Fragrance is enjoyed by our senses, just like music. And as music is made up of notes, so are fragrances – each note being put in a certain place to create a harmony, in the case of fragrance, the perfect scent. Read below to find out what each of the three fragrance notes mean and what differentiates them:

Top Notes:
Top notes, sometimes also called the head notes, are the scents you perceive immediately upon application of a fragrance. They consist of light, fresh and uplifting aromas that evaporate very quickly. Top notes are generally not very expensive and usually last between 5 and 30 minutes. You would usually get your first impression about a fragrance from these scents, thus top notes are the most important in the selling of a perfume. Common top notes would be citrus and ginger scents.

Middle Notes:
Middle notes, sometimes referred to as heart notes, make up the body of the fragrance blend. These scents emerge after the top notes dissipate and are usually more warm and soft. The middle notes are not always immediately evident though. They may take 10 to 30 minutes to fully develop on the skin and last about 10 to 60 minutes. Typical middle notes would be lavender and rose scents.

Base Notes:
Base notes bring depth and solidity to a fragrance. These scents are intense and heavy, and evaporate slowly, while also slowing down the evaporation rates of the lighter notes, giving the fragrance holding power. Together with the middle notes, base notes make up the main theme of a fragrance. They are only perceived after about 30 minutes of application of the fragrance to the skin or during the period of dry down. Base notes are relaxing in nature and are also the most expensive of all oils. The most common base notes include Sandalwood, Myrrh, Patchouli, Ylang Ylang, Musk and Vanilla.

Knowing what each fragrance note means is essential for finding the perfect fragrance for you. It will help you discover which notes you like, which suit you best and which will last longest on your skin.

Now that you know the difference between these three important terms in the fragrance world, why not read about the other important three that are commonly misunderstood: Perfume, Eau de Parfum and Eau de Toilette. Find out what’s the difference between Perfume, Eau de Parfum and Eau de Toilette now.

Article by: Kelly Abrahams