Fragrance Notes Explained

Top Notes

These notes are the first thing you smell when you apply a fragrance, and they are usually fresh and bright. They are the most potent and evaporate the quickest, usually within 10-30 minutes. Citrus oils are a common example of top notes.

Middle Notes

Also known as the “heart” notes, these notes are more enduring and rounded than top notes. They are considered to be “mellow” and “balancing”. Lavender is a common example of a middle note.

Base Notes

These notes are the deepest and most resonant, and provide a lasting foundation for the fragrance. They are similar to low frequencies in music, vibrating deep and slow. Base notes are what give perfume its identity.

The fragrance pyramid helps visualize how these notes work together to create a fragrance. The balance of these notes is important, and perfumers often use the 30/50/20 rule to find the right balance: 30% top note, 50% middle note, and 20% base note.