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Fragrance Blending for Perfume

When blending for fragrance or perfume, there are different qualities that must be considered in order to create a pleasing aromatic combination.

In the fragrance industry, scents are referred to as top, middle, or base notes, depending on their aromatic qualities. Top notes tend to be lighter and more volatile, middle notes are more lasting, and base notes are the most enduring and least volatile.

Top Note Examples: grapefruit (Citrus paradisi) eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus) marjoram (Origanum marjorana) pine (Pinus sylvestris)
Middle Note Examples: tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) nutmeg (Myristica fragrans) juniper (Juniperus communis) lavender (Lavendula officinalis)
Base Note Examples: jasmine (Jasminum officinale) patchouli (Pogostemon cablin) helichrysum (Helichrysum augustifolium) vetiver (Vitiveria zizinoides)

In addition to an individual oil being identified as a top, middle, or base note, each oil has its own top, middle, and base notes. When dropped onto a blotter or test strip, the oil’s top note is the initial aromatic impression created by the most volatile components in the oil. Its middle note emerges soon after, once the most volatile top note components have evaporated and faded. The base note becomes detectable once the oil has dried on the test strip and all of the most volatile components have evaporated.

Many oils give a distinct first impression and can be easily classified with a general descriptor, such as “woody,” “floral,” “spicy,” or other such broad fragrance category. Aromas that have similar fragrance impressions usually blend well with each other. For example, rose (Rosa damascena), jasmine (Jasminum officinale), and lavender (Lavendula officinalis) are all floral oils, and thus blend nicely.

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