If you have seen our recent blogs, you may have noticed us talking about notes in fragrances and the important role they play. We touched upon top notes last time out, and today, we look a little closer at Heart notes. Often referred to as middle notes, it is these heart notes that provide much of what is enjoyed in a fragrance. Their role is significant, and in this blog, we hope to help you understand a little more about heart notes in perfume and why they are so important.
Not to be confused with top notes or base notes, heart, or middle notes are likely to be one of the core reasons you choose your luxury oud perfume or other type of fragrance.
So, let’s take a journey into heart notes and show you how they impact your fragrance choices.
What is perfume heart note?
Perfume heart notes are the scents that appear as the enticing top notes begin to fade. They form the core, or the “heart” of the perfume and in an extrait du parfum, will last for many many hours. In a more heavily diluted fragrance, an Eau Fraiche for example, they will last a short time but still deliver some meaningful impact.
Think of a heart note as the bridge between the light and exciting top notes and the deep, lingering memorable base notes. You may be surprised to know that a heart note can make up as much as 80% of the total scent although in many cases it can constitute around 40-70%.
What are perfume heart notes used for?
Perfume heart notes play a key role in any fragrance. In fact, heart notes in perfume play several roles, and each helps lure you in and enjoy it even more.
Heart notes give us the main character of the perfume. A key element of the scent, they provide the primary theme for any scent and help make it the scent you remember as a favourite.
There is far more complexity to heart notes though. Whilst their enduring scent certainly draws you in, the way they work perhaps keeps you even more enamoured. They gently harmonise and blend with the top notes and base notes to give a smooth transition from one part of the scent to another. Where one scent initially jumps out upon the first application, it gradually transitions into something else, without showing any sign of incompatibility. This new emerging note, the heart note, then gradually pulls up the base note helping to release a further alluring aspect to the overall scent.
Heart notes don’t stop there though. Heart notes are created with longevity in mind, and as we referenced earlier, they can last several hours. Now, depending on the type of fragrance you choose, this length can vary dramatically. You could enjoy a heart note for an hour on an Eau Fraiche for example, but with Extrait De Parfum they could last most of the day before they allow the base notes to emerge. It is the heart note that helps provide the memorable aspects of your fragrance.
Finally, heart notes are used to provide added depth and complexity to a scent. Where they gently overcome the top notes and pull up the base notes, you can see an incredible fusion that has been carefully cultivated by an experienced perfumier.
What are the common scents found in heart notes?
Heart notes come from a variety of sources, and you could find fruity, floral or even spicy elements within them. At Ombré Lamar, we will always explain which heart notes are featured within your chosen fragrance so you can make a fully informed decision over which one suits your tastes. Sometimes, you may even discover something new to enjoy that you had previously ignored when shopping for a new scent.
Let’s break down the types of scents you may discover in perfume heart notes.
Floral heart notes: Expect rose, lavender, geranium, jasmine or ylang-ylang in heart notes. These are popular in a host of fragrances due to their rich and versatile characteristics.
Spicy heart notes: Spicy heart notes provide a warm, and occasionally sweet aspect to a scent. Expect to find nutmeg, cinnamon and cardamon within heart notes of some fragrances.
Fruity heart notes: Fruity heart notes are popular, especially during summer. You could find peach, apricot and plum featuring quite heavily in some scents.
Herbal heart notes: We often see the term “woody” attributed to many scents and that is often in part due to the herbal heart notes. Sage, rosemary, thyme, and more can provide this woody, aromatic aspect to a fragrance, perfect for an autumnal or winter scent selection.
Green heart notes: Leaves and grasses provide a further level of intrigue among heart notes thanks to the fresh, clean, crisp element they bring to a fragrance. Expect to see violet leaf and tea leaf often used.
How do perfume heart notes interact with the other notes?
The way perfume heart notes interact with the top and base notes has much to do with the fragrance pyramid. This pyramid is where each of our three notes sits. Each one must work with the other to provide you with the fragrance you enjoy.
Top notes: Short-lived but full of impact. These create the first impression of the scent and can be gone within minutes.
Heart notes: With a lifespan of around an hour, the heart notes, or middle notes as you may sometimes see them referred to, emerge as the short-lived top notes fade away. Expect to notice them 10-30 minutes after application as the top notes fade away. By blending with the remains of the top notes, there is a smooth transition from one to the other.
Base notes: The longest-lasting notes of the scent, the base notes are the foundation of the fragrance. They provide added depth and will often appear 30 minutes or more after the application. The heart note complements the base notes allowing for the longer-lasting element of the scent to gradually become prominent without being imposing.
At Ombré Lamar, we appreciate the finer elements of a fragrance, and we want you to be able to do the same. Each note in all of our fragrances has been carefully selected to provide a memorable, evolving scent experience. Whether it be an Oud fragrance for him or an Oud perfume for ladies, our delicately crafted scents provide a lingering and stunning treat for the senses. Why not book a scent experience and discover the heart notes that you love? Our free thirty-minute session takes you on a journey of discovery that samples both Eastern and Western influences. Should you already know the notes you love, visit our beautiful emporium in the heart of London and allow our scent experts to help you find your perfect fragrance. If you have any questions, just ask, we love to share our passion for fragrance!