Middle Notes
Otherwise known as the 'heart' or 'bouquet' notes, they are more longer lasting than our capricious, fleeting top notes. Unfolding over a few hours, the heart notes impart body, fullness and warmth to a perfume and are the mainstay of a fragrance.
Classic middle note materials in Natural perfumery are mostly flowers, some herbs and spices.
Florals: such as the voluptuous, creamy white flowers of Gardenia, Tuberose; Ylang ylang, Jasmine and the complex Rose, Geranium, Lavender, Linden blossom, Lotus, Osmanthus
Herbs: Lavender, Geranium, Thyme
Spices: Nutmeg, Ginger, Cardamom, Black pepper - although some spices cross-over into top-note territory too, so there is some 'rule-bending' occurring!
Some examples of classic fragrances with strong floral middle notes are Tresor (Lancome), Beautiful (Estee Lauder), Quelques Fleurs L'original, Safari, Fracas (Piguet)