BEHIND THE SCENTS:
2022 SPRING AND SUMMER FRAGRANCES
This exploration of our new Spring/Summer 2022 fragrance collection takes a close look at the trends and stories that sparked their creation.
One of the things that makes working with fragrance so exciting and special is the way a single scent can be so many different things to different people. We hope the ideas and stories behind each fragrance inspire you to curate your own unique experience.
First, let’s dive into the trend report.
Trend report
Joyful indulgence – Everyday wellness – Love of nature – Aquatic discoveries
The four trends we identified for this fragrance launch all fall under an interconnected theme. While the new normal is well-established by now, people are fatigued, and looking for new ways to practice self-care that fit into their daily routines, and new ways to explore themselves and the world around them.
Joyful indulgence
This trend is all about boosting your mood and freeing yourself from limitations. Playful nostalgia, bold color palettes, and fun ways to indulge at home are hallmarks of this trend.
Fragrance families: tropical fruits, feminine florals, sparkling cocktails, gourmand accords, bright citrus, fresh berries
Notes to highlight: moonflower, starfruit, apricot, peony, bubbles, pink pineapple, lily of the valley, neroli, fruity pops
Spotted:
Mother & Mai Candles
Rose Moon Candle Co.
Common Scentz Candle Co.
Everyday wellness
The vibe of this trend focuses on finding your calm and incorporating wellness into your daily life. Think finding comfort in everyday spaces, relaxing color palettes, and home decor that includes natural materials.
Fragrance families: herbals, light gourmands, musky ambers, soft florals
Notes to highlight: pink clay, echinacea, rose, white musk, wild lavender, meringue, nectar, warm amber
Spotted:
Love of nature
This trend speaks for itself. Finding joy and comfort in the natural world has always been a part of the human experience, and now more than ever could we all use a little of that! Color palettes that take inspiration from natural materials are a…natural fit, and branding that speaks to the spirit of wanderlust is encouraged.
Fragrance families: deep forest woods, solar florals, fresh accords, citrus, warm ambers, cooling aromatics
Notes to highlight: cactus and aloe, oakmoss, bergamot, coastal air, cedar, blood orange, rain
Spotted:
Aquatic discoveries
Warm sunlight, a sense of freedom, and salty sea air sum up this trend. Take inspiration from island cultures and plant life, the feel of sand between your toes and salt on your skin, and creatures of the deep (both real and fictional).
Fragrance families: saltwater accords, seaside florals, creamy woods, sheer spices, citrus
Notes to highlight: waterlily, sea salt, pink peppercorn, jasmine, plumeria, sandalwood
Spotted:
Now that we’re familiar with the trends that inspired this collection, let’s take a closer look at the fragrances themselves...
Coconut Soleil
Trend captured: Joyful Indulgence
This fragrance oil doesn’t just scream summer; it throws you a brightly colored beach towel and has a fruity drink waiting for you by the pool.
The humble banana isn’t typically thought of as a sophisticated fruit, but combine it with notes of coconut milk and tonka bean and you just might change your mind. Coconut Soleil brings a bit of fun to any fragrance line and calls back to the nostalgic aroma of suntan lotion–but with a modern twist.
Branding Ideas
Play off the Joyful Indulgence trend by incorporating some bright, eye-catching colors in the wax itself or in the label design. (Our Canary Yellow dye block is a good one!) Choose a complementary name like Bum Bum Banana or Beach Vibes–anything that’s playful or cheeky would be a great choice. Or, maybe you want to focus on the summery sophistication of this fragrance by keeping things more minimalistic with neutral colors like white and tan. If you go in this direction, keep the Coconut Soleil name or try something like Solar Escape or White Sand Beach.
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Fragrance Info
Note Profile
Cashmere Musk
Trends captured: Everyday Wellness
This versatile fragrance offers a modern take on the classic musk.
With its calming, natural aroma, this fragrance adds comfort and elegance to everyday spaces without being overwhelming. A definite mood-booster for those days you’re just feeling “blah.”
Branding Ideas:
For lines that lean into a spa or wellness theme, Cashmere Musk is a natural fit, though you may want to change the name to something more along those lines. A few suggestions: Vetiver Musk, Ground Yourself, Healing Amber. If this is more your speed, retaining the natural color of your wax or soap helps reinforce the wellness theme.
For lines that lean into an upscale, luxury aesthetic, consider keeping “Cashmere” in the name if you’d like to change it. Cashmere as a fragrance element has been trending for a couple of years now, so retaining that in the fragrance name will draw in customers who are in-the-know.
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Fragrance Info
Note Profile
White Eucalyptus
Trends captured: Everyday Wellness, Love of Nature
White Eucalyptus hones in on the desire to seek tranquility in a natural setting. There’s no better way to experience peace of mind than surrounding yourself in nature. Cooling and aromatic, this scent is perfect for lines that promote wellness and self-care.
