Heart Notes
Heart notes give a perfume its central character. Learn what middle notes mean, how they overlap with the opening and base, and what to notice when sampling.
Updated
Heart notes are the scent impressions that form a perfume’s central character. Also called middle notes, they often become clearer as the opening settles. Rose, jasmine, spices and aromatic herbs are familiar examples, though the heart can take many forms.
The heart connects the first impression with the lasting background. For example, a floral heart can make a citrus opening feel softer or give a woody base a fresh, petal-like quality. That is a description of the blend you smell, not a rule about which ingredients must be used.
When sampling, notice whether the fragrance’s main character appeals to you after the initial burst has quietened. There is no universal moment when the heart begins or ends; some of it may be obvious from the first application.
- Middle notes
- A synonym for heart notes.
- Floral heart
- A central impression of flowers. It can be fresh, powdery, green or rich rather than simply sweet.
- Spicy or aromatic heart
- A central character built around spice or herb impressions, which may blend with flowers, woods or fruit.
- Top notes
- The opening impression, often brighter and more fleeting than the heart.
- Base notes
- The lasting background that supports the heart and can remain prominent later in wear.
- Overlap
- The heart can be noticeable alongside both top and base notes. The pyramid does not divide wear into separate time slots.