Notes are the general nuances of the fragrance which change over time. Notes give the scented oil or perfume its character, or essence. They change as time goes on and one note will slowly give way to the next until the fragrance has dissipated. The perfumer must choose he right ingredients and blend them in the right amounts to maintain a careful synergy when he makes a new fragrance. Each note must transition smoothly over to the next.

 Notes are produced by the evaporation or breakdown of the various molecules of the ingredients used. Those ingredients with smaller lighter molecules evaporate first causing the first note. The first note is the fragrance produced by the dissipation of these lighter molecules. The perfumer has to take all of these factors into account when blending the ingredients together. Sometimes an ingredient is added to mask an aspect of another ingredient because it will not produce the intended effect at the time that it dissipates. The first note of any fragrance is also called the head note for a good reason. The first note determines the reaction of the wearer to the fragrance and ultimately whether he or she will purchase it or not. This is not the aroma that others will smell because it normally lasts only a few minutes but if the perfumer has done his or her job this note will flow into the next note. There will be a harmonious transition that the user and others will hardly notice.

This note is mainly composed of ginger and citrus type fragrances because of the short duration of their essence. The second note or middle note of any scented oil or perfume is the most important because it is the way that most people will perceive the fragrance. It is aptly called the heart note of the fragrance because it is the note which people come to love and to know as the essence of the fragrance. Typical ingredients will be floral substances such as lavender, rose, magnolia, or honeysuckle. This note will make an even more gentle transition into the third fragrance note because the molecules of it’s ingredients break down more slowly which easily and gently gives way to the next note that we will discuss.

 This note begins after about the first ten minutes of wear and will last for about one hour with perfumes. It usually lasts much longer with oil based fragrances. The last note of the scented oil fragrance is called the base note because its main purpose is to hold the fragrances of the other ingredients together. Therefore it forms a base. The perfumer must use the base as a sort of blender for the other scents. He or she will also add ingredients to subdue an unwanted attribute of another ingredient or blend of ingredients. Not necessarily because they may be negative but because they may not be the ingredient that he wants to be noticed at a particular time. The base note is also used to enhance or strengthen the fragrances or ingredients of the other two notes. The base note may last for hours and in the case of perfume oils can last for more than a day. The base note is made up of rich, deep, full fragrances such as vetiver, various musk fragrances, sandalwood, and various plant resins. The theme of the fragrance is obtained by the chord that runs throughout the duration of the fragrance. It is purposely produced by the perfumer to get a certain effect. Creating fragrance is just as much of an art form as the symphony which the music composer creates. It is just as involved and just as complicated. Wearing the fragrance is also an art that you the user have to apply. You must take various factors into account also when you choose the fragrance. 

One trick that I teach my customers is to keep a small amount of the scented oil fragrance that you love to wear on hand. You can reapply it every four hours in order to maintain the integrity of the second note. remember that you don't need to reapply very much at all to regain the integrity of the second note. You just need to time your reapplication accordingly.