There is more to perfume than initially meets your senses. In fact, quality perfumes have layers, referred to as notes, which slowly reveal themselves over time. Each of these notes is carefully developed by the creator, using knowledge of the evaporation process to help guide when each note will be revealed.
The top notes, sometimes referred to as head notes, are the scents you will smell as soon as you put on the perfume. Since this is the top "layer," so to speak, it is made of small molecules that will evaporate quickly. The scents used in the top notes are typically described as "sharp," "fresh," or "assertive." Ginger and citrus scents are commonly used for the top notes. Regardless of the way they smell, they are typically strong and volatile.
Being the first scent to be revealed by the perfume, the top notes provide you with your first impression of the perfume. For this reason, the top notes are essential to the perfume manufacturer when it comes to selling the product.
The middle notes, which are also called the heart notes, are the scents that are revealed when the top notes have evaporated. The middle notes form the main body of the perfume, which is why they are also referred to as the heart of the product. In addition, the middle notes help to mask the scent of the base notes, which are often unpleasant at first but become more pleasant over time.
The middle notes are generally more rounded than the top notes and have a mellower scent. They generally emerge anywhere from just a couple of minutes to an hour after the perfume has been applied. Typical scents used to create the middle notes include rose and lavender scents.
Once both the top and middle notes have dissipated, the base notes appear. These notes provide the perfume with depth and create a solid, complete scent. Together with the middle notes, they actually create the main theme of the perfume, despite the fact that the top notes provide you with your initial impression.
The base notes are made of heavy molecules that are large and that evaporate slowly. For this reason, the scents are generally deep and rich and may not be noticed until about 30 minutes after the perfume is applied. Since base notes are so heavy and large, they can often still be detected up to a full day after being applied. This is particularly true of base notes derived from animal notes.
Since perfumes have three different levels of scent, it is important to select a perfume on more than just your initial reaction. Take advantage of perfume samplers and give yourself a spritz of a perfume that you think you might like. Then, let it set on your body for a couple of hours and then see what you think about the smell. If you still enjoy the way the perfume smells and if you feel the scent lasts for a long enough period of time, go ahead and make your purchase and add a new scent to your collection.