A fragrance isn’t a single smell — it’s a sequence. Perfumers build scents in three layers, called notes, each one revealing itself at a different point after you apply it.
Top notes are the first impression, the scent you smell in the first few minutes. They’re usually light and bright — citrus, bergamot, fresh spices — designed to catch attention quickly before fading within 15 to 30 minutes.
Heart notes, sometimes called middle notes, emerge as the top notes fade and form the core character of the fragrance. This is where florals, spices and soft woods usually sit, lasting for a few hours and giving the scent its personality.
Base notes are the foundation — deep, rich ingredients like oud, amber, musk and sandalwood that anchor the fragrance and linger the longest, often for many hours after application. In Brouq fragrances, this is where you’ll find our signature oud and amber base doing the quiet work of making a scent memorable long after you’ve left the room.
