Fragranova
Top notes are the first impression — they're the most volatile molecules in the composition, so they evaporate fastest. Common top notes include bergamot, lemon, lavender, ginger, pink pepper, mint, and various synthetic aldehydes. Their job is to grab attention; they almost always read brighter and louder than the middle and base notes that take over later. If you sample a fragrance and recoil from a sharp opening, give it 30–45 minutes before judging — the top notes are designed to be transient, and what you smell at minute 60 is usually a completely different composition.
Top Notes
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Quick definition
The bright, often-citrus notes you smell in the first 30 minutes before the fragrance settles.