In short: jasmine smells sweet, heady and creamy, with a warm, slightly fruity and almost skin-like depth underneath. It is the smell of a summer garden after dark.
What jasmine smells like
Jasmine is one of the most intense white flowers. Up close it is rich and honeyed, with hints of banana, apricot or tea. Underneath is a warmer, animal-like note that makes it feel sensual rather than just pretty. In small amounts, that depth is what gives a floral blend its glow.
Where it comes from
Two kinds of jasmine are used in perfume:
- Jasminum grandiflorum, grown in Egypt, India and around Grasse in France: elegant, fruity and floral.
- Jasminum sambac, grown in India and South Asia: greener and more tea-like. It is the jasmine used to scent jasmine tea.
The flowers release most of their scent at night and in the early morning, so they are picked by hand before sunrise. They are too delicate to distill, so their scent is drawn out with solvents into an absolute. A large part of jasmine's character comes from a compound called indole, which smells odd on its own but gives the flower its rich, heady depth. Our candles use fragrance oils built around the jasmine note.
How it is used
Jasmine is a heart note and one of the two great flowers of perfumery, alongside rose. It is in a huge share of floral fragrances, often without being named.
What it pairs with
- Rose and orange blossom, for a full floral bouquet
- Bergamot and citrus, for brightness
- Sandalwood and vanilla, for a warm, creamy base
- Sea salt and ozone, for a fresh coastal floral
Our candles with jasmine
- Orange Blossom: jasmine, neroli and bergamot on sandalwood.
- Pemberley Gardens: jasmine, lilac, honeysuckle and lily of the valley, from Pride and Prejudice.
- Wild Honeysuckle: honeysuckle and jasmine brightened with bergamot.
- Pelagic: wild jasmine on a stormy coast, with sea salt, ozone and driftwood.
Common questions
Is jasmine too strong for a candle? On its own it can be heady. Blended with citrus, greens or woods, it reads as fresh and floral.
Does jasmine tea smell like jasmine perfume? Somewhat. Tea uses the greener sambac jasmine, so it is lighter than the rich grandiflorum used in many perfumes.
Explore more notes in our Fragrance Notes A to Z, or browse our Floral candles.