A Quick Guide To Fragrance Notes

What Are Fragrance Notes?

Notes are the flavors or ingredients used in the creation of a specific fragrance.

All fragrances can be understood to have 3 parts: top notes, middle notes, and base notes, with each category serving its own unique purpose.

This may seem simple at first, but considering all the different possible combinations of notes and scents can quickly become very complicated.

Understanding scent notes is one of the most basic steps to making effective use of your fragrances, and they're something that everyone who enjoys wearing a fragrance should be familiar with.

All Fragrances Have 3 Parts

The 3 Note Categories

Top Notes are the first flavors that a fragrance gives off, and they also last the least amount of time. Often featuring a sharp, airy quality, popular top notes include citrus, lemon, and peppermint.

Bright Crystal by Versace features many light, fruity top notes

Middle Notes are heavier and stronger smelling than top notes. These notes also last longer than top notes and often feature well-rounded scents. Cinnamon, rose, and lemongrass are popular flavors used in middle notes.

Light Blue by Dolce & Gabbana has well rounded middle notes

Base Notes are the heaviest and longest lasting of the scents of a fragrance. These notes create the full body of the fragrance, and can last up to 6 hours after being applied. Common flavors used in bass notes include cedarwood, amber, and vanilla.

Bad Boy by Carolina Herrera has powerful, full-bodied base notes