Fragrance notes, A to Z
A comprehensive reference of individual fragrance notes, the actual chemical compounds most commonly responsible for each one, and what to realistically expect in terms of longevity and sillage. This isn't an exhaustive list of every aroma chemical in existence, it's the notes you'll actually see on fragrance pages across this site.
How to read “longevity” and “sillage” here
Longevity and sillage in this table describe the note in isolation, based on the volatility of its dominant chemical compounds, not how it behaves once blended into a finished fragrance. A heavy base note can still fade fast if it’s used at a low concentration, and a light top note can be boosted with fixatives to last longer. Treat this as a baseline, not a guarantee.
Top notes
The first 5 to 15 minutes. Small, light molecules that evaporate fast and create the opening impression.
| Note | Common chemicals | Expect | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bergamot | LimoneneLinalyl acetateLinalool | Longevity Sillage | Bright, slightly bitter citrus. Gone within 20 minutes unless fixed. |
| Lemon | LimoneneCitral | Longevity Sillage | Sharp, clean, instantly recognizable. Among the fastest-fading top notes. |
| Grapefruit | LimoneneNootkatone | Longevity Sillage | Tart and slightly bitter. Nootkatone gives it a touch more staying power than lemon. |
| Pink pepper | RotundoneAlpha-pinene | Longevity Sillage | Peppery, slightly fruity, less harsh than black pepper. |
| Black pepper | PiperineBeta-caryophyllene | Longevity Sillage | Warm, dry, spicy. Caryophyllene gives it more depth than most top notes carry. |
| Lavender | Linalyl acetateLinalool | Longevity Sillage | Herbal and slightly sweet. Sits at the boundary between top and heart. |
| Green / galbanum | Galbanum oilCis-3-hexenol | Longevity Sillage | Sharp, bitter, freshly-cut-stem smell. Punchy on first spray, fades quickly. |
| Aldehydes | C-10, C-11, C-12 aldehydes | Longevity Sillage | Waxy, soapy, "sparkling" effect popularized by Chanel No. 5. |
Heart notes
Roughly 30 minutes to 3 hours in. Medium-volatility molecules that form the main character of the fragrance.
| Note | Common chemicals | Expect | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rose | CitronellolGeraniolPhenylethyl alcohol | Longevity Sillage | Classic floral, can read sweet or dry depending on the rose variety used. |
| Jasmine | Benzyl acetateIndole | Longevity Sillage | Heady, sweet, slightly animalic from the indole. One of the most powerful florals. |
| Geranium | CitronellolGeraniol | Longevity Sillage | Rosy but greener and more minty, often a budget-friendly rose substitute. |
| Ylang-ylang | LinaloolBenzyl benzoate | Longevity Sillage | Creamy, tropical, slightly banana-like. Common in vintage-style florals. |
| Iris / orris | Irones | Longevity Sillage | Powdery, cool, faintly carrot-like. One of the most expensive natural materials. |
| Violet | Alpha-iononeBeta-ionone | Longevity Sillage | Powdery and faintly sweet, often paired with iris. |
| Cinnamon | CinnamaldehydeEugenol | Longevity Sillage | Warm, spicy, slightly sweet. A common gourmand and oriental building block. |
| Saffron | Safranal | Longevity Sillage | Leathery, slightly metallic, dry-spicy. Strongly associated with modern niche oriental fragrances. |
| Cardamom | 1,8-CineoleAlpha-terpinyl acetate | Longevity Sillage | Cool, eucalyptus-tinged spice. Often bridges citrus into a spicier heart. |
Base notes
Three or more hours in, often through the rest of the day. Heavy, low-volatility molecules that anchor the fragrance and show up most in the dry-down.
| Note | Common chemicals | Expect | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sandalwood | SantalolJavanol | Longevity Sillage | Creamy, milky wood. Close to skin rather than projecting, but very long-lasting. |
| Cedarwood | CedrolCedrene | Longevity Sillage | Dry, pencil-shaving wood. One of the most common and affordable woody base notes. |
| Vetiver | VetiverolKhusimone | Longevity Sillage | Earthy, smoky, slightly bitter root. A staple of fresh and woody masculine fragrances. |
| Patchouli | Patchoulol | Longevity Sillage | Earthy, dark, slightly sweet. Extremely tenacious, can still be detectable the next day. |
| Oud / agarwood | Agarwood oil compoundsJinkoh-eremol | Longevity Sillage | Smoky, animalic, leathery wood. Among the longest-lasting materials used. |
| Vanilla | VanillinEthyl vanillin | Longevity Sillage | Warm, sweet, gourmand. One of the most reliably long-lasting synthetics in perfumery. |
| Tonka bean | Coumarin | Longevity Sillage | Sweet, hay-like, almond-adjacent. The backbone of most modern gourmand fragrances. |
| Amber / labdanum | Labdanum resinAmbroxan | Longevity Sillage | "Amber" in modern perfumery is almost always this, not fossilized tree resin. |
| White musk | GalaxolideMuscone | Longevity Sillage | Clean, soft, "laundry" smell. Sits very close to skin. |
| Oakmoss | Evernic acidAtranol (restricted) | Longevity Sillage | Damp forest floor, bitter and green. Heavily restricted by IFRA. |
| Leather | Isobutyl quinolineBirch tar | Longevity Sillage | Smoky, slightly burnt, animalic. A defining note of vintage masculine fragrances. |
| Ambergris (synthetic) | AmbroxanAmbrox | Longevity Sillage | Salty, musky, slightly skin-like. Nearly all modern "ambergris" is this lab-made molecule. |