What is the Difference Between Top Notes Middle Notes and Base Notes
The main difference between top notes middle notes and base notes is that top notes appear as soon we apply perfume, while middle notes emerge once the top note of the perfume evaporates, and base notes appear close to the evaporation of middle notes.
In perfumery, notes are the scent layers that make up the final scent of a perfume. A perfume typically has three main notes: top note, middle note, and base note. These notes are actually groups of scents divided according to the ability to smell them after application. Perfumers select these notes carefully, considering the evaporation process and the intended purpose of the perfume.
Key Areas Covered
1. What are Top Notes
– Definition, Features
2. What are Middle Notes
– Definition, Features
2. What are Base Notes
– Definition, Features
3. Difference Between Top Notes Middle Notes and Base Notes
– Comparison of Key Differences
Key Terms
Top Notes, Middle Notes, Base Notes, Heart Notes, Head Notes, Opening Notes
What are Top Notes
Top notes are the notes we immediately note after applying a perfume. Therefore, the top notes of a fragrance are the first impression. Top notes are also known as head notes or opening notes. They are made up of light molecules and evaporate quickly. They are also the lightest of all three notes.
Although top notes evaporate quickly, they have a very important role in a fragrance. They either attract a person or drive him/her away. If the top note doesn’t make a lasting impression, a perfume won’ sell. Perfumers usually use citrus-based substances like lemon and orange zest and light fruits like berries and grapefruit for top notes. These are usually sharp, fresh, and volatile scents.
What are Middle Notes
Middle notes are the scents that emerge once the top note of the perfume evaporates. These make up the heart of the perfume, so we also call them heart notes. Scents in middle notes can last around 20 minutes to one hour.
Middles notes tend to be pleasant and well-rounded; they are usually a combination of floral or herbal aroma. Rose, lemongrass, jasmine, lavender, and geranium are common scents in middle notes. Some perfumers also use spices like nutmeg and cinnamon. Since middle notes make up the body of a perfume and determines the dominant aroma, the percentage of oil perfumers use for these notes is high.
What are Base Notes
Base notes are the final scent notes that appear close to the evaporation of middle notes. They appear once the top notes are completely gone, but when middle notes still linger. They mix with middle notes to create the full body of the perfume. It’s the base notes that create the lasting impression of the fragrance and stay on the skin for hours. In fact, they can last up to 6 hours. They have heavy molecular structures and aren’t as volatile as top and middle notes.
Oils used for base notes are generally deep and rich. Perfumers commonly use woody and musky aromas to create base notes. Some examples include sandalwood, vanilla, amber, patchouli, and cedarwood.
Difference Between Top Notes Middle Notes and Base Notes
Definition
Top notes are the notes we immediately smell after applying a perfume while middle notes are the scents that emerge once the top note of the perfume evaporates, and base notes are the final scent notes that appear close to the evaporation of the middle notes.
Evaporation
While top notes evaporate quickly (within minutes), middle notes can last up to an hour. Base notes, on the other hand, can last up to 6 hours.
Function
Top notes make the first impression of a fragrance, while middle notes and base notes create the full body of the perfume.
Nature
Moreover, top notes are sharp, fresh, and volatile scents, while middle notes are pleasant and well-rounded, and base notes are deep and rich.
Examples of Scents
Lemon, orange zest, peppermint, grapefruit, and eucalyptus are common top note scents, whereas rose, lemongrass, jasmine, lavender, and geranium are common scents in middle notes. In addition, sandalwood, vanilla, amber, patchouli, and cedarwood are some examples of base notes.
Conclusion
Top notes appear as soon we apply perfume, while middle notes emerge once the top note of the perfume evaporates, and base notes appear close to the evaporation of middle notes. In addition, top notes make the first impression of a fragrance, but middle notes and base notes create the full body of the perfume. Thus, this is the main difference between top notes middle notes and base notes. All in all, an appealing fragrance should have a smooth combination of all three notes.
Reference:
1. “What Are Top Notes, Heart Notes and Base Notes? Fragrance Notes Explained.” Perfume.org.
2. “Understanding Top, Middle and Base Notes in Perfume.” Edens Garden.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Bride-perfume-beauty-bottle-luxury” (CC0) via Pixabay
2. “Roberto Cavali perfume bottle, Fragrance, Perfume, Perfumery, Fragrant, bottle, scented, female, valentine, beauty product” (CC0) via Pxfuel
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