Before we answer the question “What are top, middle and base notes in perfume?"

It's essential first to understand what perfume notes are and how they are combined to create your favourite scents. When the word “note” is used to describe a fragrance, this refers to the ingredients used, with an extensive range of notes available for perfumers to experiment with. To create a unique perfume, even the most simple scents combine at least three notes, arranged in a fragrance pyramid (top, middle and bottom).

What is the difference between Top, Middle & Base Notes?

Top Notes. The top notes of a fragrance are those you’ll pick up when opening the bottle or immediately after spraying, forming your first impression of the scent. Top notes are typically fresh and sharp, taken from citrus, fruit or fresh herb fragrance families. These notes may also be referred to as head notes or opening notes and are the lightest in a perfume, which means their aroma won’t linger on the skin as long as others.

Middle Notes. The middle notes, also known as heart notes, start to come through once the top notes evaporate. These are usually the most dominant notes of the fragrance and form its core, with an aroma that lingers longer than the top notes. Middle notes tend to be well-rounded and pleasant, balancing the fragrance’s fresh top level and warm bottom levels. Many accords belong to this group, they are often floral and full-bodied scents such as lavender, rose, geranium or neroli.

Base Notes. Base notes are the longest lasting ingredients within any fragrance and remain when the perfume has fully settled on the skin. These notes have a heavy molecular structure and provide the underlying aroma of a scent, appearing more prominently once the top notes have faded. Base notes or dry-down notes have a lingering depth and warmth, providing a lasting impression and adding complexity to a scent. Typical base notes in perfumes include vanilla, patchouli, woody notes and musk.

How Long Do Top, Middle & Base Notes in Perfume Last? Each type of note has a different molecular structure, causing them to evaporate at varying rates. From the moment you apply perfume, you can expect the top notes to last for up to 15 minutes, the middle notes to last from two to four hours and the base notes to last from four to six hours.