Perfume notes are one single smell in a fragrance. Coconut, for instance, is a fragrance note. All fragrances are composed of different notes.
When mixed, as in a kitchen, they create an effect. This effect is called an accord. It sounds complex, but it is not.
Perfumery is the art and science of combining aromas to create new ones. It is a term associated with music. Different smells make a harmonious effect.
Without getting too technical, let us explore the fragrance olfactory pyramid: Top Notes, Middle Notes, and Base Notes.
What Are the Top Perfume Notes
Sometimes the first impression is the last one. So these are the top notes. The first thing we smell when we spray a new fragrance.
It is rare for us to purchase a perfume if we do not like it right away. This is a mistake because fragrances, like us, change with time.
The top notes appear first because they are lighter and more volatile. So they evaporate first. They are responsible for much deception if a perfume takes a wild turn for the worse.
One fragrance could smell great for the first 20 minutes and then become, well, nothing.
Modern perfumery relies mainly on fresh notes to captivate buyers with familiar scents. [1]
A quick tip: if you enjoy the first minutes of a fragrance, spray it on your clothes. This way, you will capture this perfume note for a longer time. Skin accelerates change.
List of Top Fragrance Notes (One Recommended Scent per Note)
Bergamot: Aura Mugler
Lily of the valley: Dior Hypnotic Poison
Peach: Badgley Mischka for Women
Citrus: Prada Candy Sugar Pop [Powdery citrus note]
Coriander: Dolce and Gabbana The One
Grapefruit: YSL L’homme Ultime [Juicy citrus note]
Pink Pepper: Bleu de Chanel

What Are the Middle Perfume Notes
As the top notes evaporate, we move on to the fragrance’s heart, the middle notes.
A middle note, or heart note, is considered the true personality of the perfume. As the middle child, they act as a buffer between the top notes and the base notes.
A scent crumbles without solid heart notes. Without them, a fragrance is unpleasant. Kind of like ginger in the kitchen. It makes everything brighter.
Floral and fruity notes are familiar heart notes.
Middle notes last around an hour, and then perfume is on its own with the base note.
List of Middle Perfume Notes (One Recommended Scent per Note)
Orange Blossom: Black Opium Neon [Modern floral]
Jasmine: Fiori Vince Camuto
Tuberose: Carnal Flower [Luxurious floral scent]
Gardenia: Jean Paul Gaultier Scandal
Narcissus: Chanel 19
Clary Sage: Versace Pour Homme
Floral: Acqua Di Gio Essenza
Galbanum: Prada Infusion D’Iris

What Are The Base Notes of a Scent
The best is saved for last. Now the heart notes fade with the base creating an accord—the central theme of the scent.
Is it a catchy song? Our noses will decide.
The last stage is called the drydown. When the top and heart notes stop playing. Woody notes are predominant.
Some base notes are incredibly resilient. Their scent remains for days on the skin and weeks on clothes; when your jacket smells like someone you would like to forget, blame the base notes.
List of Fragrance Base Notes (One Recommended Scent per Note)
Sandalwood: Herrera for Men
PERFECT FOR
Men With Taste
Wives Buying Gifts
Classy Young Dudes
SMELLS LIKE
Tobacco, Leather, Musk, Amber
Spice, Sandalwood, Clove
Jasmine, Neroli, Bergamot
An eternal smoky fragrance that will remain elegant even when things end.
Oakmoss: Knize Ten
PERFECT FOR
Men With Chest Hair
Collectors
Daring College Folks
SMELLS LIKE
Leather, Tabac Blond, James Dean
Niche Fragrances, Leather Jacket,
Cuir Mauresque, Oak Moss Musk
Supposedly James Dean’s cologne, but who cares when you can smell this intense for a few dollars?
Vetiver: Chanel Sycomore
PERFECT FOR
People Who Enjoy Beauty
Corporate Managers
Perfume Lovers
SMELLS LIKE
Vetiver, Sandalwood, Bel respiro
smoky scent, vanilla, aldehydes
Ultimate Vetiver Fragrance, Woods
Probably the most remarkable woody smell my nose has inhaled.
Patchouli: 1 Million Prive
PERFECT FOR
People Who Enjoy Simplicity
Individuals Who Like Lady Gaga
Young Hormonal Fellows
SMELLS LIKE
Blood Mandarin, Tonka Bean, Myrrh Resin, Nargile Tobacco, Cinnamon
Precious Myrrh, Oriental Woody Fragrance, Patchouli
Most perfume critics hate 1 million, but I love it. It’s kinda trashy, but that makes it better, and this flanker rules.
Orris: Tom Ford Grey Vetiver
PERFECT FOR
Your Successful Husband
Aspiring Rich Young Adults
Trendy Dudes
SMELLS LIKE
Vetiver, Bright Citrus, Amber Wood
Orange Flower, Grapefruit, Orris
Sunny Woody Accords, Salty Notes
Refined Spices, Precious Wood, Sage
My favorite office scent. It’s so much more than that, but if you’re an executive and want a signature scent, here it is.
Vanilla: Because It’s You Emporio Armani
PERFECT FOR
Everyday Scent For Active Women
Women Afraid To Offend Noses
Daring Men
SMELLS LIKE
Vanilla, Fruity, Neroli Notes, Musk
Candy, Rose, Bright Citrus
I’ve always enjoyed Armani as a brand, and their perfume line is a mixed bag, but this vanilla tutti-frutti truly covers the sins of many so-so releases. At least smell it!
Tonka Bean: Midnight in Paris Van Cleef & Arpels
PERFECT FOR
Collectors
Admirers of Bvlgari Black
French Oligarchs
SMELLS LIKE
Tonka Bean, Bvlgari Black, Powdery
Floral Notes, Benzoin Luminous Lemon
Leathery Touch, Amalfi Lemon, Almond
This beauty may be discontinued, but I’m a massive fan of this leathery tonka-beaned elixir.
Musk: Tom Ford White Suede
PERFECT FOR
A Gorgeous Woman In Fancy Dress
Every Woman In A Normal Dress
Men Who Like Unique Fresh Scents
SMELLS LIKE
Suede, Musk Pure, Warm Amber
Jasmine Musk, Romantic Evenings,
Clean Skin, Mate Tea, Velvety
Freakin Tom Ford with his delicate fragrances that ooze class by the drop. This one is a transparent gem that smells like the most expensive shower you could take.
Amber: Bal d’Afrique Byredo
PERFECT FOR
Fresh Perfume Users
Individuals Who Crave Lemon Pie
Offbeat Aquatics Lovers
SMELLS LIKE
Moroccan Cedarwood African Marigold
Amalfi Lemon, Black Currant, Neroli
Warm Musk, Amber, Bergamot
Byredo makes really complex scents that are often difficult to wear, but this one isn’t. Please smell it if you can because it’s truly something else.

Takeaway
Perfumery is a beautiful activity. Aesthetics and science collide to produce new smells.
One fragrance family, we love, other we hate.
A perfumer is both an artisan and a scientist. Creating a woody scent or an oriental fragrance requires both heart and mind. One fragrance oil here, another essential oil there. Getting to know a fragrance ingredient is a laborious process. Art takes time.
For the rest of us, finding our signature scent doesn’t require a chemistry degree—just a nose.
One smell brings to mind a lovely experience from our past; another reminds us of rotten food. That is the power of scent.