Understanding Perfume Notes

perfumebottleUnderstanding what it means when people talk about perfume notes can help you choose perfumes that match your personality and really appeal to you. It can also make you simply feel more informed at the perfume counter, or when browsing online. If you've heard a perfume or cologne referred to as citrusy, summer, woody, spicy, or floral, among other labels, this refers to the perfume notes.

A perfume has three notes--top, middle and base. If you really want to know your perfume, it can take a little practice to distinguish the quality of these different notes, but it's worthwhile because you can better appreciate each scent.

Top notes are the first scents you experience when you apply a perfume. You may also hear these referred to as head notes. When you first spray or dab on a perfume, you'll probably notice the alcohol scent immediately. But there is also fragrance, and this makes up the top perfume notes. A perfume that is said to have woody top notes will smell green and woody as soon as you apply it.

These top notes face pretty quickly and give way to the middle perfume notes. These can also be called heart notes, because these scents are the heart of the fragrance. After the top notes fade a little and the alcohol smell is gone, you're experiencing the middle notes of the perfume.

Finally, you have the base notes. These scents are revealed as the perfume sits on your skin as warms to your temperature. It can take up to an hour for the base notes to come through and mix with the middle perfume notes to make up the actual, true scent of the perfume.

This is the reason you should never just squirt a perfume at the cologne counter and purchase it--you won't know how it truly smells on your for 45 minutes to an hour. Be patient to really find out how well the scent compliments you.

Perfume notes are the same as cologne notes, essentially. Those notes are, of course, for men's cologne instead. What may go on smelling like a bit of alcohol and citrus could give way to a deep scent of leather and sandalwood with only a trace of spice.

Perfume notes are simply the levels of scent in a fragrance. They can be very simple or very complex, depending on the scent and its makeup. A scent that has only a few different fragrant ingredients is going to give off much simpler notes than one that's a combination of many different essential oils and scents.

Typically, an alcohol based perfume will have simpler and more straightforward notes than one that's oil-based. This is because the oil-based perfumes generally are longer lasting, and have more time to reveal a complex fragrance combination than alcohol-based perfumes which face much more quickly.

A little dedication and practice can help you understand perfume notes and recognize different scents and undertones, just as a wine connoisseur practices learning the different tastes and bouquets of a favorite vintage.

CLINIQUE HAPPY Womens Perfume Eau de Parfum EDP 34 fl oz W 50 content NO BOX

CLINIQUE HAPPY Womens Perfume Eau de Parfum EDP 34 fl oz W 50 content NO BOX

US $19.99
Sale
2 CALVIN KLEIN PERFUME MINIATURES OBSESSION AND ESCAPE

2 CALVIN KLEIN PERFUME MINIATURES OBSESSION AND ESCAPE

US $10.99
Sale
RARE SET OF 2 VICTORIA SECRET ENCOUNTER PERFUME PARFUM MINI COLLECTIBLE NEW

RARE SET OF 2 VICTORIA SECRET ENCOUNTER PERFUME PARFUM MINI COLLECTIBLE NEW

US $27.50
Sale
Elizabeth Taylor WHITE DIAMONDS PERFUME 12 Fl oz 37 ml Unopened NEW

