The Olfactory Pyramid

Perfume creation always begins with selecting and combining the right mix of raw ingredients. Perfumiers must rely on their keen understanding of fragrance notes and their topology (i.e. their unique molecular properties) to develop olfactory compositions that are balanced and delight the senses. To achieve the right balance, they depend on a concept called the olfactory pyramid. Here’s how it works. 

To achieve an agreeable balance, fragrance notes are classified as top notes, heart notes and base notes. These notes make up a perfume’s accord, its character.

Each note reflects a scent’s volatility, or how quickly it evaporates. Those at the top evaporate fastest while those at the base linger longer.

Perfumiers use the olfactory pyramid to represent a perfume’s fragrance notes, each ingredient categorised according to its evaporation rate and persistence over time.