The Fragrance Map: Why You Need One For Your Business

As a candle or perfume maker, making sure you are offering your customers a wide range of scents is key to the success of your candle, soap, or perfume business. To ensure that your collection appeals to a wide audience, understanding and utilizing a fragrance map is crucial. In this post we’ll explore how fragrance maps can help you capture different scent categories, offer variety, and create a well-rounded collection that goes beyond what fragrance oils you love, and focus on what your customers are looking for.   

A fragrance map, also known as a scent wheel or aroma wheel, is a visual representation of the different scent families, and in some maps their sub-categories. It organizes fragrances based on their scent characteristics, allowing perfumers and candle makers to understand the full spectrum of scent options available. 

Fragrance maps highlight the main scent families, such as floral, amber, woody, and fresh. By familiarizing yourself with these families and their sub-categories, you can ensure that your collection includes fragrances from each major group. This diversity in your offerings guarantees that you have something for every consumer, regardless of their scent preferences. 

Whether you have a current line or are still in your testing phase, a great exercise to do is placing your fragrances (or prospective fragrances) on a fragrance map to get a visual representation of what categories you’re offering. This enables you to identify scents that you may have overlooked or not considered before. By taking a step back and looking at the bigger picture, it’ll allow you to offer a more extensive variety of fragrances. This variety not only attracts a broader customer base but also sets your brand apart from competitors who may have a more limited selection. 

It's easy to fall into the trap of creating fragrances based solely on personal preferences. However, as a candle, soap, or perfume maker, it's essential to step outside your comfort zone and consider scents that appeal to a diverse range of consumers. By using a fragrance map as a guide, you can ensure that your collection is well-rounded and inclusive, offering fragrances that cater to various tastes and preferences. 

As you an see on the map below, as we were creating our fall fragrance line we wanted to make sure we were offering a good variety for our customers. We didn't want too much overlap so while we had others in the running that we loved, we knew we only had room for five fragrance oils and wanted to make sure the collection was well rounded. 

Fragrance maps serve as a valuable tool for communicating with your customers. By referring to the map, you can help them navigate your scent offerings and find fragrances that suit their preferences. Ask them what fragrances they currently like and why, show them where those scents fall on the map (google is your best friend here, no shame in looking up the scents they mention on Fragrantica or a similar site to get the info). This not only enhances the customer experience but also demonstrates your expertise and commitment to providing a diverse range of high-quality scents. 

To start using fragrance maps in your candle or perfume-making business, follow these steps:

• Study the different fragrance maps available and choose one that aligns with your brand and target audience.

 

• Familiarize yourself with the main scent families, understanding the unique characteristics of each.

 

• Analyze your current collection and identify any scent categories that may be underrepresented or missing.

 

• Use your fragrance map to explore new scents and sub-categories, aiming to create a diverse and well-rounded collection.

 

• Communicate the variety of your scent offerings to your customers, using the fragrance map as a visual aid to guide them through your collection. 

In conclusion, fragrance maps are an essential tool for candle and perfume makers who want to offer a diverse and inclusive range of scents. By capturing different scent categories, offering proper variety, and creating a well-rounded collection, you can cater to the preferences of every consumer. Embrace the power of fragrance maps and elevate your brand by providing a comprehensive and appealing scent experience for all.