Everyone loves fragrances. It makes us feel good, uplifts our mood and adds that extra ‘wow’ to our grooming. It also gives us individuality, almost like a definition of sorts. And ever so often, we find a fragrance that’s perfect in every way.
While we all buy fragrances based on how it smells on us, there is a deeper truth to this fascinating world of scents. Yes, that’s right. When we embark on the journey to find the perfect perfume, there is a whole universe of Eau de Toilette, Eau de Parfum and Eau de Cologne, waiting for us.
No doubt it is confusing and mighty difficult to tell the difference. So we’re here to simplify it for you. Today, let’s explore the subtle difference between Eau De Toilette, Eau De Parfum, and Eau De Cologne, and the unique aspect that differentiates them all.
Raw aromats compound concentration
As we all know by now, there are various types of scents. The perfume or the base material is a heavy, fragrant liquid made of aromatic essential compounds and solvents.
It is this aromatic essential oil or compound which gives the perfume its scent. These aromatic compounds could also be a mix of various fragrant oils which evolve into a complex, mesmerizing fragrance.
The amount of aromatic concentrate impacts how long the fragrance will last on you. Concentrated pure oils last for eight hours while the less concentrated Eau De Toilette and Eau De Cologne will last about three to four hours. Therefore, the higher the concentration of these oils, the longer lasting the fragrance.
Eau De Toilette (EDT), Eau De Cologne (EDC) And Eau De Parfum (EDP)
The primary difference between these three is the amount or concentration of essential aromatic oils in the spray. When a perfume is created, a certain concentration of its raw aromatic materials is defined. Hence, the more the concentration, the longer the fragrant effect. Therefore, the aromatic effect of EDP is longer than EDT or EDC. EDT, on the other hand, can last up to three to five hours while Parfum can linger for about eight hours. In terms of shelf life too, EDP can last for about five years longer than EDT.
In the world of fragrances and scents, it is Eau De Parfum that contains a high concentration of pure perfume or fragrant oil compounds. This is followed by Eau De Toilette, and then Eau De Cologne.
- EDT contains 5-15% concentrated oils and the effect will last around 3-4 hours. It is a day/office fragrance.
- EDC has about 2-4% concentration of oil with the fragrance lasting for 2-3 hours.
- Eau De Parfum usually has around 10-20% perfume oil and so is a much stronger blend. These fragrances can last up to 8 hours.
The Eau De Cologne
EDC has a lower concentration of fragrance than EDT. They contain about 2% to 4% fragrance concentrate but a high potency of alcohol. It has a light, citrusy fragrance but is not long-lasting. It is daytime wear.
The Eau De Toilette
EDT contains about 5%-14% essential fragrance oil. Daytime wear, it lasts longer than EDC which is about 4 hours and more after one spray. Depending on the skin type and the quantity of perfume sprayed, it can last on your skin for half a day. Eau De Toilette and Eau De Cologne are generally interchangeable especially when it comes to men’s fragrances.
Keynotes: Unopened Eau de Toilette can, in principle, be kept for several years in good condition. Once opened, it can generally be kept for one to three years, but its shelf life can often be longer.
The Eau de Parfum
EDP contains approximately 15-30% of fragrance compounds and can last up to 8-10 hours. Perfect to wear every day, it is more intense than the EDT. It lasts for over 5 hours at one go. After Parfum, EAU DE PARFUM (EDP) has the next highest category in terms of fragrance concentration. Eau De Parfum generally has a fragrance concentration of between 15% and 20%. It is a night fragrance.
Points to remember
- Whatever you chose, always apply the fragrance to your pulse points and not your clothes. That’s because skin radiates warmth and helps the perfume waft from your skin into the air.
- Never rub your wrists together after applying a fragrance. That’s because a fragrance is made of top, middle and base notes. When you rub your wrists together, it disturbs the balance between the notes.
- Fragrances smell different on different people. That’s because each of us has a unique body scent which when mixed with the ingredient creates a unique fragrance. That’s why, some fragrances may suit others but not you.
- When you’re scouting for fragrances, and have smelt a tad too many, don’t smell those coffee beans. Try something neutral like smelling your clothes or the inside of your arms. This will help your brain reset faster.
Exciting, wasn’t it? How incredible the world of fragrance is? There’s so much out there, and so much to choose from. And of course, it always helps to be well informed. We hope we’ve armed you with quality information so the next time you read those labels, you know exactly which one to pick. Happy shopping!
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