Top notes
A fragrance is a story told in three parts. The top notes are the opening: what you smell in the first ten or fifteen minutes. They are light, bright and designed to catch your attention. Citrus like bergamot, lemon and grapefruit, fresh herbs like mint and lavender, and juicy fruits like pineapple and apple all live here.
Because they are the lightest molecules, top notes fade first. That is why a fragrance you loved on the test strip can feel different an hour later. Never judge a scent on its opening alone.
Heart notes
The heart arrives as the top fades and carries the fragrance for the next few hours. This is the character of the scent. Florals such as rose, jasmine and orange blossom, spices like cinnamon, cardamom and saffron, and gourmand notes like praline and coffee are typical heart notes.
In Khamrah Qahwa, warm spices in the opening give way to a heart of praline and candied fruit. In Junoon Noir, lime and kumquat settle into orris, violet and jasmine.
Base notes
The base is the foundation. These are the heaviest, longest-lasting materials, and they are what you will still smell on a scarf the next morning. Woods like sandalwood and cedar, resins like benzoin and labdanum, amber, musk, vanilla, tonka bean and oud all belong here.
Arabian perfumery is famous for its bases. That is why fragrances from Lattafa, Armaf and Al Haramain are known for their longevity: a rich amber and oud base will last well beyond eight hours on most skin.
Reading a fragrance
On every product page we list the top, heart and base notes, plus the fragrance family and accords. Read them as a timeline. If you want something that stays fresh, look for a base of musk and light woods. If you want warmth that lasts into the evening, look for amber, vanilla and oud.
Then ignore all of it and wear what makes you happy. The notes explain why you love something. They never decide it for you.
