Fragrance Notes

How to Identify Fragrance Notes? 

The term note simply refers to an ingredient in a fragrance. All notes can be classified into one of 3 types: top, middle, or base. It is the combination of these 3 notes that creates a fragrance. 

Top Notes 

After opening a fragrance bottle, the first thing you notice are the fresh, light top notes. These initial scents will linger anywhere from 10-15 minutes, before starting to dissipate and soften. Top notes, sometimes referred to as head notes, are important because they give a powerful first impression of the fragrance.  
 
Examples of top notes include: citrus, fruits, florals, herbs 

Middle Notes 

Once the top notes begin to soften, you will notice the stronger secondary scents, which are called middle notes. Often referred to as the heart or core of the fragrance, the well-rounded middle notes comprise approximately 65% of the fragrance, and act as an intermediary between the top and base notes. Middle notes will last anywhere from 2 to 4 hours. 
 
Examples of middle notes include: heavy florals, botanicals, greens, spices 

Base Notes 

Finally, after the top and middle notes have settled down and dissipated, you’ll start to smell the rich base notes. These scents are deep and heavy, and give a grounding affect to the fragrance. Of all the notes in a fragrance, base notes tend to last the longest, anywhere from 4 to 6 hours. 
 
Examples of base notes include: woods, amber, vanilla, musk, tobacco, patchouli