Like a musical composition, perfume is made up of singular notes that harmonize together to create an aromatic symphony. Every note has a purpose and evokes a feeling. 

There are three main categories for aroma notes: top, middle and base. To create our beautiful synergy blends and natural perfumes, we work to skillfully balance these notes. 

Learn more about the importance of these three elements and how we craft the blends and perfumes you know and love. 

What Are Top, Middle And Base Notes In Perfume?

Top, middle and base notes refers to how quickly an aroma dissipates. Including aromas from each of these categories in your blends and perfumes can take a one-dimensional aroma and make it more complex and thoughtfully crafted. 

Let’s examine the difference between aroma notes. 

Top Notes

On the olfactory pyramid, top notes are (you guessed it) at the top, lasting only 5-15 minutes. A good example of top notes are citrus oils. Examples of top notes include:

• Lemon

• Grapefruit

• Yuzu

• Peppermint

• Eucalyptus

• Spruce

• Pine

• Basil

• Fir Balsam

• Blood Orange

Also referred to as headnotes, top notes are the first impression of a perfume. It’s these first notes that either draw you into an aroma or push you away. The oils that are classified as top notes tend to be fresh and sharp. Their lighter molecular structure means that their aroma will not linger as long on the skin, and with time they will give way to the middle notes.

Top Notes In Our Natural Perfumes

In our perfumes, the following top notes are most prominent.

• Allure: Bergamot

• Lavender Magnolia: Bergamot, Lemon, Magnolia

• Rose Bergamot: Bergamot

• Shine: Tangerine, Lemon Myrtle

• Vanilla Sandalwood: Magnolia

• XOXO: Ginger

Middle Notes

In general, middle notes are referred to as aromas that last approximately 20-60 minutes. 

Middle notes, or heart notes, will make their presence known as the top note fades. These full-bodied notes make up the heart of a perfume and determine the more dominant aroma. 

The oils that are classified as middle notes tend to be well-rounded and pleasant. Their aroma will linger longer than the top notes before introducing the base notes.

These notes generally include oils with an herbal aroma or floral notes. Linalool is one of the most recognizable middle note compounds. Examples of middle notes include: 

• Lavender

• Clary Sage

• Sweet Marjoram

• Neroli 

• Rose

• Fragonia

• Geranium

• Fennel

• Cardamom

Middle Notes In Our Natural Perfumes

In our perfumes, the following middle notes are most prominent.

• Allure: Jasmine, Rose, Ylang Ylang, Cistus, Cinnamon Bark

• Lavender Magnolia: Lavender

• Rose Bergamot: Rose

• Shine: Lavender, Melissa, Elemi

• Vanilla Sandalwood: Myrrh

• XOXO: Cardamom, Cinnamon, Clove, Jasmine, Damiana
  
  

Base Notes

Base notes can last upwards of 6 hours. Due to their heavy molecular structure, they aren’t as volatile as other essential oils.

These notes linger the longest on the skin after the other notes have faded. While the top and middle notes of the perfume are the most noticeable, the base notes are the underlying aroma throughout the wear of the perfume. 

The oils in this note classification tend to be deep and rich, and appear more prominently once the top notes have dissipated. Base notes often include musk aromas and woody notes. Examples of base notes include:

• Patchouli 

• Vetiver

• Sandalwood

• Vanilla

• Buddha Wood

• Amyris

• Opoponax

• Muhuhu

• Oud

• Tonka Bean

Base Notes In Our Natural Perfumes

In our perfumes, the following base notes are most prominent.

• Allure: Patchouli, Vetiver, Sandalwood

• Lavender Magnolia: Vanilla

• Rose Bergamot: Patchouli

• Shine: Sandalwood, Ylang Ylang, Osmanthus

• Vanilla Sandalwood: Vanilla, Sandalwood

• XOXO: Vanilla, Sandalwood
  
  

How To Create A Balanced Perfume

When it comes to creating a perfume that is balanced and aromatically pleasing, there are a few things to keep in mind. 

Balancing Notes

The key to making a great smelling blend is by balancing aroma notes. Generally, middle notes make up about 50-75% of the blend, top notes make up about 20-40% of the blend, and base notes make up about 5-10%. This isn’t a precise formulation, so don’t worry about being exact. Here’s an example of a balanced blend:

• 4 drops Sweet Orange (Top Note)

• 15 drops Lavender (Middle Note)

• 1 drops Patchouli (Base Note)
  
  

Drop-By-Drop Method

Use the drop-by-drop technique to create the perfect aroma. Start with one drop of each of your oils, then build on this foundation by adding more drops of each oil until you’ve reached perfection.

It’s All In The Details

Check the details section of our individual oils to find out which aroma note they’re categorized under and which oils they blend well with. 

Why Natural Perfume? 

Sensitizers, hormone disruptors and reproductive toxins are just a few descriptions of some of the chemicals found in conventional fragrances. 

In a study done by the Environmental Working Group, 17 name-brand perfumes were tested. Each perfume contained an average of 14 undisclosed chemicals, including galaxolide, tonalide and diethyl phthalate. In the same study, EWG found that a majority of the perfumes’ ingredients had never been analyzed by a cosmetic safety organization, such as the Cosmetic Ingredient Review or the International Fragrance Association.

Banned in the European Union, diethyl phthalates (DEP) are very prevalent in fragrances made in the U.S. Diethyl phthalates are used to make fragrances longer lasting in perfumery. Furthermore, diethyl phthalates have been found to cause endocrine disruption, cancer and reproductive toxicity, making pregnant and breastfeeding women very vulnerable to the use of cosmetics containing DEP. Without lab testing, one can’t be sure if perfumes and cosmetics containing fragrance also contain diethyl phthalates. 

The Edens Garden Way

At Edens Garden, we believe you shouldn’t have to give up perfume because of its notorious ingredients. Instead, we created our own natural perfumes made with 100% pure essential oil and transparent ingredients, so that you can rest easy knowing exactly what you’re putting on your body. But we didn’t stop there. Our highly-acclaimed essential oil perfumes are not only a healthier option, but they also have unmatched aromas that’ll have people noticing how great you smell. Discover our selection of natural perfumes today. 

Sources:

1. EWG and the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics. “Not So Sexy.” EWG, May 2010, www.ewg.org/research/not-so-sexy.
2. EWG. “Secret Chemicals Revealed in Celebrity Perfumes, Teen Body Sprays.” EWG, 12 May 2010, www.ewg.org/news/news-releases/2010/05/12/secret-chemicals-revealed-celebrity-perfumes-teen-body-sprays.
3. Campaign For Safe Cosmetics. “Phthalates.” Safe Cosmetics, www.safecosmetics.org/get-the-facts/chemicals-of-concern/phthalates. Accessed 31 Feb. 2021.