Fragrance Notes Are Layers Of Scent That Are Layered To Form The Final Fragrance. Fragrance Notes Are Categorised Into Three Main Elements Based On How Long They Take To Evaporate, And How Long They Typically Last Following Application: Top Notes, Heart Notes And Base Notes.
Tanghulu
A joyful, gourmand scent of candied fruit. It features bright Mandarin zest and Strawberry over a core of sweet, juicy Shine Muscat grapes. The profile is uplifted by clean green notes (cica) and anchored by a sticky, syrupy sugar base with hints of apricot-like Osmanthus, capturing the essence of glazed fruit skewers.
Origin & Extraction Of Tanghulu
Tang Hulu is a traditional Chinese dessert of candied fruit skewers, which has recently gained immense popularity, particularly in South Korea. While the dessert itself has existed since the Song dynasty, its use as a specific, named note or inspiration in fine perfumery is a very modern development, reflecting a contemporary trend toward gourmand, sweet, and culturally-inspired scents. The fragrance note aims to capture the sweet, ripe fruit essence along with the hardened sugar syrup coating, often giving it a fresh, vibrant, and joyful character.
In modern perfumery, fragrances featuring or inspired by Tang Hulu, such as those launched in 2024, utilize notes like strawberry, mandarin, and sugar to recreate the experience of this glazed fruit. This application highlights the note's function as a sweet, uplifting top and heart note that adds a touch of gourmand delight and fruitiness to compositions. Its relevance lies in its ability to introduce simple, recognizable sweetness and vitality to contemporary scents.
Extraction Methods of Tanghulu
The primary method for extracting the signature "sugar glass" coating of Tanghulu is through a process of thermal dehydration and sugar saturation. Historically, this traditional Chinese street food, which dates back to the Song Dynasty, involved simmering granulated sugar and water in a wok or cauldron without stirring to prevent crystallization. The syrup was cooked until it reached the "hard-crack" stage, traditionally judged by the appearance of dense, high-pitched bubbles or by the "cold-water test," where a drop of syrup instantly hardens into a brittle, glass-like thread when dipped into cold water.
Modern extraction and preparation techniques have refined this process through the use of precision tools and stabilizers. Contemporary methods utilize candy or digital thermometers to ensure the syrup reaches an exact temperature between 300°F and 310°F (150°C), which is critical for achieving the characteristic crunch. Recent developments also include the addition of glucose or corn syrup to the mixture, which acts as an interfering agent to effectively inhibit sucrose crystallization and ensure a clear, transparent finish. Once the thermal extraction is complete, the skewered fruit is rapidly dipped into the pooled syrup and often immediately submerged in an ice-water bath to instantly set the shell and preserve the freshness of the fruit underneath.
The most prominent example is the fragrance Tang Hulu by the brand KST SCENT, which is a direct olfactive interpretation of the traditional Chinese dessert—glazed fruit skewers. Launched in 2024, this perfume captures the bright, juicy sweetness of the candied treat by utilizing notes like Mandarin, Strawberry, and a distinct Sugar/caramelized sugar accord. Reviewers specifically highlight its successful and realistic portrayal of the "hot, candied sugar" coating without leaning into typical caramel or cotton candy territory.
The concept is also explored by other niche houses, signifying a growing trend towards culturally specific gourmand notes. For instance, RECLASSIFIED RE调香室 released The Candied Gourd 冰糖葫芦, which translates directly to Tanghulu. This scent achieves a similar candied fruit profile using notes of Lemon, Blueberry, Strawberry, and Caramel, grounded by Vanilla and Musk.
The Tanghulu concept is sometimes represented by a general "candied fruit" or "sweet treat" accord. The fragrance d'Annam Spring Festival is an example, where one of its notes is described as the "Chinese sweet treat: candied hawthorn or fruit," which refers to the typical preparation of Tanghulu. This showcases how the note is valued for its cheerful, bright, and intensely sweet-tart character, offering a more playful and sticky-sweet fruit opening in contemporary compositions.
Sustainability Of Tanghulu
Sustainability of Tanghulu
- Promoting a circular economy by upcycling "ugly fruits" that are irregular in shape or size into high-value candied glazes
- Reducing food transport emissions by sourcing seasonal fruits from local farms in Northern China and regional markets
- Supporting the socio-economic resilience of local street vendors and farmers through the continued popularity of traditional cultural snacks
- Preserving agricultural biodiversity by utilizing a wide variety of indigenous fruits beyond hawthorn, such as Shine Muscat grapes and strawberries
- Utilizing energy-efficient preservation methods like traditional winter air-setting or modern freeze-drying to extend the shelf life of fruit products
Trivia
Tanghulu has been sold as a winter street snack in northern China for over 800 years, dating back to the Song Dynasty, where its signature hard-crack sugar shell was traditionally set instantly by the freezing winter air.
What is Tanghulu?
Tanghulu is a traditional Chinese snack consisting of fruit skewers coated in a hard, crunchy sugar glaze, recently popularized in modern perfumery as a joyful gourmand note.What does Tanghulu smell like?
It offers a sweet, syrupy, and vibrant aroma that combines juicy fruit scents like strawberry and mandarin with a distinct "hard-crack" caramelized sugar accord.What is the origin of Tanghulu?
The treat originated in Northern China, specifically Beijing and Tianjin, during the Song Dynasty and was traditionally made with tart hawthorn berries.How is the Tanghulu accord created for fragrances?
In perfumery, the scent is reconstructed using sweet and fruity notes alongside sugar and caramel accords to capture the realistic aroma of thermal dehydration and sugar saturation.What are some perfumes that feature the Tanghulu note?
Notable examples include Tang Hulu by KST Scent, The Candied Gourd by Reclassified, and d'Annam Spring Festival, which features a candied hawthorn accord.