Understanding fragrance notes

When you read about a fragrance, you will often see its notes listed: bergamot, lavender, amber, musk. Notes are simply the individual scent impressions that, together, make up the whole. Thinking of them in three layers can make the vocabulary much easier to use.

These are what you smell first, in the opening minutes. They tend to be light and bright, such as citrus, fresh herbs or aromatic notes. They are lively, and also the first to soften.

As the opening fades, the heart appears. This is often where a fragrance’s personality sits: spices, florals, lavender, or a soft sweetness.

Woods, amber, musk and vanilla-like warmth tend to form the base. They are deeper and slower, and they are what you are left with later in the day.

Notes are a guide, not a guarantee. The same list can smell different on different people, and different formulations of the same notes can feel quite different. That is why trying a fragrance on your own skin is always worthwhile.