Perfume Guide
🌸 The Perfume Lover’s Guide: Understanding Fragrance Notes
Perfumes are built in layers, unfolding over time like a three-tiered pyramid:
Top Notes → the first impression (light, fresh, fleeting – lasting minutes)
Heart Notes → the soul (rich, lasting several hours)
Base Notes → the foundation (deep, lingering for 6+ hours)
Think of it as a journey: the top is sparkling and volatile, the heart is expressive, and the base is warm and enduring.
✨ Top Notes — The First Impression
Light and airy, these notes are your fragrance’s instant hello. They catch attention but fade quickly.
Typical families:
🍋 Citrus: bergamot, lemon, mandarin, grapefruit, lime (Acqua di Parma Colonia)
🍏 Light Fruity: apple, pear, blackcurrant
🌿 Green & Herbal: mint, basil, lavender, violet leaf
🌶️ Bright Spices: cardamom, ginger, pink pepper
🌸 Delicate Florals: neroli, petitgrain, orange blossom (Chanel No. 5)
🌊 Effervescent/Marine: aldehydes, aquatic accords (Davidoff Cool Water)
Impression: Fresh, zesty, sparkling — a quick burst of energy.
💐 Heart Notes — The Soul of the Perfume
As the top fades, the core character emerges, lasting hours. This is where most of a fragrance’s personality resides.
Typical families:
🌹 Floral: rose, jasmine, iris, tuberose, ylang-ylang, lily-of-the-valley
🍑 Rich Fruity: peach, plum, raspberry, apricot
🌶️ Warm Spices: cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, saffron
🍃 Green/Herbal: geranium, green tea, mate
🌲 Woody/Resinous: cedarwood, cypress, myrrh, frankincense
Impression: Romantic, expressive, elegant — the heart is the true story of the scent.
🌙 Base Notes — The Lasting Foundation
The final act: rich, deep notes that linger on skin and define longevity and sillage.
Typical families:
🌲 Woods: sandalwood, cedar, vetiver, oud (Chanel No. 5, Dior Sauvage)
🪵 Resins & Balsams: amber, labdanum, benzoin, tolu balsam
🌺 Musk: clean white musks, sensual skin-like warmth
🍨 Sweet/Gourmand: vanilla, tonka bean, cocoa, chocolate (Mugler Angel)
🌑 Earthy/Animalic: patchouli, leather, smoky accords
Impression: Warm, grounding, sensual — the lingering memory of a fragrance.
📊 Fragrance Pyramid Summary
| Layer | Key Notes | Example Scents |
|---|---|---|
| Top Notes | Citrus (bergamot, lemon), fruity (apple, pear), herbal (lavender, mint), aldehydes, aquatic accords | Acqua di Parma Colonia, Chanel No. 5, Davidoff Cool Water |
| Heart Notes | Rich florals (rose, jasmine, tuberose), warm spices (cinnamon, clove), fruity (peach, plum), green/herbal (geranium, tea), woody/resinous (cedar, myrrh) | Chanel No. 5, YSL Opium |
| Base Notes | Woods (sandalwood, vetiver, oud), resins (amber, benzoin), musk, gourmand (vanilla, cocoa), earthy (patchouli, leather) | Dior Sauvage, Mugler Angel |