Elizabeth Taylor WHITE DIAMONDS PERFUME 12 Fl oz 37 ml Unopened NEW

US $8.25
Sale
Estee Lauder GOLD TEAPOT Collectible Solid Perfume Compact 1999

Estee Lauder GOLD TEAPOT Collectible Solid Perfume Compact 1999

US $56.50
Sale
JESSICA Version of Jennifer Aniston Perfume 34 fl oz 100 ml EDP

JESSICA Version of Jennifer Aniston Perfume 34 fl oz 100 ml EDP

US $12.99
Sale
RARE DEAL VICTORIA SECRET ENCOUNTER REAL PARFUM PERFUME COLOGNE SPRAY NEW GIFT

RARE DEAL VICTORIA SECRET ENCOUNTER REAL PARFUM PERFUME COLOGNE SPRAY NEW GIFT

US $23.00
Sale
VINTAGE HOBNAIL MILK GLASS PERFUME BOTTLE

VINTAGE HOBNAIL MILK GLASS PERFUME BOTTLE

US $6.99
Sale
VINTAGE MINIATURE MERMAID PERFUME BOTTLE FLASK PENDANT

VINTAGE MINIATURE MERMAID PERFUME BOTTLE FLASK PENDANT

US $11.01
Sale
Fantasy by Brittany Spears EDP Spray Perfume for Women Used No Box 5 oz 15 ml

Fantasy by Brittany Spears EDP Spray Perfume for Women Used No Box 5 oz 15 ml

US $5.75
Sale
RARE SET OF 2 VICTORIA SECRET ENCOUNTER PARFUM PERFUME COLOGNE SPRAY NEW GIFT

RARE SET OF 2 VICTORIA SECRET ENCOUNTER PARFUM PERFUME COLOGNE SPRAY NEW GIFT

US $49.00
Sale
BRAND NEW SEALED WOMENS BRITNEY SPEARS BELIEVE PERFUME SPRAY NIB 17 OZ LOVE

BRAND NEW SEALED WOMENS BRITNEY SPEARS BELIEVE PERFUME SPRAY NIB 17 OZ LOVE

US $17.59
Sale
Vtg HALSTON Natural Spray Cologne Perfume Fragrance 100 ML 34 OZ 90 Full

Vtg HALSTON Natural Spray Cologne Perfume Fragrance 100 ML 34 OZ 90 Full

US $9.99
Sale
★VICTORIA SECRET ENCOUNTER PERFUME SHOWER GEL BATH WASH NEW RARE DISCONTINUED★

★VICTORIA SECRET ENCOUNTER PERFUME SHOWER GEL BATH WASH NEW RARE DISCONTINUED★

US $24.00
Sale
Coach Poppy Flower 34 oz Perfume Gift Set with Bag Perfume Pencil NIB

Coach Poppy Flower 34 oz Perfume Gift Set with Bag Perfume Pencil NIB

US $89.50
Sale
Estee Lauder TURTLE COMPACT Collectible Solid Perfume Compact 1988

Estee Lauder TURTLE COMPACT Collectible Solid Perfume Compact 1988

US $50.00
Sale
VINTAGE BLACK PANTHERE DE CARTIER PERFUME BOTTLE 30ml 1oz ART DECO

VINTAGE BLACK PANTHERE DE CARTIER PERFUME BOTTLE 30ml 1oz ART DECO

US $89.99
Sale
Vintage Faberge Tigress Perfume Parfum 1 2 fl oz Used

Vintage Faberge Tigress Perfume Parfum 1 2 fl oz Used

US $19.95
Sale
Vintage Anne Klein Perfume Miniature Mini Collectible Parfum

Vintage Anne Klein Perfume Miniature Mini Collectible Parfum

US $12.99
Sale
Antique Gold Gilt Ormolu Perfume Bottles in Caddy w Globe Clock made in Germany

Antique Gold Gilt Ormolu Perfume Bottles in Caddy w Globe Clock made in Germany

US $239.95
Sale
RARE VICTORIA SECRET ENCOUNTER PERFUME SHOWER GEL LARGE 7 OZ NEW IN BOX GIFT

RARE VICTORIA SECRET ENCOUNTER PERFUME SHOWER GEL LARGE 7 OZ NEW IN BOX GIFT

US $40.00
Sale
Victorias Secret Womens Love Spell Eau de Parfum 1 fl oz ounce bottle perfume

Victorias Secret Womens Love Spell Eau de Parfum 1 fl oz ounce bottle perfume

US $6.99
Sale
★★★ESCADA EN FLEURS PERFUME EAU DE TOILETTE NEW BOXED★★

★★★ESCADA EN FLEURS PERFUME EAU DE TOILETTE NEW BOXED★★

US $9.50
Sale
Yves Rocher CANTATA Pure Perfume Parfum 10oz Rare

Yves Rocher CANTATA Pure Perfume Parfum 10oz Rare

US $29.99
Sale
Marc Jacobs LOLA MAKEUP Bag Case EDP eau de parfum perfume mini spray NEW

