The scent scale

Top Notes - Once you spray on a scent, the top notes are what you smell in the first few minutes, giving you the first impression of the perfume. Often, it's the light, fresh citrus and floral scents that will first attract you to a perfume. Don't let these notes fool you, though. They evaporate the quickest, anywhere from a few minutes to a half hour. Common top notes include lemon, grapefruit, peppermint, sage and orange.

Middle or Heart Notes - Now that the scent has been on for a while, you'll start to smell the real body of the perfume, the essential oils that give the perfume balance and help to identify its fragrance family. Traditionally, these are warmer fragrances, including heavier florals and lighter woods. Common middle notes: pine, nutmeg, juniper, black pepper and chamomile.

Base Notes - After an hour or more on your skin, you'll begin to smell the base notes that are the heaviest in weight and will last longest on the skin. These notes help to round out a fragrance. Often, they're richer, heavier and more intense. Common base notes: oak moss, amber, patchouli, sandalwood, vanilla and clove.