A beginner’s guide to single note perfumes
As much as I adore my perfume collection, I admit other people might not feel the same way. For me, a blend of orchids, marigold and roses with a dash of pepper, spice and cedarwood is nothing short of divine, but I also have it on good authority that not everyone in the bh office shares my love of oud.
If you’re anything like my counterpars, you’ll agree that sometimes, less is more. So enter the world of single note fragrances, where your nostrils can take in just one incredible aroma at a time....
Demeter
There are almost 300 simple and singular ‘life scents’ in the Demeter library, so you’ll find things like Fresh Hay, Christmas Tree, Pink Grapefruit and Rain along with stranger concoctions (lobster, anyone?). Demeter colognes are based on the smallest combination of ingredients that express a single, identifiable smell or idea, or layered to create a new scent unlike any other. Don’t ask me how they do it - just be thankful that someone finally decided to make cake batter perfume.
Jo Malone
Okay, you got me. This one isn’t exactly a single note fragrance, but you’d be hard-pressed to get a whiff of anything besides orange. Bursting with citrusy delight, there’s nothing subtle about this fragrance. Trust me on this one.
Commodity Goods
Are you a minimalist with an appreciation for the finer things in life? Excellent. You’ll love the simple, refined scents of Commodity Goods - think Rain, Tobacco, Whiskey and Tea. Ignore the gender divisions and explore the fresh, clean and beautiful scents on offer.
Kiehl’s
This beauty from Kiehl’s actually features notes bergamot, nectar and white patchouli, but dries down to a powerful musk. Originally believed to have been created in the 1920s, the scent was locked in an apothecary’s vat, labelled ‘Love Oil’ and deemed “too sexy” for sale. It wasn’t until the late 50s that the cologne was rediscovered and available to the general public. So risqué!
Do you own a single note fragrance? Which one is it?
Have you tried any of the products mentioned above?
Review them now to earn points that you can swap for free beauty products in RewardsRoom.
103 Member Comments
I love smelling new perfumes
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I have heard of demeter multiple times since I joined BH. Really wanted to try it. My favourite single note is just rose essential oil, or crabtree and evelyn rose. Not sure if the newer "evelyn rose" is still a single note, but pretty sure the older version called rose eau de fraiche (sp?) was single note
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I have to say that I have been disappointed by them. They are a fun pick up, but they don't have a lot of lasting power, and don't always smell true on the skin.
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I didn't know these were called single note fragrances, learn something new every day. I do love job Malone orange blossom.
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I'd love to smell Kiehls fragrance Original Musk
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There's some of these that I so don't want to smell like.
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Tea and Whiskey, would love to have a smell
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mmm I would love to have a smell of these, they sound intriguing
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I'd love to try the musk one .. I could use a bit of help in the 'sexy' department :-)
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Sometimes single note fragrances can be much nicer as they aren't so headache inducing. Would never have guessed there was a birthday cake fragrance! Would love to know what that one smells like.
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Wow these all sound very intriguing, love to smell the Birthday cake one.
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I love the Demeter fragrances! I am an absolute fragrance junky and I will buy multiple fragrances at once and then realise I have way too many to wear lol My favourite Demeter single note fragrances are, lemon meringue, sunshine, egg nog, gin and tonic, clean skin, baby powder, fireflies and dragonfruit. I bought my bf coconut and sea air to layer to make his own scent, but I always think he puts on too much of the coconut hahaha Some I don't like, and it's mostly the really sweet ones, not because I don't like sweet fragrances, just that some of the Demeter ones have a really ott artificial sweetener smell. But otherwise I love them all and I can't collect enough. The small sizes are great for just trying them out:)
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Yes, I have a couple of single notes - The Body Shop make a range that feature a dominant note & I bought the Raspberry one last year - it's my favourite food to eat so I figured I'd enjoy the perfume (and I do). Bought the matching body scrub too.
The other one that comes to mind I was wearing today - it's just called Dandelion, and, yes, it smells literally like I'm sniffing a field with dandelions in it. It's a perfume oil I got from o/seas last year & I like wearing it in the hot weather, it's very different from my other perfumes
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It never occurred to me to try a single note perfume! Also Demeter has some weird sends... funeral home? :-/
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Vanilla is lovely, i like it a lot
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Yes, I only do "single note" now. My fave is purple basil essential oil
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That sounds so interesting Yohanna! Is it a sweet smell or more herbaceous?
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I have tried the Demeter ones before, but their smells seem odd to me (that they doesn't smell like the stated scent)
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I've had a similar experience with Demeter.
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Cake does nice and sweet doesn't it
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I really love the smell of rain :-D (who doesn't?), I am really intrigued! I want to try it! I don't know about smelling like whiskey or tobacco though lol. These ideas are awesome!
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I must try the Jo Malone Orange Blossom Cologne. I don't live anywhere near a store that sells the brand, so I'll have to wait until I visit the city.
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