Fragrance notes explained: oud, amber, vanilla and musk

Fragrance notes are the smells a perfume is built from, listed in three layers. Top notes are what you smell first, heart notes come through after the opening, and base notes are what you smell last. Oud, amber, vanilla and musk usually sit in the base, which is why Arabic perfumes that use them often feel warm and deep. This guide explains each term and how to read the notes tables on our product pages.

What are top, heart and base notes?

• Top notes are the opening. Citrus, light fruits and fresh spices such as pepper are common here. They are the first thing you notice and the first to fade.
• Heart notes, also called middle notes, appear once the opening settles. Flowers, spices and herbs often sit here.
• Base notes come through last and stay the longest of the three layers. Woods, resins, vanilla, amber, musk and oud are typical.

Take Lattafa Khamrah as an example. Our page lists cinnamon, nutmeg and bergamot on top, dates, praline, tuberose and mahonial in the heart, and vanilla, tonka bean, amberwood, myrrh, benzoin and akigalawood in the base. You smell the spice first and the sweet, resinous base later.

What is an accord?

An accord is the overall impression that several notes make together. "Sweet", "woody", "warm spicy" and "fresh" are accords. Our product pages list accords in order, so the first ones describe the perfume best. For example, Lattafa Yara lists sweet, vanilla and powdery first.

What is oud?

Oud, also written agarwood, is a dark resin that forms inside the wood of the agar tree. It has a deep, woody smell that can also be smoky or leathery. Natural oud oil is rare and costly, and many perfumes use an oud accord built by the perfumer instead. On our pages you will see it listed as "agarwood (oud)" or "oud".

Two examples from our store:

• Lattafa Badee Al Oud Amethyst pairs Turkish and Bulgarian rose with agarwood (oud), amber and vanilla.
• Lattafa Qaa'Ed has agarwood (oud), vanilla, leather and amber in its base.

What is amber, and is it the same as ambergris?

No. Amber in perfume is not the fossil stone. It is a warm, sweet accord, usually built from resins such as labdanum and benzoin together with vanilla. Ambergris is a different material. It first came from sperm whales, and today perfumes mostly use made versions such as ambroxan. Ambergris smells salty, mineral and slightly sweet.

Lattafa Asad lists amber, benzoin and labdanum in its base. Lattafa Ana Abiyedh Rouge lists ambergris instead.

What do vanilla and tonka bean smell like?

Vanilla is sweet and creamy. Tonka bean is close to it, with a hint of almond and hay. Both are common in gourmand perfumes, which are the ones that remind you of desserts. Khamrah has both in its base.

What is musk?

Musk is a soft, clean, skin-like smell. It was once taken from animals, and today it is made in the lab. "White musk" on a label means one of these clean, laundry-like musks. Musk often sits in the base and softens the notes around it. Yara lists musk in its base, beside vanilla and sandalwood.

What do woody notes mean?

Woody notes include sandalwood, which is creamy, cedar, which is dry and pencil-like, and vetiver, which is earthy and a little smoky. Patchouli is also earthy and often sits with them. You will find these in many men's perfumes, and in many unisex ones too.

How do I read the notes table on a Cedar product page?

• Read the accords first. They tell you the overall style in a few words.
• Read the top notes to know how the perfume opens.
• Read the base notes to know what you will smell later in the day.
• Check the season and gender lines where we have them. They come from our product data, and some pages do not have them yet.

If a note is new to you, look for a perfume you already own with that note in its list. It is the fastest way to learn what you like.

To see these terms in use, read our Lattafa guide or our Khamrah comparison.

How do I order in Lebanon?

Order through the normal checkout on our website and pay cash on delivery, in USD. Delivery is $4, free on orders over $75, and takes up to 48 hours. Once a bottle has been opened, we cannot take it back or exchange it. If you prefer to pay with Whish Money, write to us through our contact page before you order.

Quick answers

What is the difference between top and base notes?

Top notes are what you smell first. Base notes come through last and stay the longest of the three layers.

What is oud in perfume?

A deep, woody resin from the agar tree, also called agarwood. Many perfumes use a made oud accord.

Is amber the same as ambergris?

No. Amber is a warm resin and vanilla accord. Ambergris is a salty, mineral material, today mostly made in the lab.

What does "accord" mean?

The overall impression several notes make together, such as sweet or woody.