Anatomy of a Perfume:
Scents are often divided into three categories: The head, the heart, and the base.
The Head/Top:
The head or top notes are often comprised of citrus or aromatics which tend to soften or dissipate quickly. This is what you immediately smell either in the bottle or upon initial application. Notes in this category tend to be described as fresh, assertive, crisp, sharp, or clean.
The Heart:
The heart notes are the center of the scent, which emerge as the head notes fade. The heart notes make up the body/core and majority of the scent. The notes in this category tend to have less volatility than the head and pull from aromatic florals to deep spices. These tend to soften some of the more aggressive tones of the base notes until they have significantly warmed and developed on the skin.
The Body/Base:
The base notes (along with the fading heart) create the theme of the scent. These are often revealed once the scent has had a chance to settle on the skin. The notes in this category tend to be deeper, muskier, and richer, carrying the scent longer (they tend to be the fixatives that help boost the lighter tones). These notes pull from woods and balsamic tones like vanilla and tonka bean.
Scent Categories/Families:
There are 4 major scent families that can appear in the head, heart, or base of a perfume: Fresh, floral, oriental, and woody. These 4 families can be further divided into subcategories that range from citrus to dry woods, all of which have various notes that foll under each subcategory. Most perfumes will combine elements from 2-3 major scent families as different families tend to aerosolize or vaporize at different times.
Note: Perfume and wine-tasting wheels can overlap considerably.
Image from Michael Edwards.
ascentaday 
