The combination of notes, usually three or more, that creates a desired effect in a fragrance.

The fragrance ingredients that stay on the skin longer than top notes, but not as long as base notes.

A fragrance material derived from a source such as flowers, leaves, fruit peels, wood, tree resins and more.

A fragrance material derived from natural sources by solvent extraction or enfleurage.

A traditional extraction method for natural plant oils using fat, such as tallow.

A fragrance with a concentration of about 10% raw materials.

Undiluted fragrance ingredients, including naturals and aroma molecules.

Extremely high-proof denatured ethanol used to dilute fragrance materials.

A category of aroma molecules that became popular in the early 1900s. Usually top notes, they give a sparkly effect fragrances when used in small amounts.

The quality which describes how quickly a molecule evaporates. The most volatile materials are classified as top notes.

The fragrance ingredients that contain volatile molecules which evaporate quickly.

The fragrance ingredients that have the greatest tenacity and stay the longest on the skin.

The name for any fragrant material synthesized or isolated in a lab, instead of extracted from a natural source.

A liquid used for dissolving other substances.

A fragrance with a concentration of 15-18% raw materials.

Can refer to a fragrance with less than 10% concentration, though traditionally a cologne is a simply a citrus-based, unisex fragrance.

A insider's term for a finished fragrance composition.

A classification of fragrance materials that are molecularly heavier (like many base notes) than others, meaning they evaporate at a slower rate and therefor make the overall fragrance last longer.

A measurement of how long a single material will last on the skin or blotter before all scent is gone. Heavier molecules are more tenacious.

The last stage of evaporation of an applied fragrance when the top and heart notes have gone, leaving only base notes to fade.