LIBERTO JOURNAL / FRAGRANCE KNOWLEDGE
A fragrance description can read like a list of places you have never visited: bergamot, patchouli, musk, amber, woods. Understanding how those notes work together makes choosing a perfume much less mysterious.
Perfume is often described in three stages: the opening, the heart and the base. Think of them as parts of a composition, rather than three completely separate perfumes.
Top notes: the first impression
Top notes are what you notice when a fragrance is first applied. Citrus, certain fruits, herbs and lively spices commonly feature here. They create the initial impression, but a fresh opening doesn't tell the whole story. Some of these lighter elements become less prominent as the fragrance settles.
From Liberto: Carnaby lists ozonic notes, pink pepper and bergamot in its opening. They set the scene for what follows.
Heart notes: the character at the centre
The heart, sometimes called the middle notes, becomes clearer as the opening softens. Florals, herbs, fruits and spices can all belong here. The heart often carries much of the fragrance's recognisable personality.
From Liberto: Carnaby's heart includes blackcurrant, jasmine and lilac, while Kings Road lists lavender leaf, florals and lemon zest.
Base notes: the deeper impression
Base notes support the composition and can remain noticeable as other elements recede. Woods, musk, vanilla, patchouli and warm resin-like impressions commonly appear in this stage. The base helps give a fragrance depth, but there is no fixed duration that applies to every perfume or every wearer.
From Liberto: Old Bond lists woody, musky and vanilla base notes. South Molton moves towards woods, vanilla and spice.
Does every perfume change in exactly the same way?
No. Fragrance-note pyramids are helpful descriptions, not laboratory timetables. Some fragrances develop dramatically; others remain relatively consistent. Skin, environment and the composition itself all affect what you notice. And a named note is a description of a scent impression, not always a literal list of raw ingredients.
How to test perfume properly
First, notice the opening without judging too quickly. Give the fragrance time to settle, then return to it to explore the heart and base. If you're deciding between scents, test them on your own skin rather than relying only on a paper strip, and compare your impressions later in the day. Avoid spraying too many fragrances at once.
The goal isn't to memorise perfume vocabulary. It's to find the combination of notes and character that you enjoy wearing.
Explore the notes behind Liberto
Our five-fragrance comparison presents each scent's opening, heart and base side by side. For an experience beyond the description, try the Discovery Set of five 5ml samples.
Further reading: The Perfume Society's explanation of fragrance notes.