Top notes: These are the lightest and most volatile scents, and they are the first ones you smell after applying a fragrance. Top notes typically last for 15 to 30 minutes. Some common top notes include citrus fruits (lemon, bergamot, grapefruit), fresh greens (basil, lavender, mint), and fruity scents (apple, pear, watermelon).
Heart notes: Also known as middle notes, these emerge once the top notes begin to fade. They form the core of the fragrance and last for several hours. Common heart notes include floral scents (rose, jasmine, lily of the valley), spicy scents (cinnamon, clove, nutmeg), and herbal scents (geranium, rosemary, vetiver).
Base notes: These are the heaviest and most long-lasting scents, and they provide the foundation of the fragrance. Base notes can last for several hours or even all day long. Common base notes include musky scents (ambrette seed, musk), woody scents (sandalwood, cedarwood, vetiver), and oriental scents (vanilla, amber, incense).
