Perfume, Cologne and Other Fragrances

Perfume, Cologne and Other Fragrances
What makes them different and/or more expensive?

You have to understand how fragrances are made. Manufacturers blend the natural and synthetic oils that give fragrances their scent with a carrier like alcohol. This stabilizes the scent and dilutes the oils to create what you smell on your skin. The alcohol is just as important as the oils because it controls the concentration of the scent and how long it lasts. As far as prices go ( like many items) it depends on the brand name and quality.

Pure Perfume, Parfum or Extrait De Parfum
Pure perfume is the highest concentration of fragrance available — usually between 15 and 30 percent perfume oil — and is enough to make the scent potent, noticeable and last all day.
How far (the sillage) the fragrance extends from your body in the air around you, is always very noticeable with pure perfumes. When you hug someone who is wearing a pure perfume, chances are that you will smell like them for hours after. Just like a lipstick, they can transfer.

Eau de Parfum (EDP)
Eau de parfums have the next-highest concentration of perfume oils, between 15 and 20 percent. They are made to last on the skin all day without giving the person in the cubicle next to you a headache. They are the most common fragrance category. The scent will be prominent from morning to evening, and should still be detectable when you undress at night.

Eau de Toilette (EDT)
Eau de toilettes have a lower concentration of perfume oils, usually 5 to 15 percent, and are made to have a lighter wear on the skin, not necessarily lasting until the end of the evening.

Although many successful fragrances start off as eau de parfums and are then released in lighter, eau de toilette versions, they may not always share the same notes as their parfum counterparts. Some of the heavier notes, like woods and patchouli, can be removed to make the fragrance lighter; others, like florals or citrus, may be added to boost effervescence.

Eau de Cologne
Cologne is usually an umbrella word for masculine scents in North America, but eau de cologne is actually the term for a very light concentration of perfume oils, usually 2 to 4 percent, that is cut with more alcohol and lasts only for a few hours. These are great to spritz on and freshen up, but not for all-day, lasting wear.

Eau Fraiche
Eau fraiche also has a very low concentration of alcohol, sometimes 1 to 3 percent. The difference is that colognes are mixed with alcohol like traditional fragrances are. Eau fraiches are mixed with mostly water and serve as a quick refresher without a long-lasting scent.

Finding the right concentration is just as important as choosing the perfect scent. If it is too light, it is going to fade away too quickly. If it is too strong, it is going to choke you. There is a type of fragrance to fit your lifestyle, no matter if you are going for the classic, all-day wear of an eau de parfum, a heavier option of a pure parfum, or a lighter, more temporary wear of an eau fraiche.

Edited from an article by Tynan Sinks, July 12, 2018

Read More:

The Perfect Scent
There are hundreds of new upper end perfumes introduced in the US every year. Not to mention hundreds are introduced in other countries each year also. No wonder it is confusing to find a scent that you like or “the perfect scent”. With so many cologne and perfumes to choose from one can easily be overwhelmed.

Hey there Mr. too much or too little cologne?
The cologne you’re wearing and how you wear it says a lot about who you are. Applying too much can definitely be a huge turn off for girls and even at a job interview.