If you appreciate quality home fragrance, you've likely come across Aesop oil burner blends at some point. The Australian skincare brand has built a loyal following for their distinctive aromatherapy oils, each crafted with carefully selected botanical ingredients. Whether you're new to oil burners or looking to expand your collection, understanding what each blend offers helps you choose the right scent for your space.
At Coorong Candle Co., we share a passion for transforming homes through scent. While our handcrafted soy candles and reed diffusers draw inspiration from South Australia's natural landscapes, we recognise that exploring different fragrance options is part of creating your perfect sanctuary.
This guide breaks down the four main Aesop oil burner blends, Beatrice, Catherine, Simone, and Josephine. You'll find detailed scent notes for each, plus practical tips on how to use them effectively in your home.
1. Beatrice oil burner blend
The Beatrice blend stands out as Aesop's most complex offering, combining twelve botanical ingredients to create a warm, grounding atmosphere. This sophisticated composition draws on woody and earthy notes, making it particularly suited to cooler months or evening use. You'll find it works best in living spaces where you want to encourage relaxation and contemplation.
Scent profile and key notes
Beatrice opens with top notes of clove bud and cardamom, delivering an immediate spicy warmth that grabs your attention. The heart features vetiver and patchouli, which provide the blend's distinctive earthy character. Base notes of sandalwood and frankincense round out the composition, adding depth and longevity to the scent. This layering creates a fragrance that evolves over time rather than remaining static throughout your burn.
What it smells like in a room
When you burn Beatrice in your home, expect a rich, grounding presence that fills medium to large spaces effectively. The spicy opening notes soften within the first 30 minutes, allowing the woody and resinous qualities to take centre stage. It doesn't overwhelm smaller rooms but creates an enveloping warmth that feels particularly inviting during winter evenings. The scent lingers subtly even after you extinguish the burner.
Beatrice's complex layering means it performs best when you give it time to develop fully in the room.
How to use it safely in an oil burner
Add 3-5 drops to a ceramic or metal oil burner filled with water, depending on your room size. Place an unscented tealight candle underneath and position the burner on a heat-resistant surface away from curtains or papers. Keep the water level topped up to prevent the oil from burning directly, which can alter the scent and create smoke. Never leave your burner unattended while the candle remains lit.
Using it in a diffuser and other formats
You can use Beatrice in electric diffusers by adding 4-6 drops to the water reservoir. Ultrasonic diffusers work particularly well as they disperse the oil without heat, preserving all scent layers. Reed diffusers offer another option, though Aesop doesn't currently sell Beatrice in this pre-mixed format. Some users add a few drops to unscented candles or potpourri for alternative applications.
Price and size guide
Beatrice typically retails for $45-55 AUD for a 25ml bottle, depending on the retailer. This size provides approximately 50-70 uses based on standard oil burner applications. The concentrated formula means you use less per session compared to diluted alternatives, making it relatively economical despite the upfront cost.
2. Catherine oil burner blend
Catherine offers a lighter, fresher alternative among Aesop oil burner blends, making it ideal for daytime use or warmer weather. This blend features nine botanical ingredients that create a clean, herbaceous atmosphere. You'll find it particularly effective in workspaces, kitchens, or bathrooms where you want an uplifting yet grounded presence.
Scent profile and key notes
The Catherine blend opens with grapefruit and bergamot, providing a bright citrus introduction that feels immediately refreshing. Its heart contains lavender and geranium, which soften the citrus edges with floral and herbal qualities. Base notes of cedarwood and ylang ylang add subtle warmth without overwhelming the fresher top notes. This composition remains consistent rather than transforming dramatically over time.
What it smells like in a room
Catherine fills your space with a balanced, airy fragrance that feels clean without smelling overly medicinal. The citrus notes remain prominent throughout your burn session, supported by gentle floral undertones. It works well in smaller rooms without becoming overpowering, and the scent dissipates relatively quickly once you extinguish the burner. You'll notice it creates an energising atmosphere that supports focus and clarity.
Catherine's bright profile makes it excellent for morning routines or when you need to refresh stale air.
How to use it safely in an oil burner
Add 3-4 drops to your oil burner's water reservoir, using fewer drops than you would with heavier blends like Beatrice. Position the burner on a stable, heat-resistant surface away from drafts that might affect the candle flame. Monitor the water level regularly as Catherine's lighter oils can evaporate faster than woody blends.
Using it in a diffuser and other formats
Catherine performs excellently in ultrasonic diffusers, where you can add 4-5 drops to the water. The cooler diffusion method preserves the bright citrus notes that heat can sometimes dull. Some users add drops to unscented room sprays for quick refreshes between diffuser sessions.
