So What's New?

We are now offering a Special Incentive Fragrance Program for any new client. Please contact us for more details. 

Want to keep up with our latest creations?  Ask about our “Best of the Best List” which comes out every month.

                                        
HOME FRAGRANCE TRENDS FOR 2008

The evolution of home fragrance trends continues, offering consumers new choices to stimulate their senses.  Monarch Fragrances invites you to experience the difference that creativity and attention to detail makes. Elevate your senses with fragrances that make a statement.

FLORALS:
In 2008, Spring and Summer floral home fragrances envelop the senses with elegant varieties of exotic and classic flowers. Although dominated by white florals, we will find a riot of big, bright flowers in this category as well. Multi floral selections continue in the trend of paired combinations. Colorful exotic flowers and shimmering classic white florals will dominate the scene. Fall and Winter floral home fragrances sparkle with sophisticated new accents while new dimensions are achieved with rich undertones. Retro winter flowers enjoy a revival, making an appearance as fresh new themes.

FRUITS:
The trend towards exotic fruit scents will continue in Spring and Summer of 2008, but we will also reclaim many classic fruit themes. Fragrances will feature fresh new tropicals, often used in combination with more traditional fruits. Novelty twists will accent classic fruit themes while citrus combinations continue their popularity. For the Fall and Winter fruit fragrances will maintain their position as one of the dominant areas for new home fragrance themes. Orchid fruit and berries appear alone or combined with notes of spice, mint, wood or gourmand accents. Pomegranate, apple, plum and fig maintain a strong position as core fruit notes.

GOURMAND:
The popularity of Gourmand fragrances continues in 2008. Spring and Summer will feature new varieties of vanilla and chocolate with variations that combine nuances of fruits, nuts or spices with creamy tones of vanilla, chocolate or white chocolate. Beverages continue to inspire home fragrances, with a strong emphasis on tea and fruit tea.  The biggest movement will be in fruit and bakery scents, where we will notice fragrances that are less complex, easily identifiable and yummy sweet. Fall and Winter gourmand home fragrances use vanilla as an anchor in the category, with newness being generated by combinations of vanilla with fruit and spice tones. Warm spicy baked desserts create tantalizing themes and nuts combine with all gourmand treats for new sensory appeal.

FANTASY:
A new palette of complex scents evolves for fantasy home fragrance themes in Spring and Summer of 2008. Fabric continues as inspiration with exotic textures joining traditional linen and cotton themes. Wind, water, air and rain inspire fresh outdoors fragrances to lift the senses. Floral and fruity floral blends will prevail, with luxurious harmonies representing gems and precious metal to create more exotic themes. For Fall and Winter nature will provide inspiration for a myriad of themes based on the elements. Warm blends of woody, spicy and fruity tones remain a staple in the category, with precious undertones of amber, incense and musk creating drama.

BOTANICAL:
The trend towards organic and naturals drives home fragrance themes in 2008. Spring and Summer themes feature earthy essential oils that inspire new blends, with patchouli, vetivert, sage and ginger appearing alone or combined with other ingredients. Seaside themes will go botanical, as grasses, reeds and minerals create soothing sensations to pleasure the senses. Fall and Winter botanical home fragrances retain a traditional position. Evergreen, pine, spruce and fir continue as staples in the category, and newness is achieved through the use of dramatic undertones that provide depth and warmth to these notes. Native woods inspire new woodland themes for elegant style and contemporary appeal. Other traditional botanicals such as holly, bayberry and juniper are freshened with new accents to create sensory delight.                    

Are all fragrances safe to use in candles?
Good Question. All fragrances should follow the guidelines of IFRA & RIFM. The Research Institute for Fragrance Materials (RIFM) tests individual fragrance materials, develops testing protocols, and collects fragrance safety data from around the world. RIFM submits it's finding to the International Fragrance Association (IFRA), which establishes safety guidelines and standards for fragrance manufacturers worldwide. These guidelines are to help protect everyone who comes in contact, directly (person handling the fragrance oil or non-directly (in the final product) with a fragrance.

What is a fragrance made up of?
Fragrances are usually a combination of natural, chemicals, and nature identical ingredients. There are over 800 aroma chemicals and essential oils that are used frequently to create a fragrance. Fragrances can contain as little as three components or as much as 200.

Are essential oils better to use than the typical fragrance?
Not necessarily. First, pure essential oils are very expensive. This is usually cost prohibitive to use in product, unless one plans on charging more for the product. Secondly, essential oils are not consistent. That's because they are natural. Colors, fragrance character and even price may vary from lot to lot and season to season. In addition, essential oils are difficult to work in certain bases.

What is a Top note?
This is the part of the fragrance that is created to attract you, it's the first impression when you smell the fragrance for the first time at the opening of the bottle. The top note doesn't last long.

What is a Middle note?
This is the heart of the fragrance. The character and personality of the fragrance. It follows the top note and brings the accord of the fragrance. The accord being the part of a fragrance that makes it different from the other fragrances. Usually made by a fine tuned blend of several specific raw materials.

What is a Bottom note?
This is the part of the fragrance that determines the longevity of the blend. It is responsible for the lasting effect.

What is an Accord?
The accord of a fragrance is the characteristic smell that makes it recognizable and different. A well-balanced blend of a few raw materials, natural or synthetic, that acts like a logo or signature. You always remember it.

How do you duplicate a fragrance?
The technique is a reverse engineering process. A gas chromatograph is used to separate all the different components of a fragrance. The fragrance is then rebuilt from scratch. Since each raw material is a blend of chemicals, a good knowledge of their makeup is required in order to make an acceptable match. Modern equipment, such as a mass spectrometer, helps tremendously, giving a positive identification of each chemical. The perfumer's task is to take all the information and reconstitute the target fragrance. Because of the wide variety of raw material manufacturers around the world, it is very unlikely that you would have the exact same ingredients as in the original fragrance making a perfect duplication impossible. The perfumer will get as close as possible to recreate the olfactive illusion of the target