Top notes are the very first impression that we receive from a perfume and it is also the lightest of the notes. Which means it doesn't last as long as a single smell but blends with the middle notes. When this happens we get the smell of the true perfume, in other words, this is when the smell becomes unique on the body and you are able to smell some of the ingredients. So, to really really simplify this, imagine the top notes being the smell from the bottle and the top and middle notes blending together when touched to the skin. The middle notes are when the perfume settles down and is what you smell for the first few hours.
Base notes are the additives that give the perfume depth, staying power and evaporation rate.
Scents that remind you of the ocean and water and the sea air. To accomplish this just boil your equipment in hot water and do not use them for anything other than perfume making. 100 proof vodka to 50-70 drops of fragrance. Increase or decrease the amount of fragrance depending on your desired strength. It did smell good.