October’s Oil Of The Month: NO. 16 - Campfire Soaps & Candles Fragrance Oil

NO. 16 - Campfire Soaps & Candles Fragrance Oil Showcase

NO. 16 - Campfire fragrance oil evokes the warmth and crackle of a real fire, tendrils of smoke curl into the cold, crisp air carrying songs and laughter of campfire companions. 

As you expect, NO. 16 is full-bodied in woods, with hints of spice, and plenty of earthy notes, surrounded by smokey incense tendrils.

Coniferous cedarwood tones, and the lighter air of Amyris, meet the warmth and richness of Sandalwood as they crackle in the flames. Warm flames are evoked by saffron and golden Amber. The warm Earth aroma of patchouli is made spicy by clove, culled with wisps of incense smoke.

NO. 16 - Campfire is such a popular choice for October. If you can’t get outside, evoke that feeling inside. Daydream or reminisce. We love its evocative warmth here at VINEVIDA. 

Fragrance Notes

    • Top: Saffron
    • Mid: Amber, Incense, Smoke
    • Bottom: Cedarwood, Clove, Patchouli, Sandalwood 

Blend Like A Professional With NO. 16 

It’s a question that is always just waiting to be asked, “How would you blend this”? 

NO. 16 - Campfire is versatile, because it is heavily loaded in the base notes,  so there are plenty of spaces to exploit here. 

Blending NO. 16    

Once you understand the balance of NO. 16, it can be very versatile and there are a variety of ways to use it to its full potential.

However, before we go anywhere, let's just redefine the fragrance notes in the way that I would categorize them myself.

Saffron to me is a middle note, and everything else is a base note, so once I have re-jigged it to suit my own perception we end up with this difference. 

Before After
Top: Saffron
Mid: Amber, Incense, Smoke
Bottom: Cedarwood, Clove, Patchouli, Sandalwood
Top:
Mid: Saffron
Bottom: Amber, Amyris, Cedarwood, Clove, Incense, Patchouli, Sandalwood, Smoke

Top Notes

Top Notes

So, if we define saffron as a middle note, that means there are no top notes in the scent profile. So this is a great space to play with, along with the heart space, and while it leaves us with very complex and busy base notes, there is still a lot we can do. 

Since base notes are complex, you are going to want to keep the new accords strong in comparison, but not too complicated. Choose scents that can hold their own.  

Floral: In the top note range there are a few options, you can either go for the herbal tones of Lavender, which can hold its own against the base notes,  or heady spring flowers like Narcissus, Hyacinth, and Bluebell.  

Top note florals are pretty limited. You have much more choice in the Heart notes though. 

Green/Herb: Why not try for strong green herbal notes like Clary Sage, and Sweet Basil and even add some cooling notes with Spearmint to balance all that warmth? 

Green/Forest: Personally, this is where I might go myself, it is the category that I feel is most complimentary to the overall profile. Dwarf Pine would be amazing here and you have all the other Pine, Fir and Spruce notes that you can add in the heartnotes to support it. If I wanted to balance the warmth with a cooling dash, I would perhaps plump for some Eucalyptus for that breath of cool air effect. 

Spice: Raise the heat and play on that warming effect by adding in spices through every layer of the scent notes. 

Fruit: You could add in some fruit tones, including citruses, to lift, elevate, and elongate the scent profile and make it more full-bodied. You could add a dash of orange-based aroma and pair it with a dark red fruit like Cherry, without losing the original essence of the aroma. Apples and Pears work well in this space too. 

Recaps or Suggestions For Essential Oils

Sweet Orange, Mandarin, and Tangerine will all enhance the golden fire effect. They will lighten, brighten, and balance the whole profile, elevating it beautifully. 

Use it with Lavender as a standalone floral, it can hold its own here in the right proportion. 

Give the illusion of a forest with Dwarf Pine.

Suggestions for Fragrance Oils

Pair it with the fresh Peach and comforting Vanilla of NO. 1114 - Inspired by: Juicy Georgia Peach by Bath & Body Works.

Use the fresh Lemon and earthy tones in NO. 1115 - Inspired by: Leaves by Bath & Body Works to perfectly complement the autumnal effects.

Heart Notes

Heart Notes

As we can see from above, we simply have the golden warmth and sunny disposition of Saffron occupying the heart. Again, that leaves us with plenty of space to play with but we need strong aromas that can hold their own as standalone scents.

