You don’t have to be a history buff (or anorak) to be bewitched by the history of fragrance. We know the practice of perfuming is thousands of years old. (And perhaps much longer, even if archaeologists can’t yet find the tangible proof through their excavations.) In the 19th century synthetic aroma chemicals, called aldehydes, were first discovered and the fragrance industry became what we know it to be today – a great spectrum of different types of perfume and diverse scents and not just for royalty and nobility as it had been in the past. Over 1000 new fragrances, with a variety of perfume strengths and concentrations are launched every year.

You’ve no doubt already heard the terms ‘eau de parfum’ and ‘eau de toilette’, but what do they actually mean? These different fragrance types denote the strength and longevity once you’ve sprayed them. There are different categories in perfumery for different perfume types. These terms actually refer to concentration which describes the amount of pure perfume oil within a fragrance. Generally, the higher the perfume concentration, the higher the longevity on the skin and also the higher the price point.

PARFUM

The most strongest and densest type of perfume, Parfum, also known as Pure Perfume or Extrait de parfum boasts the highest fragrance concentration. A fragrance that is classified as Parfum has a concentration between 20% to 40%. From all the different types of scents Parfum commands the highest price and perfume strength (excluding absolute perfume oils of course) due to its high concentration of fragrance oil, meaning it lasts the longest on the skin whilst giving the wearer a full spectrum of Top, Heart and Base Notes that are released over time. One can expect a Parfum to last at least 8 hours and far beyond.

EAU DE PARFUM

After parfum, Eau de Parfum (EDP) has the next highest concentration of fragrance. Eau de parfum generally has a fragrance concentration of anywhere between 15% and 20%. On average this scent strength usually has a longevity of about six hours and more. It is therefore generally less expensive compared to Parfum strength fragrances, as the perfume strength is slightly lower. It is better for sensitive skin than other fragrance types. Whilst Parfum gives you the full blend of Top, Heart and Base Notes, Eau de Parfum focuses on the Heart Notes as the Top Notes flash off from the skin quicker.

EAU DE TOILETTE

You will find that a lot of Eau de Parfum fragrances are also available as Eau de Toilette (EDT), which is the less expensive version of the same scent. As you can imagine, this type of perfume also has less perfume concentration and the longevity won’t be as long either. Eau de Toilette (EDT) has a fragrance concentration of between 5% and 15% and lasts around five hours. It is cheaper than eau de parfum and is one of the most popular types of fragrance available. Eau de toilette is considered by some to be for daywear while eau de parfum is considered nightwear. The Top Notes which are the first scent released by a perfume are more dominant, making it refreshing when it is first applied, this is why EDT fragrances are particularly popular during the summer.

EAU DE COLOGNE

Eau de cologne, or EDC, has a much lower concentration of fragrance than the above types of perfume. EDC generally has a 2% to 4% percent concentration of fragrance and a high concentration of alcohol. It is cheaper than other types of fragrance however the scent generally only lasts for up to two hours. Eau de Cologne is less expensive than all of the above fragrance types and is commonly available in bigger bottles such as traditional splash style bottles.

EAU FRAICHE, AFTERSHAVE & MIST

Eau Fraiche is similar to eau de cologne in that the scent will generally last for up to two hours. Eau Fraiche has an even lower concentration of fragrance than eau de cologne, normally only 1% to 3%. While Eau Fraiche has a low fragrance concentration, it does not contain a high amount of alcohol. Along with the fragrance, the remainder of Eau Fraiche is mostly water.

An Aftershave has a light fragrance concentration of up to 3% and a high alcohol content. It is usually available in splash bottles and is used after shaving to help close the pores, and gives only one to two hours of wear.

Mists are light and refreshing fragrances that are mostly water based with very low alcohol content. A Mist fragrance type usually has a concentration of 1.5% to 3%. Due to the low alcohol content it can also be applied on the hair without causing it to dry out. You can expect a Mist fragrance to last a maximum of 2 hours.