The olfactory pyramid is the perfume’s subtle language, a delicate sequence of scented whispers that unfold over time, speaking both to the senses and to the heart. It is built around three levels: top notes, heart notes, and base notes.
Top notes open the fragrance like the first lines of a captivating story, instantly drawing attention and sparking curiosity. They invite you to explore further, guiding the senses toward the unfolding narrative. Heart notes follow, playing the essence of the perfume: just as a story’s plot deepens, the fragrance evolves, revealing rich, enveloping, and lingering nuances. Finally, the base notes provide the lasting signature, giving depth and persistence, like a memorable epilogue that lingers long after the last page is turned.
Every creation from Farmacia SS. Annunziata is born from a mastery honed over generations and a meticulous selection of precious raw materials. These artisanal perfumes reinterpret timeless principles of perfumery, bringing them to life with a contemporary, unforgettable elegance.
What do top, heart and base notes mean?
The olfactory notes of a perfume intertwine like a symphony, conducted by the perfumer with skill and artistry. It is precisely this musical parallel that helps explain the origin of the distinction between top, heart, and base notes.
In the 19th century, the French perfumer Septimus Piesse introduced a groundbreaking idea: applying the principles of the musical scale to perfumery. Each scent was associated with a musical note, creating a true olfactory melody, where every fragrance corresponded to a semitone.
From this fascinating parallel comes the modern concept of a perfume note: high notes or top notes, middle notes or heart notes, and low notes or base notes.
Top notes are generally fresh, sparkling, and luminous, they open the fragrance, the olfactory introduction that sparks curiosity. Crafted from carefully selected olfactory families for their bright and lively qualities, they act as an overture, preparing the senses to discover the deeper layers that follow.
Heart notes reveal the true character of the fragrance. These notes often identify the fragrance’s identity and olfactory family, shaping its core personality.
Finally, base notes give the composition depth, stability, and longevity, leaving a lasting olfactory signature that lingers in our memory.
Are you ready to take on a sensory journey into the heart of artistic perfumery?
Top notes perfume: the first impression
Top notes of a perfume are the opening, the introduction, the invitation to go further. They are usually composed of the most volatile essences, noticeable for about 5–10 minutes after application. Top notes are also commonly referred to as the “flight” of the perfume—an evocative expression describing the initial impact, that immediate sensation that makes you fall in love with a fragrance at the very first spritz. Their fleeting nature is the essence of their charm—a perfumed “A” that captures attention and prepares the senses for the heart notes to come.
The olfactory families most often found in top notes include:
- Citrus: fresh and sparkling, such as bergamot, lemon, orange, and grapefruit.
- Marine: evoking sea breeze and watery freshness, with saline and aquatic nuances.
- Aromatic: herbs and aromatic plants like lavender, rosemary, thyme, and sage.
- Spices: playful and lively, featuring notes of pepper, cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, or nutmeg.
What is top note in perfume (meaning)
The deeper meaning of top notes lies in their ability to convey energy, vitality, and dynamism, creating an immediate sense of pleasure and well-being. Though the most fleeting, top notes hold great sensory and emotional value and play a fundamental role in shaping a fragrance’s initial impression. They are like a perfume’s business card—setting the stage and inviting the wearer to discover the layers that follow.
Top notes in Farmacia SS. Annunziata (examples)
The openings of the perfumes of our Fragranze1561 collection showcase how top notes can instantly awaken the senses with freshness and vitality.
Sparkling Notturno: Effervescent citrus notes give way to a floral heart of red rose, enriched with a delicate pistachio accord. Bergamot and orange illuminate the fragrance, capturing the senses from the very first spritz and setting the stage for the layers that follow.
Accordo Marino: Crisp marine notes introduce the perfume with an invigorating aquatic freshness. The citrusy and marine top notes flow seamlessly into a balsamic heart of eucalyptus and coriander, lingering on the skin like the memory of sunlit summers by the sea.
Perfume heart notes: the essence
Heart notes represent the soul and essence of a fragrance. They emerge once the top notes have faded, revealing the true personality of the perfume. Persistent and enveloping, heart notes often include florals, spices, aromatic notes, or oriental accords such as myrrh or amber, which lend depth and harmony to the composition. Their role is to define the character of the fragrance, shaping its style and the emotions it seeks to evoke. Heart notes create a sensory and emotional connection, making each perfume unique and memorable.
The most common olfactory families that make up heart notes include:
- Floral: rose, jasmine, violet, lavender; imparting femininity, delicacy, and harmony.
