A Beginner’s Guide to Understanding Fragrance Notes
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How to read candle scent descriptions like a pro
If you’ve ever browsed a candle shop and wondered what exactly top, middle, and base notes mean — you’re not alone. Fragrance language can feel a little mysterious at first, but once you understand the basics, it becomes a fun, intuitive way to explore scents and discover your favorites.
At Fe Sarang, we love using fragrance notes as a way to tell a story. They help describe how a scent opens, blooms, and lingers — just like the experience of lighting a candle at home.
Let’s break it down in a simple, cozy way.
What Are Fragrance Notes?
Fragrance notes are the building blocks of a scent. Think of them as the layers that create the overall aroma of a candle, each appearing at different moments as the candle warms.
A fragrance is usually built from three kinds of notes:
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Top Notes – the first impression
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Middle Notes – the heart of the scent
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Base Notes – the lasting foundation
Together, they create the fragrance’s personality — bright, warm, cozy, playful, elegant, or anywhere in between.
Top Notes: The First Hello
Top notes are the very first scents you notice when you open a candle or light it for the first time. They’re fresh, light, and quick to appear — but also quick to fade.
Top notes help set the tone and often include:
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Citrus (lemon, bergamot, mandarin)
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Herbs (eucalyptus, mint)
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Light fruits (pear, apple)
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Soft aldehydes (think “sparkling air” or “crisp frost” rather than the technical name)
These notes grab your attention and introduce the candle’s mood.
Middle Notes: The Heart of the Candle
Once the top notes settle, the middle — or “heart” — notes emerge. These form the main body of the fragrance and are usually what people remember most.
Middle notes are often:
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Floral (rose, peony, jasmine)
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Fruit-forward (plum, cranberry, berries)
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Spices (cinnamon, clove)
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Greens (ivy, fir needles)
These notes shape the story of the candle — cozy kitchen warmth, winter forest strolls, sweet holiday memories, and more.
Base Notes: The Cozy Lasting Impression
Base notes are the final layer. They’re rich, warm, and long-lasting, carrying the scent long after the candle is extinguished.
Common base notes include:
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Woods (cedar, sandalwood, amberwood)
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Resins (myrrh, frankincense)
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Musk
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Vanilla or tonka bean
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Deep gourmands (caramelized sugar, bourbon warmth)
These are the notes that linger on blankets, drift through the room, and leave that “I love this smell” impression.
How the Notes Work Together
Imagine lighting a candle:
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The spark: You smell something bright — maybe citrus or a hint of frosty air. (Top notes)
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A few minutes in: The true character settles in — plum, fir, berries, florals, spices. (Middle notes)
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As it burns: A warm foundation emerges — cedar, vanilla, cashmere woods. (Base notes)
It’s a full sensory journey, and understanding the layers helps you pick candles that fit your mood or home.
Why Fragrance Notes Matter for Candle Lovers
Knowing fragrance notes helps you:
✔ Find scents you naturally love
If you adore warm, cozy scents, look for base notes like amber, woods, or vanilla.
If you prefer fresh or bright scents, citrus and herbal top notes are your friends.
✔ Understand why certain candles feel “holiday,” “clean,” “warm,” or “romantic”
For example: fir needle (middle) + spice (middle) + cedarwood (base) = classic Christmas.
✔ Compare scents more easily
Notes help you recognize patterns across candles, even when the names differ.
✔ Pick the perfect candle for your space
Light top and middle notes are perfect for kitchens and entryways.
Warm base notes shine in living rooms, bedrooms, and cozy nooks.
What About Words Like “Aldehydes” or “Ozonic”?
Some note names are a little technical, but the meaning is surprisingly simple:
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Aldehydes → smell like sparkling clean air, effervescent brightness, or a crisp, wintery shimmer.
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Ozonic → “fresh breeze,” “watery clean,” or “ocean-air clarity.”
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Gourmand → sweet edible notes like caramel, vanilla sugar, or toasted marshmallow.
Whenever we think a note might feel confusing, we describe it in plain language on our product pages — so you get the feeling of the scent, not the chemistry behind it.
How to Read Fragrance Notes on Fe Sarang Candles
Our scent descriptions follow a simple structure:
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Top: the bright introduction
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Middle: the emotional heart
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Base: the warm foundation
Each candle page also includes a short label blurb — a little storytelling moment to help you imagine how it will feel in your home.
For example, a winter candle might read:
Top: Sparkling air, frosted citrus
Middle: Snowberry, fir needles, plum
Base: Cedarwood, amber, cashmere
Even without smelling it, you can already imagine the vibe: cool, crisp, cozy, and gently sweet.
Final Thought: Scent Is a Story — and Notes Are the Words
Fragrance notes aren’t meant to be complicated. They’re simply tools that help capture the feeling, memory, or moment a candle brings to life.
Whether you love bright, clean scents or deep, comforting ones, understanding fragrance notes helps you choose candles that fit your space, your mood, and your story.
And at Fe Sarang, every scent is crafted to bring warmth, connection, and a little bit of cozy magic into your home — one note at a time.