Marc Jacobs LOLA MAKEUP Bag Case EDP eau de parfum perfume mini spray NEW

US $16.95
Sale

Photo Credits: avrenim_acceber

Originally posted 2009-09-22 12:41:16. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Blog Traffic Exchange Related Posts
  • perfumeriaIs Cheap Fragrance Really Budget Friendly? Is that $12 bottle of cheap fragrance really better for your budget than the $60 or higher designer fragrance? If you just look at the numbers, of course it is. But in the long run, will you really save money buying cheap fragrance? And is it worth any possible savings......
  • amberUnderstanding Perfume Notes Base perfume notes are typically the most important of the notes in a perfume because they tend to be the ones that last the longest. There are a number of different types of base perfume notes, but there are some that seem to be more popular than others. Most perfumes,......
  • heliotropePerfume and Scent Glossary Factice - This is a perfume bottle that is only made for commercial display purposes. The contents of the bottle, then, are not actually perfume. Flanker - This is a fragrance that is designed in order to capitalize on the success of a specific master brand. For example, the J......
  • cloveGlossary of Perfume Scents pt 3 Chypre – This is the French word for Cyprus, and it is pronounced as "sheepra". It typically describes fragrances that have sparkling floral and citrus notes laid over dark and earthy bases of patchouli, oak moss, woods and labdanum. This is a fragrance family, but fragrance families are largely subjective......
  • russianleatherEau de Cuir de Russie (Russian Leather) Review I wanted to try Eau de Cuir de Russie (Russian Leather) first, because this is a fragrance that appears in other brands, and generally it is one that I like. Leather is rich and sumptuous.  The best leather is supple, emitting a fragrance, giving sensual pleasure, not only in......
Blog Traffic Exchange Related Websites
  • ringsGolf as an Olympic Sport? Top golf players are full of enthusiasm as their appointed ambassadors work to have golf included as an Olympic sport. Players are citing that the most memorable events are those where you represent your country in a foreign competition. Bringing back a medal is a honor that carries the most......
  • checkbookCheckbooks 101 Although the premise of balancing a checkbook sounds easy enough, the fact is that the vast majority of Americans really don’t take the time to do it, or they do not know how to do it properly. There is a lot more than simple addition and subtraction when it comes......
  • harmonyHarmony 101 When it comes to music, you can look at harmony as the use of chords or pitches simultaneously. The study behind harmony involves the study of chords and the way that they are constructed as well as harmonic progressions and the connection principles that are used in order to govern......
  • blog traffic exchangeBurn Jel Plus Review If you have ever suffered from a minor burn at the hands of your oven, iron or hair appliances, you probably know that it is not a lot of fun. There are a host of old wives remedies that spring to mind, but few ever get the job done right.......
  • blog traffic exchangeLeft Handed Golf Tips Even left handed golfers often find themselves in need of some assistance with improving their game. Here are some quick and basic tips that will help you get your golf game on track and will allow you to significantly lower your scores in the process. One of the biggest mistakes......
Online Stores If you liked this article, vote for it on del.icio.us and stumbleupon.


Categories:

Perfume



Tags:

, , , , , , , , , , , ,


0 comments ↓

There are no comments yet...Kick things off by filling out the form below.

Leave a Comment

Email Updates

bergamot blue bottle candle cardamom cologne evening wear floral notes fragrance fragrances freesia gardenia grapefruit honeysuckle incense jasmine lavender lily of the valley mandarin orange men. musk new fragrance oak moss orange blossom ounces pack parfum patchouli peony Perfume perfume fragrance Perfume Fragrances perfumery perfumes sandalwood scented scents Spray toilette undertones vanilla vetiver women. woody yankee