Price and size guide
Catherine retails for approximately $45-55 AUD for a 25ml bottle, matching Beatrice's price point. The lighter composition means you might use slightly less per session, potentially extending the bottle's lifespan to 60-80 uses depending on your application method.
3. Josephine oil burner blend
Josephine represents Aesop's most delicate offering among their oil burner blends, featuring eight botanical ingredients that create a gentle, romantic atmosphere. This blend leans toward floral and fresh notes, making it perfect for bedrooms, bathrooms, or any space where you want a subtle, refined presence. You'll find it particularly appealing if heavier scents feel overwhelming in your home.
Scent profile and key notes
Josephine opens with yuzu and mandarin, delivering a soft citrus brightness that feels less sharp than Catherine's grapefruit. The heart contains neroli and mimosa, creating a delicate floral character that remains understated rather than heady. Base notes of rose and vetiver add gentle depth, keeping the blend grounded without introducing heavy woody elements. This composition maintains a light, consistent profile throughout your burn.
What it smells like in a room
You'll notice Josephine creates a whisper-soft fragrance that perfumes your space without announcing itself boldly. The floral notes stay subtle, supported by the citrus brightness that prevents the blend from feeling too sweet or traditionally perfumed. It works beautifully in smaller rooms where stronger aesop oil burner blends might overwhelm, and the scent fades gently after you extinguish your burner.
Josephine's gentle nature makes it ideal for spaces where you want fragrance without distraction.
How to use it safely in an oil burner
Add 2-4 drops to your water-filled burner, using fewer drops than heavier blends require. Position the burner on a heat-resistant surface away from flammable materials and maintain adequate water levels throughout your burn session.
Using it in a diffuser and other formats
Josephine performs well in ultrasonic diffusers with 3-5 drops added to the water reservoir. The gentle composition suits continuous diffusion without becoming cloying over extended periods.
Price and size guide
Josephine retails for $45-55 AUD for a 25ml bottle, providing approximately 60-80 uses based on the lighter application rate its delicate profile requires.
4. Simone oil burner blend
Simone delivers the greenest, most herbaceous profile among aesop oil burner blends, featuring eight botanical ingredients that create a fresh, invigorating atmosphere. This blend emphasises crisp, verdant notes that feel particularly suited to spring and summer months. You'll find it works exceptionally well in kitchens, bathrooms, or any space where you want a clean, natural fragrance.
Scent profile and key notes
Simone opens with basil and fig leaf, creating an immediately green, almost garden-fresh character. The heart features petitgrain and geranium, which add bright, slightly citrusy floral notes without sweetness. Base notes of rosemary and cypress provide herbal depth and longevity, keeping the blend firmly in the aromatic rather than perfumed territory. This composition maintains its vibrant character throughout your burn session.
What it smells like in a room
Simone fills your space with a crisp, outdoorsy freshness that feels energising and clarifying. The green notes remain prominent, creating an atmosphere that suggests herb gardens and sun-warmed foliage. It performs well in medium-sized rooms without becoming overwhelming, and the scent dissipates cleanly once you extinguish the burner. You'll notice it neutralises cooking odours particularly effectively.
Simone's herbaceous profile makes it excellent for spaces where you need to refresh and revitalise the air.
How to use it safely in an oil burner
Add 3-4 drops to your water-filled burner and position it on a heat-resistant surface. Monitor the water level throughout your burn to prevent the oil from burning directly. Keep the burner away from curtains and papers.
Using it in a diffuser and other formats
Simone works beautifully in ultrasonic diffusers with 4-5 drops added to the water. The herbaceous notes diffuse evenly without heat, maintaining their bright character throughout your session.
Price and size guide
Simone retails for $45-55 AUD for a 25ml bottle, providing approximately 60-70 uses depending on your application method and room size requirements.
What to do next
You've now explored the four main aesop oil burner blends, each offering distinct scent profiles for different moods and spaces. Beatrice delivers woody warmth, Catherine provides citrus freshness, Josephine creates gentle floral atmospheres, and Simone brings herbaceous vitality. The blend you choose depends on your space requirements and the atmosphere you want to create.
If you prefer fragrance options that don't require monitoring a flame, consider exploring alternative home scenting methods. Our natural reed diffusers offer continuous fragrance release without heat or supervision, making them ideal for bedrooms, bathrooms, or offices. Each blend draws inspiration from South Australia's natural landscapes, providing distinctive Australian scents that transform your space just as effectively as oil burner blends.
Whatever fragrance method you choose, the key lies in selecting scents that genuinely resonate with your preferences rather than following trends. Your home sanctuary deserves fragrances that feel authentically yours.