Perfumes: Eau de What?

There are a million and one different names and types of perfumes out there and it can be a bit confusing if you're not familiar with the names of them. Do I want a Perfume? Eau de Parfum? What's the difference?

Generic Stock Photo!

I had a brief love of making solid perfumes a few months ago until I realised it was too expensive and I don't have an infinite supply of money to spend on smelly stuff (if only!). I'm super picky about perfumes and smells because I have a stupidly strong sense of smell so most things smell like a super intense offactory assault. That and nearly all perfumes smell like shite on my skin after they settle down. I like simple, single or two note smells. Like a wee bit of vanilla. It smells nice on me so that's what I like.

Now, I know that it's easy to google but I think it's nice to be helpful and I have made a nice wee list of the different strengths of common types of perfume. I mean, I know there's a Eau Fraiche but I've never seen one in my life. Well, that I'm aware. And it's super weak and seems like a waste of time and money to me.

Perfumes, more often than not, are a mixture of essentials oils and essenses (Perfume oil) diluted in alcohol. So the more oil in the ratio, the more intense and long lasting the smell.

Perfum/Perfum Oil

Note, the lack of "e" on the end. This means that it's the strongest concentrate of Perfume Oil and is more expensive than others. 'I've included perfum oils in this as well because oil based perfumes tend to be really strong and fall into this top tier smellathon category.

Concentration of about 20-30%

Eau de Parfum

The one we are probably most familiar with and is the most commonly bought. It is a step down in strength from Perfum but still long lasting.

Concentration of about 15-20%

Eau de Toilette

Again, another common incarnation of smelly bottle sprays. This, we all know is a watered down version of the Eau de Parfum. The upside to an Eau de Toilette is you get the same smell but cheaper - as long as you don't mind the lost of wear time.

 Concentration of about 10-15%

Eau de Cologne

I don't see this kicking about a lot but I'm not a master Perfumererererer or anything so mibbe I'm wrong. But I'm including it because I've seen them in the real world. Not like Eau Fraiche. What is that?

Also, mind to not spell it Colon... I've seen that happen a lot and it leads to some hilarious results.

Mhhmmmm, I love the smell of his colon.

Furthermore (like my essay terminology there?), while Manfume can be called Cologne as a generic term, it tends to be a Eau de Perfum/Toilette rather than an Eau de Colon Cologne.

Concentration of about 2-5%

And there we have it! I don't know if this post was wanted or even needed but it was information I found interesting while in a brief Perfumery stage. These concentrations are just what I've gathered from various websites on making perfumes and certain people say slightly different things but the figures I've listed are general consensus.

I hope you enjoyed this wee post and I'll see you all next Monday :)

xx