Everyone has treasured scents that transport them to special times and places, and vanilla is one of the most beloved ones. Whether it calls to mind freshly baked cookies in the family kitchen, that first slice of birthday cake, or a dish of ice cream on a hot summer day, vanilla is a beautiful aroma we love to experience.
And while vanilla stands well on its own and is a welcomed addition to any space, it’s also an ideal scent for blending as it can work well with a range of other aromas. Our Vanilla Bean candle at Penn & Beech is the ideal starting point for a gentle and captivating scent profile.
What Vanilla Smells Like
Vanilla originates from the Americas, notably the southern portion of North America around the Gulf of Mexico, Central America, the northern tip of South America, and neighboring islands. It’s believed to have been first domesticated in what is now Veracruz in the 1100s, and its popularity grew throughout the region until Hernán Cortés brought both it and chocolate back to Europe in the 1520s. From there, vanilla’s use in desserts and perfumes steadily grew, leading to its prominence throughout the world today.
Noted for its warm and sweet scent profile, vanilla features notes of wood, caramel, smoke, chocolate, and leather, though any of these particular notes will depend on the type of vanilla procured and how it has been processed.
Creating a Scent Profile with a Vanilla Bean Candle
One tried-and-true method for blending scents is to account for the varied notes of individual aromas. These notes can be classified as either top, middle, or base, with different fragrances fitting into one category or another. Vanilla itself is considered a base note.
- Top notes – Scents classified as being top notes have fresh and pleasant aromas, with many fruits and flowers being examples. Examples include berries, bergamot, lavender, orange, apple, grapefruit, lemongrass, and many more.
- Middle notes – These scents round out the body of a full scent profile, helping to pull together base and top notes. Middle note examples include jasmine, cinnamon, clove, cherry, caramel, and nutmeg.
- Base notes – Fragrances classified as base notes are known for their depth and warmth, helping a scent profile to endure in a space. Examples include sandalwood, coffee, cedarwood, amber, patchouli, chocolate, and frankincense.
Vanilla Bean Pairing Opportunities
Vanilla is an excellent candidate for scent pairing as it can complement, and be complemented by, a range of aromas. Some possibilities include:
- Combining vanilla with fresh floral top notes like lavender, lemongrass, or peppermint to create a natural bouquet, or using top notes like berries, apple, or grapefruit for a ripe and lovely scent profile
- Pairing it with middle notes like cinnamon or nutmeg for a spicy allure, caramel or cherries for the scent of a delectable dessert, or aquatic notes to call to mind a tropical resort
- Blending it with other base notes like frankincense for a holiday delight, patchouli for an earthy aroma, or chocolate or coffee for that freshly brewed scent
- Using it as the base note to support top and middle notes of your choice and producing a full-bodied fragrance
Create Your Own Custom Vanilla Bean Candles at Penn & Beech
The Penn & Beech team proudly offers customers the opportunity to make custom candles, reed diffusers, and wax melts to help them finally find the aromas they’ve always wanted!
One option we provide is through our online custom blends, which lets our customers select from the more than 140 fragrances we offer and combine them into a unique scent profile. Take inspiration from our lists above or get creative yourself – it’s all up to you! You will be able to combine up to three separate scents and give your candle a distinct name. Best yet, we offer both 8 oz. and 16 oz. jars for candles, giving you either 60 or 120 hours of true burning time.
Customers who are looking for a fun activity for themselves, their family and friends, or even as part of a work outing can also come to our facility in Columbus, Ohio or Indianapolis and pour their own candle. We regularly host birthdays, team events, bachelorette parties, and plenty more activities, so check out this option for your crew!
Benefits of Our Candles
We are dedicated to customer satisfaction for all of our products, so we take great care in our work. Advantages of choosing candles from P&B include:
- Premium fragrance oils
- No heavy metals or other contaminants
- Soy-blend composition with cotton wicks
- Paraben and phthalate-free design
- No fillers or chemical additives
- No animal testing
- Over 140 individual scents
Need Help? Contact Us!
If you’re trying to determine the best ways to blend your Vanilla Bean candle with other scents, or if you want to schedule a pouring event with us, be sure to contact our team today! We’re standing by to help, and we look forward to hearing from you.