Fragrance Notes & Terms Explained: A Beginner's Guide
Short answer: A fragrance unfolds in three stages — top notes (first impression), heart notes (the main character) and base notes (the lasting dry-down). Understanding these and a few key terms makes choosing perfume much easier. Every Leclair & Moreau scent is a vegan Eau de Parfum from £4.95.
Fragrance notes
Top notes
The first scents you smell, lasting around 5–15 minutes — usually fresh or citrusy. They create the first impression.
Heart notes
The core of the fragrance that emerges as the top notes fade, lasting a few hours. This is the scent's main character — often florals or spices.
Base notes
The foundation that lingers longest — warm, rich notes like sandalwood, amber, musk and vanilla. They give a perfume its depth and staying power.
Concentration: EDP vs EDT
Eau de Parfum (EDP) has a higher concentration of fragrance oils, so it's richer and lasts longer. Eau de Toilette (EDT) is lighter and fresher. Every Leclair & Moreau fragrance is an Eau de Parfum for strong longevity.
Other useful terms
- Sillage — the trail a fragrance leaves as you move.
- Projection — how far the scent radiates from your skin.
- Longevity — how long a fragrance lasts on skin.
- Accord — a blend of notes creating a single impression (e.g. an amber accord).
- Dry-down — the final stage of a fragrance, once the base notes settle.
Find your scent
Ready to choose? Explore fragrance families, read our best perfume dupes UK guide, or try a discovery set to sample several scents.
FAQ
What are top, heart and base notes?
Top notes are the first impression, heart notes are the main character, and base notes are the long-lasting foundation of a fragrance.
Is EDP better than EDT?
EDP has a higher oil concentration, so it's richer and lasts longer. All our fragrances are Eau de Parfum.
How do I make perfume last longer?
Apply to moisturised skin at pulse points, and choose Eau de Parfum concentrations for stronger longevity.