Floral: Get the big guns out. Leave delicate nuanced floral aromas for another day. Reach for Jasmine, Honeysuckle, Lilac, Heliotrope, Tuberose, or Ylang Ylang. 

Only use Neroli if the one you have is particularly potent, otherwise it won’t hold its ground. 

Try to stick with singular flower notes to keep the scent profile from being overly complex. Unless there was a good reason to stick with essential oils, I’d always choose a fragrance oil to give me that intensity and strength.

Green/Herb: If you opted for sharp herbal greens in the top notes, choose one other to support it here in the heart notes. Again, go for heavy hitters like Tarragon, Rosemary, and Thyme. 

Green/Forest: If you chose Dwarf Pine for that forest-like aroma in the top notes, support it here with other coniferous aromas like Scotch Pine, and more Fir and Spruce notes. It will take a combination of them all here, so this is where you get the most versatility with NO. 16. 

Spice: If you want to play with those warming effects, add in spices like Ginger, Cinnamon, Cassia, and Nutmeg. If you plumped for orange notes in the top notes, support it with orange tones of Cardamom. 

Fruit: You can enhance the heart with late summer and early autumn fruits like Figs, Plums, and Black Cherries. Also think of the wild fruits you can get at this time yeast Blackberries, wild Raspberries, wild Blueberries Bilberries, and Sea Buckthorn. 

Suggestions for Essential Oils

Bring in forest notes with Scotch Pine and Balsam Fir.

Choose mighty green herbs like Rosemary, Thyme, and Tarragon that boost the heart on their own.

Neroli, Jasmine, and Ylang Ylang can all hold their own amid the complex base notes. 

Support orange tones with Cardamom and add more warmth with Ginger Root (Dried), Nutmeg, and Cinnamon Bark.

Suggestions for Fragrance Oils

Choose strong standalone florals like NO. 49 - Lilac Blossom fragrance oil or NO. 43 - Honeysuckle & Jasmine.

Support a forest theme with NO. 1400 - Inspired by: Birchwood Pine by Nest and NO. 66 - Roasted Pine Cone.

Add fruit and complimentary notes with NO. 1103 - Inspired by: Black Cherry Merlot by Bath & Body Works and the spicy Fig notes of NO. 1206 - Inspired by: Philosykos by Diptyque   

Base Notes

Base Notes

Now this is where NO. 16 is deeply complex. Smooth golden Amber, light woody tones of Amyris, and the rich woods of Cedarwood and Sandalwood. Warming Clove adds spice while Patchouli provides a lovely earthy depth. 

Smoke and Incense wrap their smokey tendrils around it all. It is this last wisp of smoke we need to be careful not to overwhelm. However, if you do, I have a cunning plan! 

Honestly, I would not add much more to this at all other than the comforting hug of Vanilla or some Balsam-like aromas to support a forest or spice them. 

Essential Oil Recommendations

Try the comforting embrace of Vanilla Oleoresin.

Add in Balsam (Peru) and Copaiba Balsam to support your forest or spice aromas beautifully. 

Suggestions for Fragrance Oils

If you lose the hint of incense add it back in with NO. 54 - Nag Champa and NO. 32 - Frankincense & Myrrh.

If you want more smoke, add NO. 1203 - Inspired by: Feu de Bois by Diptyque.

Designing Bespoke Diffuser Blends With NO. 16

Designing Bespoke Diffuser Blends With NO. 16

Before we get going, first, double-check you have the right type of fragrance oil for your diffuser.

If you are a complete beginner to blending, we have some extra tips for support on your fragrant journey. We will soon have you blending like a professional. 

NO. 16 offers you interesting versatility, as it is one of our more unusual fragrance oils. Have fun building your blending skills with NO. 16 and create your own exciting accords and bespoke diffuser blends.

Remember, these are not hard and fast rules, they are very much suggestions for you to build upon. 

