Understanding fragrance notes
Different note in the perfume world produce different scents. Understanding what these are will help you choose your favorite scent, so let’s dive right into it! There are three main components of fragrances and they can be broken down easily: top note, middle or heart note (or base), and bottom/basenote. Topnotes tend to last for a few minutes on skin while basenotes take longer before dissipating which gives an opportunity for other ingredients called fixatives to contain them from evaporating faster than desired as well as increasing their longevity but not altering how strong the initial impression is perceived by those around you.”perfume
Fragrance Notes
The amount of fragrance note combinations varies depending on the where they are going to be used. For example, a perfume should have at least three different layers or notes: top notes, heart notes and base notes. These will make up the final scent which is pleasing to many people when combined together properly. Without these components working in harmony there would not be an appealing smell that attracts others close by!
Top Notes
These are sometimes known as opening notes or head notes this is because they are the fragrance notes recognised on applying the fragrance. Top notes are the lightest notes of all three and they are the first to fade. They represent the first smell of the fragrance giving you the first impression of the fragrance to entice you to purchase that particular scent.
Typical top notes include citrus such as bergamot, lemon, orange zest, light fruits, anise, berries, grapefruit and fresh herbs such as basil, sage and lavender.
Heart Notes
These notes lie at the heart of the fragrance. They are also known as middle notes and is the foundation of any fragrance and is known to make up approximately 40-80% of the final fragrance.
The heart notes start to come through as the top notes start to fade and will strongly influence the base notes to come. The heart of any fragrance should be pleasant and well rounded and because of this scents such as cinnamon, ylang ylang, lemongrass and neroli are all common recognisable heart notes.
Base Notes
The base notes will start to come through once the top notes have completely evaporated. Base notes make up 10-25% of the final fragrance. Base notes blend with the heart notes to deepen the complexity of the fragrance.
Top notes make the initial impression base notes are associated with the dry down period of the fragrance and therefore will create the final lasting impression.
Base notes are mostly rich and smooth and is the longest lasting of the three notes. Typical base notes include cedarwood, sandalwood, vanilla, patchouli and musk.
