In short: black currant smells tart, juicy and dark, like a deep purple berry, with a sharp, green and slightly wild edge from the leaves and buds.
What black currant smells like
Black currant, often called by its French name cassis, is one of the most distinctive fruit notes. The berry is jammy and tart. The buds and leaves add something green, piquant and a little sulfurous that perfumers love, because it keeps the fruit from smelling candied. In a candle it reads as rich and sophisticated, more like a dark fruit liqueur than a fruit snack.
Where it comes from
Black currants (Ribes nigrum) are small, dark berries grown across Europe, especially in France, Poland and the United Kingdom. The fruit is used for juice, jam and crème de cassis, the liqueur from Burgundy. For perfume, the prized material is black currant bud absolute, extracted from the dormant buds in winter. It smells intensely green and fruity.
Black currants were banned from commercial cultivation in much of the United States for most of the 20th century because the plants can spread a disease that harms white pine trees, which is why the flavor is less familiar to Americans than to Europeans. Our candles use fragrance oils with a black currant note.
How it is used
Black currant is usually a top or heart note. It adds a juicy, slightly tart brightness to florals, woods and dark fruit blends.
What it pairs with
- Red wine, plum and black cherry, for a dark, festive blend
- Rose and jasmine, for a fruity floral
- Amber and saffron, for something rich and moody
- Vanilla and oak, for warmth
Our candles with black currant
- Dionysus: black currant with red wine, black cherry and spice.
- Noble Keep: black currant, plum and red wine with amber and oak.
- Thieves Guild: blackberry and black currant with saffron, tonka and amber.
Common questions
Is black currant the same as cassis? Yes. Cassis is the French name for black currant.
Does black currant smell like grape? It is often mistaken for grape, but it is tarter and greener, with a wilder edge.
Explore more notes in our Fragrance Notes A to Z, or browse our Fruity candles.