Fragrance
Notes
Original Scent Profile Ideal Companions
Top Saffron Citrus & Fruit: Bergamot, Mandarin, Sweet Orange, Tangerine
Floral: Bluebell, Hyacinth, Lavender, Narcissus
Green Herb: Spearmint, Sweet Basil
Green/Forest: Eucalyptus, Dwarf Pine
Heart Amber, Incense, Smoke Spice: Black Pepper, Cardamom, Coriander, Nutmeg, Pink Pepper
Floral: Honeysuckle, Jasmine, Lilac, Neroli, Ylang Ylang
Green Herb: Rosemary, Tarragon, Thyme
Fruit: Cherry, Peach, Fig, Blackcurrant
Forest: Scotch Pine, Fir Needle, Balsam Fir
Base Cedarwood, Clove, Patchouli, Sandalwood Spice and Bean: Vanilla
Woods and Balsams: Palo Santo, Copaiba Balsam, Balsam (Peru)

Follow This Blending Framework

Top Notes

With only the highest notes of Saffron eking into the top notes, that leaves us plenty of space to play with. You can go several ways: 

    1. Citrus and Fruit: Sharp green notes of Apple and Pear would work well here. Orange citrus notes add warmth, try the gentle zest of Mandarin, uplifting Sweet Orange, or zingy Tangerine.
    2. Floral: Plump for strong herbal floral scents with Lavender. Or stick to those light bright top-note spring flowers like Bluebell, Hyacinth, or Narcissus.
    3. Green Herbal: Choose bright green aromas like Sweet Basil and Clary Sage.
    4. Green Forest: Dwarf Pine will serve you well here, as will Eucalyptus. 

Heart Notes

The heart space has plenty of room too for adding in some interesting accords to make NO. 16 your own. 

    1. Floral - NO. 16 readily blends with the headier floral scents, try it with Jasmine, Ylang Ylang, and Lilac. Only use your precious Neroli if it will stand its ground (test it first). 
    2. Spice - Spices can add a luscious sense of warmth and enhance the fire-like aroma. My favorites would be Ginger, but the dried root, rather than the fresh. Try the orange tones of Cardamom, Coriander, and Nutmeg. 
    3. Fruit: Plump for late summer or early autumn fruits to marry with the season. Figs, Peaches, Cherries, and dark red fruits will all work well. 
    4. Forest: Play on the woody aspects of NO. 16 and create accords designed to evoke the forest. Balance the Dwarf Pine in the top notes with Scotch Pine and Fir Needle. 

Base Notes

The base notes are so complex, so keep it simple here:

    1. Spice and Bean: Stick with comforting ribbons of smooth creamy Vanilla.
    2. Woods: If you are going for the forest effect, try adding in Balsam Fir and Peru Balsam. Introduce lighter woods with Copaiba Balsam and Palo Santo. 

IFRA Safety for Diffuser Blends

All Diffuser Blends appear in IFRA Category 12. However, NO. 16 - Campfire fragrance oil carries no safety restrictions in this category. 

Method:

    1. Into a small measuring jug, carefully measure out all of your fragrance oils and/or essential oils.
    2. Using a stainless steel spoon, give the oils a good mix together until thoroughly combined. 
    3. You want to keep the bottle as clean and oil-free as possible, it helps your label stick much better.   
    4. Using a funnel, decant your diffuser blend into a 10ml dropper bottle.
    5. You want to make the most of every last precious drop of oil. So use a really good quality silicone spatula to help you get all the oils out of the jug and into the bottle.  
    6. It is really important to label your bottles, as they contain undiluted oil they present a significant safety hazard.
    7. Always use an oil and waterproof label and list all of your ingredients. 
    8. Include the date and a 12-month expiry date on the label as well. 
    9. Mark the label as ‘UNDILUTED’, for obvious safety reasons.

How To Use Your Diffuser Blends:

    1. Please consult your individual manufacturer's instructions for specific guidance on your diffusers.
    2. If you are unsure if you should be diluting your diffuser blends, or not, please follow your manufacturer's instructions. 
    3. Check out How To Use Vinevida Oils for further advice on using fragrance oils in different types of diffusers.

Campfire Diffuser Blends With NO. 16    

Campfire in the Forest

Campfire in the Forest

Recreate those happy moments of communal campfires. Laughter, singing, music, and dancing. 

Use essential oils that will evoke the trees and woods of the forest and bring the scene to life.

This is the perfect diffuser blend for an outdoor party or BBQ, but clean and fresh enough for use throughout the home. 

Ingredients:

Safety:

    • Not designed for use on the skin.

Flaming Spicy

Flaming Spicy

Turn up the heat with plenty of spice and those luscious orange tones that just sing of sunshine. It’s like a campfire of spicy woods and barks, full of aromatics and just divine.

Use it all around the home to bring a spicy flourish packed with sunshine and zest. 

