Every SOJA&CO. fragrance is built on a principle borrowed from the world's great perfume houses: the fragrance pyramid. This concept explains how a scent evolves over time, from the first minutes after lighting a candle to the hours that follow. Understanding the fragrance pyramid means understanding why a candle's scent subtly shifts through an evening, and why certain families, woody, spicy, gourmand, feel made for winter.

In this article, we break down top, heart and base notes, trace the link between our fragrances and French perfumery in Grasse, and explain why the 4 new fragrances in our winter 2026 collection were built with this exact architecture in mind.

What Is the Fragrance Pyramid?

The fragrance pyramid refers to the three-stage structure of a scent: top notes, noticed within the first few minutes, heart notes, which form the fragrance's identity for several hours, and base notes, which linger the longest and give the scent its lasting signature.

Top notes are the most volatile: they evaporate quickly (usually within 5 to 15 minutes) and create the very first impression. These are often citrus, fresh notes or light accords, like clementine or clove in our winter fragrances.

Heart notes take over next and dominate for 15 minutes to 2 hours. They form the true body of the fragrance, the part most people associate with a scent overall. At SOJA&CO., these are often woody notes (boreal pine, fir needle, sandalwood) or floral and gourmand notes depending on the collection.

Base notes settle in for 8 hours and beyond. They give a fragrance its depth and staying power: vanilla, tonka bean, patchouli, amber wood. These are the notes our perfumers work on most carefully, since they define a candle's long-term olfactory experience.

From Grasse to Montreal: How Our Fragrances Are Made

Our fragrances are developed in partnership with a perfume house founded in Grasse, France, over 250 years ago. Grasse is recognized worldwide, and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, for its centuries-old expertise in fine perfumery.

Each SOJA&CO. fragrance can contain between 1 and 120 ingredients, hand-selected by our perfumers, a blend of essential oils and synthetic ingredients chosen for quality rather than cost. All of our fragrances follow IFRA (International Fragrance Association) guidelines and consistently exclude phthalates, formaldehyde and other respiratory sensitizers from our ingredient list.

This composition work, worthy of the great perfume houses, is then hand-poured in our Montreal workshops. It's this meeting of French olfactory expertise and Quebec craftsmanship that sets our fragrances apart: vegan, cruelty-free, safe for the whole family, and B Corp certified.

Why Woody, Spicy and Gourmand Notes Define Winter

Certain fragrance families naturally suit colder seasons. Woody, spicy and gourmand notes carry a denser texture and longer staying power than fresh or floral notes, creating a sense of warmth and coziness, exactly what winter calls for. Here's how that plays out across the 4 fragrances in our winter 2026 collection.

Hazelnut, Fir & Suede (woody, spiced) opens with top notes of roasted hazelnut, chestnut and clove, both sweet and spiced at once. The heart reveals the depth of sandalwood, fir needle and cedar, before base notes of caramel, vetiver and patchouli settle in. A fragrance built for long winter evenings.

Fig + Boreal Pine (woody) starts with top notes of fig leaf, clove and orange, then moves into a heart of boreal pine, cinnamon and fir needle. Base notes of cedarwood, tonka bean and amber wood anchor the fragrance in a lasting woody warmth.

Spruce + Vetiver (woody) opens with fresh top notes of eucalyptus, fir needle and cypress, evoking an invigorating forest. A heart of white pine, cedarwood and leather adds depth, while base notes of vetiver, patchouli and amber wood create an earthy, sophisticated signature.

Marshmallow + Clementine (fruity, gourmand) proves a winter fragrance can also be bright: top notes of lemon sugar and juicy clementine open onto a heart of whipped marshmallow and coconut milk, before vanilla and tonka bean close the composition with warmth.

Together, these 4 fragrances show that a well-built fragrance pyramid never relies on a single note: it's the balance between the volatile and the lasting that creates a complete sensory experience.

How to Recognize a Well-Built Winter Fragrance

A well-built fragrance evolves over time rather than staying locked on a single scent from start to finish. To fully experience this evolution in a scented candle, we recommend letting the candle burn for 2 to 3 hours the first time you light it, long enough for the wax pool to reach the edges and for the heart and base notes to fully unfold.

Our 8 oz candles offer roughly 50 hours of burn time, plenty to experience the full fragrance pyramid, from the first light to the final hours.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between top, heart and base notes?

Top notes are the first impression, noticed for 5 to 15 minutes. Heart notes form the body of the fragrance for 15 minutes to 2 hours. Base notes settle in for 8 hours and beyond, giving the scent its lasting signature.

Why are woody scents associated with winter?

Woody notes carry a dense texture and long staying power that evoke warmth and coziness, unlike the fresh or floral notes favored in summer. That's why woody, spicy and gourmand notes dominate winter collections.

Why is the Grasse perfume house so renowned?

Grasse, France, has practiced fine perfumery for over 250 years and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site for this expertise. That craftsmanship shapes every SOJA&CO. fragrance, which is then hand-poured in Montreal.

How long do the base notes of a scented candle last?

Base notes, like vanilla, tonka bean or patchouli, generally last 8 hours or more. They define a fragrance's lasting signature and are best perceived after a few hours of burning.

What fragrances make up the SOJA&CO. winter 2026 collection?

The winter 2026 collection features 4 fragrances: Marshmallow + Clementine (fruity, gourmand), Fig + Boreal Pine (woody), Spruce + Vetiver (woody) and Hazelnut, Fir & Suede (woody, spiced), each built on the same top, heart and base note architecture.

Discover Our Fragrances

Learning the fragrance pyramid means appreciating every stage of a candle's burn, from first impression to the signature that lingers for hours. Our perfumers and our partner perfume house in Grasse bring all of that expertise to fragrances hand-poured in Montreal. Explore the winter 2026 collection and let every top, heart and base note carry you into the mood of the season.