Beauty
The secret to finding the perfect scent.
Buying a perfumeused to be a simple experience spray, let it sit, then smell it.
If you liked its scent after letting it soak into your skin, you bought the bottle.
So top notes are the first that you smell but also the first to leave.
Its the base notes that stay with you throughout the day as you wear your perfume.
you’re able to also sometimes get arollerballto test a scent before committing to a larger bottle.
Keep reading to understand how these notes can impact a fragrance.
We only include products that have been independently selected by Bustle’s editorial team.
Fragrance Base Notes To Know
1.
Musk
Musks are one of the most comment fragrance notes found in perfumes, says Raza.
Its often described as smelling like your skin but better.
Although musk was historically derived from animals, Raza notesits mainly from synthetic or plant-based sources today.
Its used to describe the blend of vanilla, benzoin, and labdanum, she explains.
And labdanum resin or cistus oil comes from the Mediterranean cistus plant, says Pagel.
Vanilla
Although vanilla might evoketeeth-hurting sweetness, its actually a subtle and popular base note when used properly.
Too much vanilla is almost never a good thing, Raza says.
It can smell too sweet and start to feel less than chic.
Its a complex sweet, smoky, and woody scent, says Pagal.
