Berga-what? Mystery Fragrance Notes Explained!
It's all too easy to become entirely mystified by the marketing jargon used to describe and define scent - but should you really be confused about what's actually IN your bottle? Let's take a look at 8 lesser-known ingredients in our fragrances.
1. Ambrette
Found in: Hunter
#FactoryFacts: Originating in India (and also known as muskmallow), ambrette seeds are frequently used to create a rich, musky base. Ambrette often subs for animal musk in vegan formulas - like ours!
Bet you didn't know: Ambrette is traditionally ingested for the purpose of treating various stomach and intestinal disorders.
2. Bergamot
#FactoryFacts: Bergamot is a citrus most popularly grown in Calabria, Italy. However, unlike other citruses, bergamot typically isn't eaten because of its bitter flavor (the taste is a mix of lemon and a bitter orange). In fragrance, it's frequently used as a fresh top note.
Bet you didn't know: That Earl Grey tea you drink in the morning? Bergamot is in there!
3. Orris
Found in: Lulu, Toasty Candle, New Bae Candle
#FactoryFacts: Orris is the ground up roots of the iris plant. It has a heavy floral scent, similar to violets, and is sometimes described as powdery.
Bet you didn't know: Modern cultivation of natural orris is actually incredibly rare - in many instances, orris is priced higher than gold!
4. Blackcurrant
Found in: Dylan
#FactoryFacts: Both blackcurrant berries and their accompanying buds are used in perfumery, lending a tart sweetness to any formulation. Blackcurrant is also referred to in perfumery as 'cassis.'
Bet you didn't know: Despite its culinary versatility, only 0.1% of Americans have actually tasted blackcurrant. This is largely due to the fact that in the early 20th century blackcurrants spread a pine-killing fungus in America, leading to a blackcurrant ban. To this day, the blackcurrant plant's presence in the US is regulated on a state-by-state basis.
5. Tahitian Tiare
Found in: Blake
#FactoryFacts: Tahitian tiare flower originates from - you guessed it - Tahiti, although it is cherished in all of French Polynesia for its creamy, tropical notes.
Bet you didn't know: Tahitian tiare flower is actually one of the various types of gardenia flower!
6. Tonka Bean
Found in: Lulu, Hey Punkin Candle
#FactoryFacts: Native to Central and South America, tonka bean is one of the most intoxicating fragrance notes in existence. With an odor reminiscent of vanilla bean, warm spice, and honey, tonka exudes a sweet richness that is nearly unmatched.
Bet you didn't know: Aside from perfumery, tonka beans are utilized in gastronomy as well - for better or for worse. Despite its addicting flavor and ability to astoundingly transform a dish, tonka bean usage in food is actually technically illegal in the US due to its ability (when ingested in quantities far larger than any ingredient would be typically ingested) to cause liver and other organ upset.
7. Lychee
Found in: Dylan
#FactoryFacts: Native to southeastern China, lychee must be peeled of its outer layer of 'skin.' Its interior fruit is commonly used as a sweet addition to beverages.
Bet you didn't know: A lychee's flavor is similar to a grape + pear hybrid, with a slight floral edge!
8. Pink Pepper
Found in: Max
#FactoryFacts: Not to be confused with pink salt, pink pepper has a light spicy scent with rosy undertones, inciting a truly unique twist in a fragrance.
Bet you didn't know: Pink pepper's presence in the US skyrocketed in the 1980s, when chefs were searching for new ways to visually brighten up their entrees. Yet, pink pepper is not actually... pepper. It's a dried berry of the Peruvian pepper tree.
Are there any other ingredients you're baffled by? Let us know in the comments below!