Key points
Top notes: the first impression
The brightest, most volatile notes register first on arrival: citrus, green leaf, herbs. This is where a scent can feel crisp and contemporary.
Heart notes: the character
Florals, teas and spices carry the fragrance’s identity as people move through and spend time in the space.
Base notes: the settled backdrop
Woods, musks, ambers and resins linger and soften into the space. This is where warmth, heritage and permanence live.
A building scent is experienced in layers
Perfumers describe a fragrance as a pyramid of top, heart and base notes, built from accords: blends of materials that together create one impression. In a building, those layers map onto the visitor’s experience. The top notes form the first impression on arrival. The heart carries the character while people move through the space. The base settles into the building as a lasting backdrop.
So a building scent is multi-dimensional. A refreshing, crisp top note over a relaxing, old-world woody base can say contemporary and established in a single composition. See how layers tell a brand story.
Why the layers must be balanced
A building is scented all day, so every layer has to support the others. A sharp top becomes tiring and a heavy base becomes close. A signature scent is composed so the arrival is clear, the character is consistent and the backdrop never overwhelms. How cold-air diffusion delivers it.
The language of fragrance
Every signature scent for buildings is composed across all three layers.
Accord: a blend of materials that creates one impression
Sillage and throw: how far a scent travels
Drydown: how a fragrance settles over time
Olfactory fatigue: when the nose stops noticing a scent
The visitor’s journey through a scent
How the three layers meet people in a building.
Arrival: top notes
A clear, bright first impression in the drop-off and lobby.
Dwell: heart notes
A consistent character in lift lobbies, reception and client floors.
Memory: base notes
The lasting backdrop people associate with the building after they leave.
Frequently asked questions
1. What are top, heart and base notes?
The three layers of a fragrance: the first impression, the character, and the lasting foundation.
2. What is an accord?
A blend of materials that together create a single impression, such as a fresh tea accord.
3. Why does a building scent need to be balanced?
Because a building is scented all day. Each layer must support the others, or the scent becomes tiring.
4. What is olfactory fatigue?
The nose stops noticing a constant scent. Calibrated intensity and schedules keep the scent noticeable without overwhelming.
5. Can a building scent change through the day?
The scent stays the same; intensity schedules can change with occupancy.
6. Where can I learn about fragrance families?
Read our fragrance families guide.
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A scent composed for your building
Every PrimeScents programme includes a signature scent balanced for continuous diffusion in your space.