How to Choose the Perfect Candle: Understanding Scent Notes

Choosing a candle through the internet can be tricky! We get it. That’s why we created this guide—to help you decode scent notes, understand fragrance families, and find the candle that speaks your language.

How to Choose the Perfect Candle: A Guide to Scent Notes & Ingredient Clarity

At Candle Stork, we believe scenting is storytelling. Our stories always begin with transparency.

Step One: Read the Ingredients

If a candle won’t tell you what’s inside, it’s not worth your breath.

Most brands hide behind the word “fragrance”—a catch-all term that can mask thousands of synthetic chemicals. These undisclosed ingredients can disrupt hormones, trigger migraines, and pollute the air you call sacred. Read The Hidden Truth About Candles to learn more.

We do things differently. Every Candle Stork candle comes with a full ingredient label, listing the exact essential oils and extracts we use. No synthetics. No secrets. Just pure, organic scenting from nature’s apothecary.

This transparency does two things:

• It protects your space and your body.

• It helps you choose a candle you’ll truly love—because if you’ve ever smelled fresh ginger root, you already know what our ginger essential oil smells like.

Step Two: Discover Your Fragrance Family

Every scent belongs to a family. And every nose has its preferences. Once you know which families you gravitate toward, choosing a candle becomes intuitive—like picking your favorite season. 

Here are the eight fragrance families we work with, and the bespoke candles that live within them:

The Eight Fragrance Families:

1. Spiced: Vibrant, intense, and depending on the spice they're embodying can be cooling or warming. Here are our choices if spiced scents are your fav: The Witch's Familiar (clove), Tales of Lore (black pepper), and Blanket of Snow (peppermint). 
2. Gourmand: Sweet, decadent, and deliciously addictive. These are the scents that smell like dessert and feel like indulgence. Our picks for you: Creature of Habit (vanilla), Ghost in the Garden (pumpkin pie), and A Forbidden Orchard (apple cider).
3. Woody: Grounding, rich, and timeless. These scents feel like walking through an ancient forest Our picks for woody scents: On the Forest Floor (cedarwood). 
4. Aromatic; Fresh, clean, and evergreen. These scents evoke mountain air and open windows. Our picks for you: An Upstate Retreat (balsam fir), and Through the Woods (balsam fir).
5. Floral: Delicate, romantic, and joyful. These scents bloom with femininity and light. Our choices for floral scents: Blame the Moon (lavender), and Among the Wildflowers (jasmine). 
6. Citrus: Bright, zesty, and uplifting. These scents are sunshine in a bottle. Our top choice for citrus lovers: Among the Wildflowers (lemon).
7. Green: Leafy, herbaceous, and natural. These scents smell like gardens and fresh-cut stems. The Barefoot Gardener (basil), and Tales of Lore (sage).
8. Fruity: Juicy, vibrant, and tangy. These scents are playful and full of life. Fruity scents you'll love: A Forbidden Orchard (apple).

Final Thought: Let Your Nose Lead

We hope this guide helps you feel more confident choosing a candle that fits your personal palette. Whether you’re drawn to the spice of clove or the sweetness of vanilla, your scent story is waiting to be told.

If you still aren't sure which Candle Stork candle is your perfect match, try our mini candles to sample our botanical scents before you commit to a full size candle.