What Makes a Perfume? A Guide to Fragrance Notes

Fragrance notes are the individual components that make up a perfume or scent. They’re the reason why your perfume scent evolves over time, as they have different strengths and durations, affecting the overall scent on your skin as time goes on. Fragrance notes are categorised into three main layers:

• Top Notes: These are the initial scents you perceive when you first apply the fragrance. They are usually light and fresh, often including citrus, herbs, or fruits. Top notes typically evaporate quickly, lasting only a few minutes to 15 minutes.
• Middle Notes (or Heart Notes): These emerge once the top notes fade. Middle notes form the core of the fragrance and can include floral, spicy, or fruity elements. They usually last several hours and give the fragrance its character.
• Base Notes: These are the heavier, richer scents that provide depth and longevity to the fragrance. Base notes often include ingredients like woods, amber, musk, or vanilla. They become apparent after the middle notes have settled and can last for several hours or even days.

Together, these notes create a harmonious scent experience that evolves over time as the fragrance develops on your skin.

Which fragrance notes are the strongest?

In terms of intensity, base notes often feel the strongest over time due to their lasting presence, while top notes hit you the hardest at the beginning. Each person's perception of strength can vary, and some people are more sensitive to certain aromas.

Read More: A Guide to Perfume Strengths

 

Which are the most commonly used fragrance notes?

Fragrance notes are carefully selected to create balanced and appealing perfumes. While the specific notes used can vary depending on the scent’s purpose and style, certain ingredients are more commonly found across perfumes because of their versatility and popularity. Recognising which scents are top, middle or base notes will allow you to deconstruct the smells you are smelling in your perfumes. Here are some of the most popular notes in each category:

Top Notes

Top notes often include bright and refreshing scents such as citrus (lemon, bergamot, orange) or herbal elements like basil, mint, and sage. These notes are designed to capture your attention immediately but fade quickly after application. 

Middle / Heart Notes

Middle notes, which emerge as the top notes dissipate, form the main character of the fragrance. The heart of the fragrance often determines the type of scent it is classified as. For example, a fragrance with a floral heart centred around rose would typically be considered a floral fragrance. Common middle notes include florals such as rose, jasmine, and lavender; spicy elements like cinnamon and nutmeg; and green scents reminiscent of freshly cut grass or leaves. These middle notes provide balance and richness, creating the core identity of the fragrance.

Base Notes

Base notes are characterised by their rich depth and staying power. Woody scents like sandalwood and cedarwood, gourmand notes such as vanilla and caramel, and resinous elements like amber and myrrh are all commonly found here. These notes give a fragrance its long-lasting appeal and round out the scent’s overall profile.

Summary

Summarised, fragrance notes are the constituent elements that make up a perfume, categorised into three layers: top notes, middle notes (or heart notes), and base notes. Top notes are the light scents perceived upon application, such as citrus and herbs, lasting a few minutes to an hour. Middle notes emerge after the top notes fade, forming the fragrance's core, commonly with floral and spicy elements, lasting several hours. Base notes are heavier and provide depth, including woods and vanilla, and can last for hours or days. The fragrance pyramid visually represents these layers, highlighting how a scent evolves over time, with base notes typically feeling the strongest overall.