Fragrance Notes - What Are They?

Confused by all those perfume and aftershave descriptions going on about “notes”? If you thought notes were all about music – you’re wrong! They can also be used to describe different kinds of scents. The different notes in a perfume or aftershave come together to create the harmonious “chord” of a fragrance. Different notes are released at different times to create the nasal experience more commonly known as “smell”.

Top Notes: This is what you will smell immediately when you take your first whiff of a fragrance. Obviously these are very important as they give you that first impression of whether something actually smells nice or not. These top notes consist of very small, light molecules that evaporate quickly. Top notes are also often described as head notes.

Middle Notes: As the initial fragrance of the top notes dissipates, the middle notes become apparent. This is often the main scent or body you will discern of a perfume and aftershave when you are wearing it. Middle notes are also often referred to as heart notes.

Base Notes: As the middle notes fade, the base notes will become more apparent. It is the base and middle notes that form the underlying “theme” of a fragrance. Base notes create a solid base for a scent giving it depth. These notes are traditionally rich and deep in nature, developing only after the perfume or aftershave has been worn for some time.

These are the things that manufacturers of perfume will refer to when describing their scents. They may dress it up with concepts or a story surrounding it, but the above components and criteria are what everyone uses to create a perfume description. This is useful to know if you are trying to decide which fragrance you might like from written descriptions!

How To Choose The Right Perfume

There is a bewildering array of fragrances available from perfume and aftershave retailers these days. So how do you narrow down which fragrance might be right for you? How do you find which scent is going to be most appropriate for a gift?

Break Your Choices Down Into Notes

Although there are many perfume brands all jostling for your attention, there are really only 6 broad scent categories into which most fragrances will fall. These are based upon the dominant “top notes” in the smell. You will find that different people gravitate towards certain types of smell. If you identify which of the 6 top note categories you prefer, you’ll have a much easier time focusing on the right fragrance to suit your preferences.

Earthy or Woody perfumes tend to be very refreshing and contain fragrances that are reminiscent of woodlands or riverbanks. This grouping often appeals to older people, so if you are looking for that perfect pressie for grannie you may want to consider fragrances with an Earthy or Woody aroma.

Oriental Scents tend to be very strong smelling, distinctive perfumes. These tend to be worn for formal events and evening wear. However if you are considering this kind of scent as a gift you should be very careful - the fragrance tends to be very strong. Only buy for someone else if you know it is going to be to their taste.

Green smells are light and subtle. These tend to be worn as everyday fragrances and will not be as strong smelling as an oriental fragrance. If you’re looking for a gift for someone who you don’t know too well, this kind of scent could work well. Greens are far more subtle than their oriental counterparts, so make for a far safer choice.

Oceanic or Sea Breeze type smells are incredibly popular with young people. They tend to be intense and unusual in fragrance, and evoke scenes from beside or on the ocean. If you are looking for a perfume that would be suitable to take on holiday, an oceanic fragrance might be ideal.

Fruity and spicy fragrances are also great fragrances for wearing during the warm summer months. A little different from the traditional floral tones of more classic fragrances.

Classic Floral fragrances can be worn by almost anyone. They are always highly feminine. A word of warning though. You get what you pay for with perfumes, and it is particularly apparent in this group. Cheap ingredients are more likely to produce a rather horrible scent on your skin!

Additional Perfume & Beauty Resources

Buy Health & Beauty Products Online - with the ShopinUK directory.  Comprehensive listing of health and beauty stores online.

Take advantage of many special offers on a range of beautiful fragrances at the CantBarsed Perfume & Aftershave Offers section.