Fragrances are composed of notes. Top, middle, and base. Sounds simple enough, right? But then you would read somewhere that this fragrance has a certain accord that isn’t listed among the notes. How could this happen?
Take a look at Coro by Xerjoff, for example. This fragrance definitely has a bubble gum accord, but not a single note is bubble gum. This is because “notes” and “accords” are distinct concepts.
This article will break down the key differences between fragrance notes and accords, helping you better understand these terms.
What are Fragrance Notes?
Think of fragrance notes as the individual ingredients or building blocks of a perfume. Just like a musical note is a single sound, a fragrance note is a single scent. These individual scents are categorised into a fragrance pyramid based on their volatility, or how quickly they evaporate. This pyramid consists of three main layers: top notes, middle notes, and base notes.
What are Fragrance Accords?
An accord is a blend of several fragrance notes. It’s like a musical chord, where different notes are combined to create a unique and pleasing sound. Perfumers create accords to achieve a particular theme, effect, or character in a fragrance. Therefore, the notes in Coro blend together to give off a bubblegum-like scent, hence, a bubble gum accord.
There are two main types of accords:
- Simple Accords: These consist of a few ingredients and recreate a recognisable scent, such as a rose accord.
- Complex Accords: These are more complex compositions that combine many different notes, such as a tea accord built on jasmine, violet, and bergamot.
PS: An accord is not the fragrance family, as a perfume can have multiple accords. The most dominant accords can help identify the fragrance family.
Key Differences
| Feature | Notes | Accords |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Individual scent ingredients | A blend of multiple notes |
| Function | Building blocks of a fragrance | Creates a unified and distinctive scent character |
| Complexity | Simple, single scent | Complex, a combination of scents |
Next time you’re looking to buy a fragrance and are a bit confused by the terminology, think of this article. Hopefully, we were able to help you understand the difference between notes and accords, making your next fragrance shopping experience smoother.
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