Do you love the way fragrances blend together? Do you know what each of them smells like? What about their names? If not, this article is for you! We'll be discussing how to identify the top, middle and base notes in fragrance.

The first thing we're going to do is go over some definitions. Top notes are usually lighter scents that evaporate quickly. Middle note are heavier lasting longer than top notes but less long-lasting than base notes. Base notes are typically the most powerful of all three because they make up a large percentage of any given fragrance's composition by weight or volume.

All fragrances can be classified in an array of fragrance families according to fragrance wheel. Many wheels differ, but all consists of at least four fragrance families; floral notes, ambery notes, woody notes, and fresh notes.

According to Michael Edwards' Fragrances of the World, "the floral family consists of fragrances with singular florals, bouquet of complex florals, delicate florals, and soft powdery florals. The ambery family is comprised of fragrances with warm and opulent florals, sweet spices, soft sensual resins, vanilla, and spicy amber notes. The woody family boasts mossy wood fragrance notes, sandalwood, patchouli, and dry woody notes with leather and tobacco. The fresh family has aromatics, clean and refreshing citrus, ozone, greenery, and fruit bouquets."

It's no secret fragrances are complex and can trigger treasured memories. Our Signature Collection is a true love letter through home fragrance to Cali and New York City. Each candle is named after a zip-code holding a memory to us and we wanted to share what makes each scent special. 

10035, CREAMY PAPAYA 
FRAGRANCE:  FRUITY
FRAGRANCE FAMILY: FRESH
Our 10035 is a decadent creamy papaya dream. Filled with sweet tropical (TOP + MIDDLE) notes rounded by a smidgen of vanilla (BASE) that boasts a euphoric fragrance that'll have you craving for more. Much like summer nights in Harlem, it is defined by the freshness and sweetness in the air.

 94612, ROSE, AMBER + SANDALWOOD
FRAGRANCE:  FLORAL AMBER
FRAGRANCE FAMILY: FLORAL + AMBERY
94612 is an intoxicating blend of rose (TOP) and warm amber (BASE) that reeks of both opulence and history. Nestled among jasmine florals (MIDDLE) and a slight touch of lemon (TOP), its subtle base of sandalwood and musk (BASE) is a complex creation that warms any room. Much like Downtown Oakland, it embodies culture.

11420, BERGAMOT + LEATHER
FRAGRANCE: WOODS
FRAGRANCE FAMILY: WOODY
Ever wondered what the sexiest man alive smells like? He's wrapped up in rich leather (BASE) with a hint of smoky tobacco (MIDDLE). Intoxicating musk (BASE) and sweet caramel (TOP), our 11420, is the endearing snuggle you never knew you needed. Nestled by a warm fireplace in Queens, where only a king can find his queen.

10013, CASHMERE + VANILLA
FRAGRANCE: SOFT AMBER
FRAGRANCE FAMILY: AMBERY
10013 is a warm, sexy, and sophisticated take on vanilla (MIDDLE). It's elevated by cashmere (MIDDLE) and seductive notes of amber (BASE) along with a slight hint of peach blossom (TOP). This blend embodies both the trendiness and elegance of SoHo. It has the remnants of its charm and is always a crowd-pleaser. 

94704, HONEY + GREEN TEA
FRAGRANCE: GREEN
FRAGRANCE FAMILY: FRESH
You'll be in true serenity with our 94704, it's a sweet mellow fragrance. Long deep inhalations of herbal green tea (MIDDLE) mixed with soothing chamomile (MIDDLE) , slight sweetness of honey (TOP), and an earthy musk (BASE) finish off this relaxing mix. It's reminiscent of a delectable well-known tea house in downtown Berkeley.

We hope we’ve inspired you to start exploring the different candle collections that are available. One of our favorites is the Signature Candle Collection, which has a range of fragrances from fruity to fresh floral scents. If you want help selecting the perfect fragrance for every room in your home or office, let us know! All it takes is one call and we can set up an appointment at no cost (except shipping) where we will evaluate what type of candles would be best for each individual space.

Which Signature Fragrance family do you prefer? Let us know in comments below.