Has it ever struck your mind as to why the inscription on the bottles or canisters of fragrances differs?

On some, you have Eau De Parfum, some Eau De Toilette, and others you have Eau De cologne or simply cologne inscribed on them.

Well, after reading this article, you will no longer have to rack your pretty brain wondering why this is so. As we are happy to explain their meanings and also help you understand their differences.

You’re welcome to read on.

Why can’t we call all fragrances perfumes?

To start with, the term fragrance is generally used to represent any substance formulated to give off a sweet and pleasant smell.

Thus, all fragrances can not be called perfumes because of the varying concentrations of fragrance oil present in alcohol and water. It is this difference in concentration that birthed the terms perfumes, Eau de Parfum, Eau de Toilette, Eau de Cologne, and what have you.

When perfume makers want to set about their stuff, they mix different extracts. Say lavender, patchouli, citrus, and many other ingredients. When all is mixed, what is obtained from the mixture is the pure perfume in its oil form commonly referred to as perfume oils.

In other to certify it safe for use on the skin plus strengthen it, the pure perfume oil is mixed with a solvent. Mostly alcohol and some cases alcohol and water.

Why is perfume oil mixed with alcohol?

It is essential to have the pure perfume mixed with alcohol (a diffusing agent) to ensure ease of spraying. The evaporative nature of alcohol makes the fragrance nicely spread on the body leaving a cool, refreshing effect.

The difference…

Perfume

Being the most concentrated and most expensive formulation with a percentage of 20 - 40% of raw extracts (pure perfume oil). This form of fragrance is devoid of water making its stay time the longest. Stays about 8 hours on the skin and up to 24 hours on clothes. If you have rather dry skin, you should consider perfumes as they are oiler and more likely to supply your skin with moisture compared to others.

It might interest you to know that “Perfume” and “Parfum” mean the same thing and can be used interchangeably. Parfum is simply the French word for Perfume. However, both perfume and parfum should not be confused with Eau de Parfum which is entirely different.

EDP — Eau de Parfum

It is the most luxurious of all fragrance forms. The “Eau” meaning water, points to the fact that this fragrance type contains water which relatively makes it light and ideal for daytime use.

Practically speaking, EDP is made up of pure perfume oil, alcohol, and water. It specifically contains 10 - 20% pure perfume dissolved in alcohol and a trace of water. When sprayed, It averagely takes about 4 - 8 hours before it fades.

EDT — Eau de Toilette

People’s most popular choice of fragrance type. It contains 5 -15% of pure perfume and more water and alcohol. If you have delicate skin, Eau de toilette is your best option due to its lightweight. The only downside is you might have to go around with it, to top up after every 2 - 6 hours.

EDC — Eau de Cologne (Cologne)

Cologne differs from all other forms in that it has a much lower concentration of pure perfume ranging from 2 - 6% and a higher volume of alcohol and water. If you choose a cologne, you need to wear a lot of it, we guess that’s why most cologne comes in bigger bottles. Fairly, it is cheaper and lasts about 2 - 3 hours when sprayed on the skin. When next you’re scouting for cheap “perfumes” online, consider going for cologne.

With all these reads, we bet you now know what distinguishes these fragrance forms. So when next you’re fragrance shopping, bear all these in mind and shop intentionally.

What's the best EDP perfume you have used

Scent0707:
What's the best EDP perfume you have used

Obsession men CK

The only reason I go for Eau Du Toilette is because all the perfumes I've come across in life have it boldly inscribed on their packaging. Seeing anything else will trigger internal alarm bells aimed at identifying fakes.

Scent0707:
What's the best EDP perfume you have used

Tom ford Oud wood.