Fragrance "Notes"

Fragrances are described using a musical metaphor of having three sets of “notes”- that is, distinct scents- that reveal themselves over time, creating an aromatic harmony that unfolds in intervals. This is carefully crafted by perfumers by making use of the evaporation process of the perfume and the different strengths of particular oils. This way, the top note gives the immediate impression of leading into the deeper middle tones, then finally, the base notes appear and the full sensation of the scent is complete.

The top notes are generally very light, and are perceived immediately upon application of the perfume. Also called the head notes, they consist of small molecules that evaporate very quickly, so that the scent lasts only 5 to 10 minutes. As these notes shape a person’s initial impression of the scent, they are of upmost importance in the creation of perfumes for a consumer market.

The middle notes, or as they are sometimes called, heart notes, begin to appear about 10 minutes after application of the scent, just before the top notes dissipate, such that the two levels overlap harmoniously. These scents comprise the body or “heart” of the fragrance and are used to mask the initial impression of base notes, which can at first appear unpleasant. The middle notes generally last for an hour or more.

When the middle notes start to fade, the base notes appear, brining depth and solidity to the perfume. Together, the base and middle notes create the main theme of the scent, and will often last for several hours.