and the wax begins to melt; Also known as the hot throw. These scents tend to be the stars of the show, providing the specific floral, spicy, or fruity scents one expects to smell in the candle. These scents remain prevalent in the candle throughout the burn process. Middle notes tend to be the fragrances one smells throughout the room or rooms where the candle is burning. Once the candle is snuffed and the wax begins to cool, the middle notes dissipate leaving the final notes of the candle, the Base notes.
The Base notes are the stronger scents upon which the candle scent profile is built. These scents tend to be the musky or woodsy scents, as well as fragrances such as vanilla. These scents linger on the air well after the candle has been snuffed,
Why is it a good idea to learn about the layers of a candle’s scent profile? Understanding the profile of a candle can assist you in developing your olfactory sense enhancing your candle experience, as well as provide an understanding of why two candles claiming to be the same scent may smell decidedly different. Additionally, knowing and understanding the scent profile can assist with choosing a candle that does not have a scent within it’s profile that may aggravate scent sensitivities.
Visit It’s Wickcraft Candle Co.’s shop on Etsy at https://etsy.me/39pA5eR to read the descriptions and details of each of our candles scent profiles. Use promo code SCENTS4MOM to get 15% off your purchase of 2 or more candles for Mother’s Day.
