Notes are the vocabulary of perfumery — learn a dozen of them and reviews stop being a foreign language.

A note is an individual aromatic impression within a fragrance, arranged with others into a pyramid of top, heart and base, unfolding over time as different materials evaporate at different rates. Understanding notes turns a fragrance description from abstract poetry into something you can actually predict and compare.

The three tiers, briefly

  • Top notes — the opening; light, quick to fade (citrus, herbs).
  • Heart notes — the middle; the true character (florals, spices).
  • Base notes — the foundation; heavy, long-lasting (oud, musk, amber, vanilla).

Frequently asked questions

Do all fragrances have all three tiers?

Most do, though some simpler or more linear compositions blur the lines between tiers deliberately.

Continue reading: What Are Top, Heart & Base Notes? · Common Base Notes · and 5 more

Explore notes in practice across our Perfume Oils.