How to Read a Fragrance

Every fragrance is built in three acts. The top notes are the opening — bright, volatile, gone within the hour. They are the first impression, not the whole story.

The heart is what settles in as the top fades: the character of the scent, its central theme. This is where a rose reveals whether it is fresh or honeyed, a wood whether it is dry or resinous.

The base is what remains — the long, low notes of musk, amber, and wood that hold everything together and linger longest. When we age an attar, we are largely waiting for the base to mature.