Understanding Top, Middle and Base Notes

Top, mid and base notes – what are they?

Stimulating the senses in their own unique way, fragrance notes are different scent layers that are combined to create a complete, balanced aroma. Ever lifted the lid on a new candle and instantly fallen in love? Say hello to your top notes.

Top notes

Also known as head notes, top notes set the scene and are the very first thing you’ll notice when indulging in a new fragrance. Whether that scent will be for you or not is often because of its top notes. Top notes have the smallest molecules, meaning they don’t tend to hang around long and will often evaporate quickly - first impressions really do count!

Common top notes include citrus fruits like bergamot, grapefruit, lemon and sweet orange.

Middle notes

Often referred to as the heart note - middle notes present themselves as the more dominant aroma – they last a lot longer than top notes and are complex and deep as they make up most of the blend. Think of them as the full body of the fragrance – they work to provide the perfect balance between the top and bottom notes.

Common middle notes include florals such as geranium, lavender, neroli and ylang ylang,

Base notes

Although their true scent can take a while to be revealed - base notes anchor the fragrance, they are the underlying aroma that runs smoothly throughout the scent. They have the largest molecules which means they tend to evaporate at a slower pace and will last the longest, often lingering long after you’ve blown out your candle or spritzed your favourite perfume.

Base notes usually come from the woodsy fragrance wheel - cedarwood, patchouli, musk, amber, and sandalwood are all great examples.

Whether it’s a candle, reed diffuser or a wax melt, you can rest assured knowing all of our products have been created with top, middle and base notes - leaving you with a multidimensional aroma and lasting impression.