When we were testing this fragrance, it had us all suddenly realizing we were in need of a spa day. Since it’s approved for soaps, lotions, and other body care products in addition to candles, why not create a full-on spa day care package with some White Eucalyptus sugar scrub, whipped soap, and tealights! (Check out our Spa Day in a Box tutorial here.)
Branding ideas
Play up the soothing, nature-based vibes of this scent when you’re designing your branding materials. Incorporate words like nature-inspired, wellness, and forest rain in your product descriptions and promotional social media posts. We imagine that many will want to retain the White Eucalyptus name, but if you want to go in another direction other ideas include Eucalyptus Mist, Fresh Eucalyptus, and Breathe.
If you add color to your candles, lighter shades of green and blue are good choices. (Check out our Avocado and Seafoam dye blocks!)
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Fragrance Info
Note Profile
Moonflower Nectar
Trend captured: Joyful Indulgence
It isn’t a Spring fragrance launch without florals! Moonflower Nectar is an unexpected fantasy floral with a high-end perfume character. You’ll definitely feel like you indulged with this fragrance, and we highly recommend it for products like sugar scrubs and whipped soaps.
Branding ideas:
This fragrance really leans into the “indulgence” part of the Joyful Indulgence theme. It’s sweet but sultry, and perfectly suited for luxury lines. If you’re thinking of alternate name choices, something equally mysterious or enticing is a safe bet, like Midnight Poppy or Night Blooming Flower.
For all the mix masters out there, blending this fragrance with a scent like Saffron Cedarwood or Sandalwood tones down some of the sweetness and adds even more depth.
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Fragrance Info
Note Profile
Mango and Gardenia
Trends captured: Love of Nature, Joyful Indulgence
Fruity florals aren’t a huge scent category for us, so we knew we wanted to offer some additional choices for this trendy combo. This marriage of tropical fruit and classic floral results in a lively, beautiful fragrance oil.
Branding ideas:
This fragrance is a good fit for the “tropical” or “summery fruity” space in your line. Since both mango and gardenia are prevalent notes, keeping the name may be optimal for many businesses. If you lean more in a conceptual direction, consider names like Island Dreams or Summer Sunset.
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Fragrance Info
Note Profile
Apricot Grove
Trends captured: Love of Nature, Joyful Indulgence
From fragrance to food, apricot is having a bit of a moment. Apricot Grove is quite a sophisticated apricot scent; it’s definitively apricot without being overly fruity, grounded by notes of sandalwood and patchouli.
You know how it always smells SO GOOD in high end home decor stores? We think Apricot Grove is reminiscent of that vibe. It adds a gorgeous aroma that’s noticeable but not overpowering. If you have realtor or home decor store clients, or are aspiring to get there, give Apricot Grove a try.
Branding ideas:
You can go in a lot of different directions with this fragrance, and it works well for a wide variety of branding styles. Emphasize the vetiver and woody notes in your own marketing materials and copy to get across that Apricot Grove is not a typical fruity scent; or, lean more heavily on the apricot if you’re wanting to capitalize on the current interest in this trendy fruit.
With its current popularity, we do suggest keeping “Apricot” in the fragrance name. If you’re not quite so keen on Apricot Grove, consider names like Apricot and White Woods, Apricot and Vetiver, or White Apricot.
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Fragrance Info
Note Profile
Sel de Mer
Trends captured: Aquatic Discoveries, Everyday Wellness
Is it just sea salt in French to make it sound fancier? Well…maybe…but we wanted to convey that Sel de Mer is a classic sea salt/salt air fragrance with a modern, upscale makeover. Fresh and clean, beachy and salty, this scent works just as well in a year-round lineup as it does in a Spring/Summer collection.
There’s something about this family of scents that really speaks to a sense of freedom and self-discovery, especially for those who have spent a lot of time by the sea. Ocean-inspired anything is always desirable for the summer season, and especially so this year. You’ve probably noticed the rise in sea salt additions in food, beverage, and of course fragrance.
Branding ideas:
If you want to highlight the upscale elegance of Sel de Mer, keep it simple. Many of the high end fragrance brands we’ve spotted stick with straightforward names like “Sea Salt” and “Salty Air.” Because Sel de Mer is also a wonderful spa fragrance, names like Salt Cave and Salt Lamp would also be good choices for more spa-oriented lines.
Love this label? Create and print your own with Avery WePrint! Size: 1.5" x 3"
Fragrance Info
Note Profile
Now that they're all dressed up, it’s time for these new scents to go forth and show off what they can do. Ready to smell for yourself?
Share your thoughts on these new fragrances by leaving a review, and show off what you create with the hashtag #CandleScientist and by tagging us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram—we’d love to give you some kudos!