What is the fragrance pyramid?
The fragrance pyramid is a model that arranges the scents of a perfume by how fast they evaporate. At the top are the lightest scents, which you smell first. At the bottom are the heaviest, which stay the longest.
| Layer | When you smell it | Typical directions | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top notes | The first minutes | Citrus, herbs, light fruity and green notes | The first impression; they fade quickly |
| Heart notes | After a few minutes, up to about an hour or longer | Flowers, spices, fruity accents | The character of the fragrance |
| Base notes | After a while; they stay for hours | Wood, amber, musk, moss, vanilla | Depth and longevity on the skin |
The timings are approximate. They differ per fragrance, per skin and per concentration.
Why does it work this way?
Fragrance materials differ in volatility. Light materials evaporate fast, heavy ones stay behind on the skin. That is why you smell a perfume in phases. What remains after a few hours is called the base or the dry-down of the perfume.
What the pyramid does not tell you
The pyramid is a simplification. In practice the layers blend into each other and a good composition feels like one movement. Some raw materials belong in more than one place. Skin, temperature and concentration influence the course. An extrait develops differently from an eau de toilette; read what the difference is.
How to use this when choosing
- Do not judge a perfume on the first seconds. Give it an hour and smell it again after a few hours.
- Test on your skin, not only on a strip.
- A fragrance with many top notes usually feels fresh but short. A fragrance with many base notes usually feels warm and stays longer.
The fragrance pyramid in a bespoke perfume
With a bespoke perfume you do not choose notes from a list, but a scent path: your base feeling, your expression and your depth. Together they decide how your fragrance opens, develops and lingers. The perfumer translates that into a formula.
Frequently asked questions
How long do top notes last?
Usually the first minutes. That is approximate: it differs per fragrance, per skin and per concentration.
Why does a perfume smell different on my skin than on a strip?
Your skin has its own temperature, moisture and scent, and these influence how a fragrance develops. So test a perfume on your skin and give it time.
Is every perfume built like a pyramid?
Not every one. Some fragrances are linear: they change little while worn. That is a deliberate choice, not a flaw.
What is the dry-down of a perfume?
It is what remains after the top and heart notes have faded: the base, which can stay on the skin for hours.