One of the first things you will notice when you start looking at perfume is the array of terms used to denote the different kinds of perfumes and fragrances on the market. You will see some common terms such as perfume, cologne, eau de parfum, and eau de toilette. Frequently confused with each other are these terms and it helps to know what they are when you’re buying perfumes.
Perfume
Perfume is the broadest of the categories. Generally, the word refers to both body scents and a particular type of scent specifically. With the exception of scented body lotions or creams, all of the other terms are included in perfumes.
As a specific term, the strongest and longest lasting type of body scent is what perfume refers to. A combination of different fragrances are contained in most perfumes and because of this, they are called “layered” scents. These layers of scent are called “notes” in the French perfume industry, and they are not chosen at random.
Typical perfumes have three notes. Comprised of the strongest scents as well as the shortest lasting is the first. These are the scents that will usually wear off within a few hours and expose the next layer although you will smell them when you first put them on.
Made of less volatile scents that will usually last until midday or early afternoon is the second layer or “middle note.” By evening, all that remains of the perfume is the third and final layer. Usually, this is the most subtle scent and the strength of it will decrease through the day even though it is longer lasting.
The best perfumes will slowly change their scent through the day and this is the result of layering. The science of blending scents is what good parfumiers have perfected so that while recognizable, the layers would compliment each other and change in scent that is both subtle and pleasing.
Colognes
Cologne is the next category of perfumes. Cologne is a perfume, but one with only a single scent to it. Colognes are both stronger and shorter lasting than perfumes because of this.
Colognes, having only a single scent, will dissipate faster than perfumes. To balance that, they are prepared with a stronger scent, to last as long as possible. This gives colognes much less subtlety than perfumes, and makes it easy to “overdo it” when using them.
Rather than perfumes, most men’s fragrances are colognes even though they are not exclusive to men. And even the men’s perfumes are frequently marketed under the term “cologne.”
Eau de perfumes
The eau de parfum and eau de toilette are the last two categories of liquid based perfume scents. Since “eau” is French for water and “toilette” is French for the act of getting oneself dressed and prepared, eau de parfum and eau de toilette are respectively known as “perfumed water” and “make-up water. Of the two, eau de parfum is the more popular.
A less expensive form of perfume is eau de parfum because it is based on single scents but is less overpowering than cologne. Ladies like to daub this type of perfume on their necks or wrists. Even though this sort of perfume may not last through a full day, it will last through a full date.
Although similar to eau de parfum, eau de toilette is not as strong and is also less expensive. They are relatively cheap and sold in small bottles that are easily carried in a purse or handbag and that’s a good thing since these scents only last a few hours. Eau de toilette is usually not a strong fragrance.
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