Ingredients:

Safety:

    • Not designed for use on the skin.

Campfire On The Beach

Campfire On The Beach

A campfire on the beach is the ultimate in relaxation. Kick back with family or friends, toast a few marshmallows, and more. Sit back and take a deep breath of that cool Ocean air, listen to the fire crackle, and feel the warmth on your toes. Blissful.

Use this blend to bring a breath of fresh air from the beach and the magic of a campfire into your home. 

Ingredients:

    Safety:

      • Not designed or formulated for topical use.

    Our Favorite Recipes With NO. 16 

    NO. 16 - Campfire has an unusual smoky edge to it so I’m going a little off-piste today because it suits this fragrance oil to think outside the box a little.

    I haven’t done a segment on Scentscaping for months and NO. 16 is perfect for this. Join me and I will show you how to create amazing effects for your parties, gatherings, and celebrations. Heck, you can even use it for a family dinner! 

    Then we’ll build on last week's theme of putting away our summer clothes and how we can use NO. 16 with Cedarwood to protect your clothes through the winter and spring. 

    Scentscaping with No. 16

    Scentscaping with No. 16

    NO. 16 - Campfire is perfect for scentscaping your BBQ, outdoor gatherings, and even a family gathering to lift the spirits when rain is lashing at the window. 

    If you have not come across the concept of scentscaping, it’s simply where you use layers of scent to build up an overall aroma for your chosen event. It’s popular for weddings and is an ever-growing market. 

    How Can I Use Scentscaping?

    It’s really easy, but it does involve some forward planning on your part. You simply layer the scent through the various aspects of your event in several highly effective ways. Culminating in an absolute sensation. 

    You can take your party ware linens and infuse them with scent by sealing them into a plastic box with a cotton pad soaked in diluted NO. 16. You need to make sure it is not touching precious linens, since it is oil, it can stain.

    It works really well with disposable napkins and tablecloths. If you are using essential oils as well, always make sure they are appropriately diluted. You don’t want napkins with undiluted oils on them! Follow the instructions in How To Make Scented Paper With Essential Oils and Fragrance Oils.

    You can take the same blend and run it through your scented candles, reed diffusers, and your aroma diffusers. You will be supporting the overall scentscape with these methods.

    If you have a silk flower display, why not add a few drops of NO? 16 to a cotton pad and hide it between the petals, it will give off a wonderful scent, but also be discreet. Don’t add it to the petals themselves and that way you can swap it out and change it to suit your occasion. Also, it won't stain your flowers! 

    Hallowe’en is on the horizon and NO. 16 - A campfire would be perfect for your spooky celebrations. Especially, if you plan to have dry ice on the go. 

    Get creative, you will be amazed at what you can achieve. 

    Use these projects to help you:

    Check out more smoky projects in Feu De Bois By Diptyque - Fragrance Oil Of The Week

    Cedarwood and Wool Balls

    Cedarwood and Wool Balls

    The aim here is to use Cedarwood Balls and Wool Balls infused with fragrance and essential oils to deter pesky clothes moths from your clothes. They are so simple to put together. 

    Cedarwood balls are easy to source but small wool balls are not so easy to find unless you go looking for felted wool beads and then a whole array opens up before you! You want balls that are between 1- 2 cm in diameter. 

    If you missed NO. 77 - PLum Nectar Fragrance Oil of the Week, last week, check out the recipe for Moth Be Gone Linen Spray to support this project.

    IFRA Safety

    NO. 16 in IFRA Category 12 has no maximum safety restrictions.

    This means that you can use as much as you like of NO. 16 - Campfire Soaps and Candles fragrance oil, but we recommend 10% as ample.

    There is no option on the VINEVIDA Calculator for working out the correct safety data for your formulations and recipes when it comes to Scented Balls, use the Candle setting instead. 