- Aromatic: rosemary, thyme, sage; offering freshness and natural elegance.
- Oriental: amber, myrrh, incense, patchouli, sandalwood, tobacco; providing depth and sensuality.
- Fruity: peach, raspberry, apricot; adding sweetness and vivacity.
- Gourmand: almond, vanilla, caramel, chocolate; contributing sweet, warm, and indulgent touches, often enveloping and seductive.
What are heart notes in perfume (meaning)
Heart notes serve as the bridge between the sparkling freshness of the top notes and the profound depth of the base notes. They can linger on the skin for up to three/four hours, with longevity varying according to the type of note and the quality of the raw materials used.
These notes have the power to evoke sensations and emotions that speak directly to the heart, imbuing the fragrance with a character that can be sensual, vibrant, or profoundly expressive, depending on the olfactory family to which they belong.
Heart notes in Farmacia SS. Annunziata (examples)
The heart of a perfume has the extraordinary power to carry us to distant places, evoke cherished memories, and awaken new hopes. Within our collection, a few standout creations reveal the true magic of these notes.
Giardino dell’Iris: A delicate, powdery iris heart is gracefully lifted by amber and myrrh, enveloping the senses in a soft, oriental sensuality. The fragrance unfolds in a perfect balance of classic elegance and contemporary sophistication, where lightness meets mystery, transforming every moment into a unique, unforgettable sensory experience.
Cuoio Toscano: Rich, bold leather blends seamlessly with patchouli, adding earthy depth and balancing the leather’s intensity. The result is a sophisticated fragrance that evokes the rustic elegance of Tuscany, its artisanal heritage, and centuries of mastery. A dry, slightly bitter composition with timeless style, leaving a lasting impression on all who encounter it.
Base notes perfume: the lasting memory
Our olfactory journey ends with the base notes, the final act in a fragrance’s story. Like the last chapter of a novel or the closing measures of a symphony, they leave an unforgettable mark on the skin, a memory that lingers long after the first encounter.
Resins, woods, musks, amber, gourmand, and animalic accords take center stage in this intimate layer. Base notes provide structure, depth, and character, forming the foundation of the olfactory pyramid. Selected for their persistence, they act as both fixative and backbone, ensuring the essence of the perfume continues to resonate long after it has settled.
Perfume base notes (technical angle)
The most frequently used base notes can be warm and enveloping, like vanilla or tonka bean, or deep and mystical, like incense. Woods, from sandalwood to cedar, provide stability, while musks add a soft, velvety touch.
Other gourmand notes, such as caramel or coffee, contribute a deliciously sweet and lingering trail. Animalic accords, now reproduced synthetically—like grey amber—impart a sensual, enveloping warmth, giving a fragrance an irresistibly seductive character.
These are the notes that tell the final chapter of a fragrance’s story, the essence that remains in memory long after the top and heart notes have faded. They are the invisible signature of a perfume, detectable by the senses for up to eight hours or more, leaving a lingering impression that endures well beyond the first spritz.
What are base notes in perfume (examples at FSSA)
To better understand the importance of base notes, let’s explore two fragrances from our collection where they take center stage, giving each composition a distinctive and memorable olfactory signature.
Via dell’Incenso: A heart of vanilla flower and orchid leads into a base of incense, guaiac wood, and pine, with incense taking the spotlight, radiating the mystical and sensual aura that defines this perfume. Its warm, enveloping smokiness wraps the senses, leaving a deep, magnetic trail that lingers long after the first encounter.
Sweet Carousel: The vanilla base seals the sweetness of almond in a warm, indulgent embrace. The note of vanilla defines the fragrance and enhances its creamy texture, leaving an enveloping, persistent trail that celebrates gourmand elegance in every spritz.
Top, heart and base notes: overall meaning and harmony at Farmacia SS. Annunziata
The first glance, the acquaintance, the memory.
This is how we can summarize the journey through the top, heart, and base notes of a fragrance: the opening that captures attention like an unexpected encounter, the heart that reveals its personality, and the base that leaves an unforgettable mark in memory.
An olfactory journey we have studied in depth, a guiding light in the creation of every composition.Each fragrance is an opportunity to surprise: to craft unexpected twists, honor or subvert olfactory conventions, and play with scents as a composer plays with notes.
From this approach are born perfumes designed to accompany moments, create memories, and evoke emotions, transforming into unforgettable trails that speak directly to the heart and linger in the memory.
