Top, middle and base notes of a fragrance: what do they mean?

Perfume is an art that appeals to all our senses, but first and foremost to our sense of smell. There are thousands of different perfumes, but they all have one thing in common: a three-part structure that constitutes the basic elements of a fragrance. These are the top notes, the middle notes and the base notes. This structure is often represented as a three-tiered pyramid.

The top notes are represented by the top tier of the olfactory pyramid. They are the first impression we have of a fragrance. They are what immediately attracts or repels us. They are the most volatile, lightest and freshest notes. They evaporate quickly, in a few minutes or sometimes a little longer, but they don't last very long.

Top notes are most often composed of lively, sparkling ingredients, such as citrus fruits (lemon, orange, grapefruit...), aromatic herbs (mint, basil, thyme...), spices (pepper, ginger, cinnamon...) or delicate flowers (bergamot, lavender, lily of the valley...). These ingredients add a touch of dynamism, freshness and vivacity to the fragrance.

The role of the top notes is to arouse our curiosity and make us want to know more about the fragrance. They must be in harmony with the other notes in the perfume, because a perfume is above all an architecture. The top notes are essential for creating a good first olfactory impression and making you want to discover the fragrance further.

The middle notes (heart notes in french) are the essential element of a perfume. For this reason, they are represented in the middle of the olfactory pyramid. They give the composition its overall character, personality and emotion. The heart notes are revealed after the top notes. They linger for several hours on the skin and gradually mingle with the base notes, which are the most persistent and deepest in the fragrance.

The middle notes are most often composed of flowers, plants or spices, and sometimes fruit, depending on the effect sought by the perfume's creator. For example, rose, jasmine, ylang-ylang or iris are classic and timeless floral middle notes that bring femininity, sensuality and softness to the fragrance. Apple or peach are fruity heart notes that add freshness, cheerfulness and lightness to the fragrance. Cinnamon, clove, pepper or ginger are spicy notes that add warmth, mystery and exoticism to the fragrance. Finally, amber, musk, vanilla or benzoin are resinous middle notes that add richness, refinement and comfort to the fragrance.

The base notes are the aromatic components that evaporate and are released most slowly in a fragrance. They are visualised as the base of the olfactory pyramid, the one that supports the entire construction.

Their role is to fix the fragrance and give it an important part of its personality, since they are the ones that will remain on your skin for the longest. Base notes can easily linger for several hours or days on the skin, or even several weeks on clothing.

Base notes are often made up of heavy, powerful molecules, such as woods, resins, balms, musks or vanillas. They are generally warmer, more intense and deeper than the other notes. They can also vary according to the type of skin they are applied to, making each fragrance unique.

Base notes are essential to fully appreciate a fragrance. They give it its character, its trail and its staying power. They are also the notes that make the greatest impression on our olfactory memory, creating a lasting emotion. To recognise the base notes of a fragrance, you need to wait for the top and middle notes to evaporate, which can take between 30 minutes and 4 hours depending on the fragrance.

Note that in order to discover all the nuances of a fragrance, it is always preferable to smell it on the skin rather than on a paper tissue, as the middle and base notes develop better when in contact with body heat.

If this article has inspired you to discover the top, middle and base notes of different perfumes, we invite you to browse the olfactory descriptions of the magnificent niche perfumes carefully selected by the SCENTISSIME expert. You'll see that each note has its own universe, its own message and its own seduction.

Now that you know the secrets behind fragrance compositions, it’s time to find your perfect match. Explore SCENTISSIME’s curated collection of niche perfumes and uncover scents that resonate with your unique personality. We also invite you to discover the perfume that suits you best. Don't hesitate to use our olfactory dating test: the SCENT DATING.