What do the head, heart and base notes mean in scented candles?

Scented candles are not only a beautiful decoration and a cozy atmosphere. Their fragrance hides a depth that is worth understanding - and the key to this depth is the fragrance notes: head, heart and base. What they mean and why they matter when choosing a candle?

What are fragrance notes?

The terminology of notes comes from the world of perfumes, but is also successfully applied to scented candles. Each note is a layer of fragrance that develops during smoking:

• Head note (top) - first scent impression. This is the scent you smell as soon as you light the candle - fresh, light, fleeting. Usually made of citrus, herbs or light spices.
• Heart note (middle) - The heart of the composition, which appears after a few minutes of smoking. It determines the character of the fragrance - often floral, fruity or herbal.
• Base note (bottom) - The fragrance that stays with you the longest. Appears late, but continues long after the candle is extinguished. Often these are woody, musky, amber or vanilla notes.

When you feel a particular note? Scent release time in candles

In scented candles - just like in perfumes - each fragrance note has its own moment where it dominates. The fragrance is released in layers, forming what is known as a fragrance pyramid:

• Top Notes (top notes) - are the most volatile. Initially the most noticeable, they develop in just 5-15 minutes after lighting the candle. Usually these are citrus, green or aromatic scents (e.g. mint, lavender).
• Heart Notes (middle/heart notes) - begin to dominate after about 20-60 minutes of smoking. It is these that create the main character of the fragrance. Often these are flowers, fruits, spice or tea notes.
• Base notes (base notes) - appear the latest and last the longest - even after several hours. Dominant among them are woody, musky, gourmand (sweet, "edible") notes, vanilla, ambergris or resins.

Tip: If you want to really feel the whole scent of the candle, burn it for a minimum of 1-2 hours. Then all the layers of fragrance will open up, giving you a full, harmonious experience.

Why it's important when choosing a candle?

When choosing a candle, you should pay attention not only to the note you smell at the beginning of the. It is the heart and base that affect how the fragrance will develop in your home - and how long it will stay with you.

Example? Imagine:

A candle that smells of fresh lemon (head note) in the first minutes, after a while reveals a floral heart with rose and jasmine, and finally envelops you with warm vanilla and sandalwood. It is the layering of the fragrance that makes the candle an experience.

Where to look for this information?

In the store Candle World each candle contains a detailed description of the fragrance notes in the product parameters tab. You can also see what type of fragrance the candle belongs to - we classify all our fragrances according to the scent wheel (e.g. floral, woody, fruity, oriental).

FAQ - scented notes in candles

Does each candle have head, heart and base notes?

Not every one - candles with simple, one-dimensional scents may not have a clearly defined fragrance structure. But most mid- and high-end scented candles - yes.

Do the notes change if I only burn the candle for a while?

Yes - if you burn the candle briefly, you will experience mostly head notes. The full depth of the fragrance develops after several minutes of smoking.

How to choose a candle if I do not know the notes?

A good starting point may be your taste in perfume. If you like floral, fruity, woody or oriental scents in perfumes - you will probably like similar notes in scented candles as well. From our observations, in about 95% of cases, perfume and candle tastes overlap.