Chapter 1
The perfume organ and the scent scale
Chapter 2
The high-pitched top notes
Chapter 3
The harmonious heart notes
Chapter 4
The deep resonance of base notes
Chapter 5
Global symphonies of scent
Ch 2 · The high-pitched top notes
Glossary
top note (noun)
The initial, most volatile aroma perceived immediately after a perfume is applied to the skin. In 1857, Septimus Piesse mapped these fleeting scents to treble clef keys on his musical odophone.
The initial, most volatile aroma perceived immediately after a perfume is applied to the skin. In 1857, Septimus Piesse mapped these fleeting scents to treble clef keys on his musical odophone.
Fun Fact
Citrus extraction: Unlike flowers, which require heat or chemical solvents, citrus oils are extracted by cold-pressing the rinds, keeping the delicate scent molecules completely intact.
Quiz
What physical effect do aldehydes have on the natural ingredients in a perfume composition?
Quiz
Which Italian region produces the vast majority of the world's bergamot used in high-end perfumery?
Quiz
Which of these ingredients is classified as a highly volatile head note that evaporates within minutes?
Quiz
Which French region is world-renowned for its vast, historic lavender fields used in perfume production?
Quiz
What chemical compound is primarily responsible for the bright, volatile scent of citrus top notes?
Quiz
Which volatile chemical compound found in lavender gives it its characteristically clean, herbaceous scent?