In short: an ozone note smells like cool, electric air before a storm: crisp, clean and airy, with a faint metallic sparkle. It is the freshest of the "weather" smells.
What ozone smells like in a candle
Ozonic notes feel like wind and open sky. They are cool and transparent rather than sweet, and they make a blend feel spacious, like opening a window high on a mountain or standing on a beach as a storm rolls in.
Where it comes from
Real ozone is a gas made of three oxygen atoms. Lightning and electrical equipment create it, which is why the air smells sharp and slightly like chlorine during a thunderstorm or near a photocopier. That smell is too harsh to use as is, and ozone isn't something you would want in a candle anyway.
So "ozone" in perfume is an impression, built from aroma molecules that smell airy and watery, including Calone (also used in sea scents) and fresh, clean aldehydes. These became hugely popular in the fresh fragrances of the 1990s. Our candles use fragrance oils with ozonic accords.
Ozone is different from petrichor. Ozone is the sharp smell that arrives before a storm; petrichor is the earthy smell of rain hitting dry ground. We wrote about the second one in Candles That Smell Like Rain.
How it is used
Ozone works as a top note, adding lift and freshness. It is a key part of aquatic, "clean air" and mountain scents.
What it pairs with
- Sea salt and driftwood, for the coast
- Moss and eucalyptus, for a mountain forest
- Musk, for clean laundry
- Sandalwood and leather, for an old, airy library
Our candles with ozone
- Poseidon: ozone and sea salt with dark musk and sandalwood.
- Pelagic: marine ozone on a stormy coast with jasmine and driftwood.
- Deep Mountain: cool mountain air with eucalyptus, moss and green apple.
- Taurus Zodiac Candle: airy ozone with cucumber water, melon and bamboo.
Common questions
Does an ozone candle release ozone? No. The name describes the smell. The fragrance doesn't contain ozone gas.
Is ozone the same as "fresh linen"? They overlap. Fresh linen scents usually combine ozone with soft musk and light florals.
Explore more notes in our Fragrance Notes A to Z, or browse our Fresh & Clean candles.