NOTES STORY

Late-night parties, office meetings, lunch dates or reunions, a spritz of an exotic fragrance, and you are ready to rock. Fragrances are an elixir of time and can make every occasion special. Just like the notes of a musical composition, perfume is also made up of notes that combine to give a pleasant feeling.

Sometimes we find ourselves leaning towards a particular kind of scent. It could be fresh, floral, woody, or oriental.

We can have a better understanding of fragrance notes if we replace the word notes with ingredients. This simply means that fragrance notes are the ingredients that are actually in your perfume.

What Are Fragrance Notes?

The ingredients that make up a fragrance are called fragrance notes. They are broadly classified into three categories –

• Top notes
• Middle notes / Heart notes
• Base notes

Top Notes

Top notes are the selling point of the perfume and are usually the introduction to the perfume. In the list of ingredients, top notes are always listed first. Top notes are also called headnotes and give the first impression of the perfume. They will either pull you closer or draw you away. Top notes are made with lighter oils because they eventually fade away after 1-2 hours.

Some of the popular top notes include – Cardamon, Rose, Apple, Bergamot, Pineapple, Clove, Pink Pepper, Black Pepper, Blackcurrant, Raspberry, Litchi, Mandarin Orange, Blood Orange, Hazelnut, Lemon, Plum, Strawberry, Ginger, Lavender etc.

Middle Notes / Heart Notes

Middle notes are also known as heart notes as they make the heart of your scent. They aim to introduce new scents in the perfume while keeping some of the top notes in place. Out of the total scent, 70% are the middle notes. They are more long-lasting than the top notes but less than the base notes. There is nothing wrong in saying that heart notes are the core of the fragrance.

Some of the popular middle notes are – Pine, Lemongrass, Guaiac Wood, Sandalwood, Patchouli, Geranium, Bay Leaf, Jasmine, Tuberose, Lily-of-the-Valley, Caramel, Heliotrope, Vanilla Orchid, Cocoa Absolute, Labdanum, Iris, Oriental Resins, Opoponax.

Base Notes

The foundation of any fragrance lies in its base notes. Base notes are richer and heavier. The molecules of the base notes sink into our skin and that is the reason they are more long-lasting. No doubt that the top and the middle notes are noticeable, but the base notes carry an underlying aroma with them. Generally, this is the scent that you remember the most.

Some popular base notes are – Musk, Oud, Amber, Ylang-Ylang, Vanilla, Ambergris, Oakmoss, Patchouli, Vetiver, White Musk, Cedar, Tonka Beans, Coffee, Moss, Leather, Myrrh, Honey, Violet, Velvet Damask, Amber Woods, etc.

Different Types of Fragrance Notes

Fresh Notes

They are the notes that energize you. Such as green notes that smell like freshly mowed lawns or citrus notes made with lemons, oranges, bergamot, and more. They also comprise water notes that feel like sea breezes and fruity notes with tropical fruits like peaches, berries, and pears.

Floral Notes

They add a natural touch to the fragrance. Just as the name says they are made up of flowers such as rose, jasmine, lavender, etc. Floral notes usually find a place in the top and the middle notes of the perfume.

Oriental Notes

Oriental notes give a sweet as well as spicy tone to the fragrance. This is the main reason that oriental notes are used in both feminine and masculine perfumes. Some of examples are vanilla, musk, and tonka bean.

Woody Notes

If you are looking forward to producing a bold fragrance then woody notes are the right pick for you. They add depth and elegance to any fragrance. Some of the prominent woody notes are sandalwood, vetiver, and oud.

So, now you are ready to enter the world of fragrances.

Check out our collection of perfumes and choose the right one for you.