Top notes provide the first scent impression of a fragrance once it has been applied to the skin. They are usually lighter aromas that evaporate readily. Their scent usually lingers for between 5 and 30 minutes. Middle notes, sometimes referred to as “heart notes”, make up the body of the blend, usually taking 10-30 minutes to fully develop on the skin. They are the notes that classify the fragrance family (floral, woody, oriental, etc). Fragrance base notes are those with the greatest molecular weight. They last the longest and help slow down the evaporation rates of the lighter notes, giving the fragrance holding power. Common base notes include sandalwood, musk and vanilla.