Perfume Terminology
Base Note: The Base Note is the third and last phase of a perfume's life on the skin, or evaporation. It contains the lasting ingredients, such as woods, resins, animal and crystalline substances. In heavy perfumes the base note is so strongly accented that it is discernible in the top-note, or first impression.
Middle (Heart) Note: The heart is the second or middle phase of a perfume's fragrance evaporation, occurring after the top note fades away. It is mainly produced by floral, spicy or woody components and represents, as its name indicates, the heart of the perfume.
Top Note: Top note oils are the lightest, most stimulating and energizing oils. They have a fresh, immediately apparent quality that is intense, but fleeting, due to their fast evaporation rate. Top notes are usually citrus or minty scents.
Great Base, Middle, & Top notes to start with:
BASE NOTES:
Bay Rum, Benzoin, Cedar wood, Cinnamon, Clove, Frankincense, Geranium, Ginger, Heliotrope, Jasmine, Myrrh, Neroli, Patchouli, Sandalwood, Rose, Vanilla, Vetiver
MIDDLE NOTES:
Basil, Chamomile, Clove, Geranium, Ginger, Hyacinth, Jasmine, Lavender,
Lemongrass, Lotus, Mandarin, Mimosa, Neroli, Orchid, Peppermint, Rose, Rosemary, Tuberose, Violet, Ylang-ylang.
TOP NOTES:
Basil, Bergamot, Chamomile, Cinnamon, Citrus Vervain, Eucalyptus, Pink Grapefruit, Lavender, Lemon, Lotus, Mandarin, Neroli, Orange, Orange Blossom, Peppermint, Violet
TIPS:
Sweet notes (Vanilla, Benzoin, Heliotrope, Almond, Coconut, etc), Earth & Wood notes (Patchouli, Myrrh, Amber, Sandalwood, etc) and
Floral (Rose, Violet, Hibiscus, etc) are great bases.
Green or Fresh notes (Sweet Grass, Fresh Cotton, Lily of the Valley, English Ivy, etc), spicy notes, and mild
floral are great middle notes.
Citrus notes, Minty notes and Light Floral notes (Sunflower, Geranium etc.) are great top notes.
- Green notes blended with citrus notes create a "sporty" fragrance.
- Musks, woods, floral, and spices blended together create an
"oriental" fragrance. Use Dragon's Blood or Spice as the spicy note instead of clove or cinnamon.
- Using orange as a top note will give any scent a "hint" of sweetness without being cloying.
- If you like vanilla but don't want to smell like a cake, use Heliotrope, Benzoin, or Oatmeal, Milk & Honey as a substitute.
- Fruit & Berry scents should be used as top notes or in lotions & creams and will compliment a
perfume. The same goes for really sweet scents such as Pink Sugar, Birthday Cake, & Creme
Brulee. We also recommend these scents for body sprays instead of perfumes.
- Don't be afraid to get creative. Some of the nicest scents that we have created are composed of seemingly very unlikely blends. | 