    You will need:

      • Protective gloves
      • Measuring jug - small size
      • Stainless steel spoon or glass stirrer
      • A selection of Cedarwood and/or Wool Balls
      • Airtight glass storage jar
      • Organza bags or an old pair of fishnet pantyhose 
      • 100 ml bottle
      • Oil and waterproof label

    Base Ingredients For Your Balls:

    Safety: Not for topical use

    Method:

      1. Put your protective gloves on.
      2. Measure out your carrier oil. 
      3. Add in your fragrance oil and essential oils.
      4. Mix thoroughly.
      5. Decant your base oil into your 100 ml bottle and cap tightly.
      6. On an oil and waterproof label, clearly list all of your ingredients and add the date too.
      7. Also, pop on an expiry date of 6 months from production. 
      8. Put all your wood and wool balls into your glass storage jar. Only fill to ¾ full, you need room to shake.  
      9. Pour over 20 ml of base oil and seal the lid tightly.
      10. Shake well for several minutes to disperse the oil around all of the balls.
      11. Leave to soak overnight, ideally for 24 hours. If there is oil sitting in the bottom of the jar, you added too much, use less next time and give the balls longer to soak. Wooden balls take their own sweet time. 
      12. Make sure your balls are only just soaked in oil and not dripping, if they are dripping, add more balls (or cotton pads) to soak it up over 48 hours.

    How to use:

    How to use
      1. If you are using small organza bags simply pop 3-5 balls in each bag and tie around your clothes hanger, making sure that it does not touch your clothes. Otherwise, you could be left with oil stains.
      2. If you have old pantyhose or fishnets, cut them into sections, tie or sew one end, add a few balls, and tie or sew the other side. The beauty of fishnets is that you can just thread the top of the hanger through them and it will sit atop the hangar away from your clothes. 
      3. Double-check when you place them that the balls are not touching your clothes. 
      4. Refresh them as and when needed using the leftover base oil. I would refresh them every 4-6 weeks. 

    Safety:

      • Avoid getting in your eyes, should any product get in your eyes, rinse well with clean, tepid water immediately. If irritation is persistent, seek medical advice, taking the clearly labeled container with you. 

    TOP TIP: If you have a Cashmere jumper that has already been annihilated by moths or you live in a part of the world where you can get Camel wool, use these as sacrificial decoys and treat all your other clothes by giving them a ‘Ball Bag’ of their own. Though I find one bag per 5 items is more than enough to deter moths, I do put a bag on every Cashmere, Wool, and Silk item and congregate them together in a light place. Moths like darkness. 

    Protect Surfaces and Furnishings From Fragrance Oil

    Disclaimer: As oil-based products, fragrance oils may stain polished and painted surfaces, furniture, and furnishings. Please take steps to protect surfaces before use.

    Always carry out patch tests in inconspicuous areas, especially on your more precious surfaces and linens.

    Ensure You Have The Right Tool for The Job

    Are you aware that we stock two different versions of NO 16 - Campfire Fragrance Oil?

      1. Soaps and Candles Fragrance Oil
      2. Diffuser Fragrance Oil 

    Soaps and Candles Fragrance Oils

    VINEVIDA Soaps and candle fragrance oils give you exceptional versatility and potentiality across professional formulations and home applications. With reliable performance in withstanding high heat and rigorous production processes. You will find they have resilient and long-lasting fragrances in all types of products. They are the first-class choice for your soaps, candles, toiletries, and skincare. Check out How To Get The Best From Your Soaps & Candles Fragrance Oil for more info. 

    Diffuser Fragrance Oils

    VINEVIDA’s Diffuser Fragrance Oil is professionally designed for Nebulizing or Cold Air Diffusers, which require a specialist formulation.

    If you have a Nebulizing or Cold Air Diffuser? Make sure you purchase NO. 16 - Campfire - Diffuser Fragrance Oil but ensure that you use it for this purpose only.

    How To Use Vinevida Oils is a guide to all of our oils and their best uses. You may find answers to some of your queries here. 

    Are You New to VINEVIDA Fragrance Oils?

    Fragrance Oil Of The Week: NO. 77 - Plum Nectar Soaps & Candles Fragrance Oil has a whole section of links just for you beginners, so pop on over. 

    Join The Facebook Group

    The VINEVIDA Facebook Group is just waiting for you! Pop in to discover like-minded people and share your ideas. 

    The Final Word

    The Final Word

    NO. 16 has an unusual slant but when used in the right way it can be sensational. Try blending it to bring to life a campfire in the forest, on the beach, or even in the yard! 

    It has plenty of room in the top notes and heart space for you to truly make it your own and create something bespoke for your home. 

    Try the scents-caping to set your next party apart from the crowd, it really makes a huge difference. The neighbors will be talking about it, in all the right ways, for months. It’s up to you whether you divulge your secret or not. 

    However, you decide to use NO. 16 - Campfire this month, have a whole heap of fun with it and evoke those happy times spent around a lovely roaring campfire.

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