Choosing the right fragrance is no less than a hustle. Complete fragrance knowledge is what you need, to select your perfect signature scent! Here is a brief guide on perfume types and different notes that have been used for ages.
All About Perfume Notes!
Many people are aware of perfume notes, but actually understanding a perfume’s structure and a broad variety of chemicals can be difficult and baffling. Top notes, heart notes, and base notes are the three components of perfume notes.
This basic guideline will assist you in delving into the three components and decoding the enigma of the true complexity of perfume notes.
What Are The Basic Notes?
Top Notes
The first scent that you experience just after spritzing is made of top notes. But they don’t linger for long. Top notes stay for 15 – 20 minutes before they disappear. They are designed in a way that captivates a wearer’s attention. Therefore, they are comprised of fresh, floral, woody and citrusy ingredients.
Heart Notes/ Middle Notes
Heart notes truly goes by the name, meaning, they form the heart of your fragrance. They sneak in once the initial burst of top notes has receded. Strong floral and spicy oils, such as lemongrass, jasmine, lavender, coriander, and nutmeg, are used to create heart notes so that they can linger on your skin much longer.
Base Notes
The foundation on which the entire perfume is built is termed as base notes. They are formulated to deepen and scent the final notes that stay up to 12 hours. Base notes that are widely employed include cedarwood, sandalwood, vanilla, amber, patchouli, oak moss, and musk.
All About The Fragrance Wheel!
The fragrance wheel, also known as an aromatic wheel, fragrance circle, perfume wheel, and numerous variations, is a circular graphic that explains the distinctions and similarities across several olfactory groups.
The wheel is divided into four sections: Floral, Oriental (now known as Amber), Woody, and Fresh.
There are subgroups within each family that describe a specific fragrance in depth.
Explore the Scent Families
Floral
Some of the world’s most popular scents are in this category, with scents redolent of freshly cut flowers. This category can be complex yet delicate depending on the combination of other notes.
- Floral Fresh: Fresh scents of woody and smokey rose or spicy lily can also be found in these fragrances.
- Soft Floral: The aldehydes and powdery notes in these formulas are well-known.
- Floral Ambery: These smells are largely comprised of fresh, fragrant orange blossoms and various sweet spices.
Oriental
One of the most opulent fragrance families! Amber perfumes are deep and rich, with sugary, peppery notes like black pepper, patchouli, luxurious vanilla, hot and welcoming cinnamon, along with aromatic cardamom.
The exotic and sensual sub-family members are:
- Ambery: Musky notes such as vanilla, resins, or cinnamon characterize these fragrances.
- Soft Ambery: These delicate perfumes combine floral and citrus undertones.
- Woody Ambery: These fragrances are earthy and sweet, and they are frequently blended with soft and creamy sandalwood or smoky patchouli.
Woody
Warm and opulent notes of sandalwood, cedarwood and patchouli are sometimes combined with floral scents to render the strong scent of the spicy and woody notes into brighter and lighter scents.
Sub-family includes:
- Woody: Mostly consist of sandalwood and patchouli.
- Mossy Woods: These subtle fragrances are pleasant, calm, and earthy.
- Dry Woods: This subfamily is distinguished by creamy sandalwood combined with smokey aromas such as delicate, pungent leather.
- Woody Aromatic: Woody tones blended with enticing fresh aromas like lavender, forming a subcategory on the aroma wheel.
Fresh
Some of the world’s most invigorating and vivid aromas are part of this scent family. They are marked by bright, citrus-based, marine, herbal, and green notes, which are frequently complemented by lingering woodsy aspects.
Sub-family include:
- Aromatic: These smells, sometimes known as fougère, are clean, uncomplicated, and fresh. They frequently include sharp, clear rosemary and spicy, herbal basil, as well as elements of gentle lavender and warm, woody overtones.
- Citrus: Complex bergamot, stimulating citrus, luscious orange, juicy mandarin, and uplifting grapefruit are common ingredients in these zesty, vibrant perfumes.
- Water: All the aquatic and marine ingredients dominate this category.
- Green: Invigorating, fresh, herbal, and leafy scents coupled with the odor of green leaves, or a recently mowed lawn fall into this category.
- Fruity: On the fragrance wheel, a subcategory between the fresh and floral aroma families. It is mostly composed of sweet scents with notes of velvety peach, rich, slightly syrupy pear, and crisp apple.
As said by Emanuel Ungaro “Perfume is the reflector of the heart”. So, choose your scent wisely!