A Beginner’s Guide To Perfume Types
The World of Fragrance Demystified
Shopping for the next scent can be a tricky affair; after all, how can you decide with so many to choose from? Let our fragrance strengths and styles of fragrances guide help you find out what perfume or aftershave you should be looking for next!
Most of you who frequently post on my website are now hard-core perfume addicts, but a substantial number of readers are not “fume heads” and are only hiding, feeling out of their depth. Perfume is a world they’re intrigued by, but it’s a bit alien to them and they’re unsure of where to start or how to start. It all looks really complicated and a bit overwhelming!
Table of Contents
Fragrance Families Explained
The first step to discovering your favorite perfume is to grasp the completely different scent households that each fragrance and aftershave is predicated on. Also, you can read about What is Fragrance Wheel and Olfactory Families?
- Character: Refreshing, zesty, vibrant
- Notes: Citrus, water, green herbs
- Examples: Lemon, bergamot, sea spray
- Perfect for: Daytime, warm weather
- Character: Sweet, flowery, romantic
- Notes: Rose, jasmine, lilies, peonies
- Range: Light & delicate to intense
- Most popular family
- Character: Warm, sweet, spicy, sensual
- Notes: Vanilla, cinnamon, amber
- Sub-types: Floral, soft, woody oriental
- Perfect for: Evenings, special occasions
- Character: Warm, mysterious, sophisticated
- Notes: Cedarwood, sandalwood, vetiver
- Sub-types: Mossy woods, dry woods
- Ideal for: Evening, cooler months
Understanding Fragrance Concentrations
Shopping for new perfume with all the fragrances available can be overwhelming. There are not only numerous scents available but also various concentrations of fragrances. Below the perfume name on a bottle would usually be the concentration of the fragrance. A concentration of the scent refers to the power a scent has.
| CONCENTRATION | OIL PERCENTAGE | LONGEVITY | BEST FOR | PRICE RANGE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parfum / Extrait | 20-40% | 8-24+ hours | Special occasions | $$$$ |
| Eau de Parfum (EDP) | 15-20% | 6-8 hours | Evenings, winter | $$$ |
| Eau de Toilette (EDT) | 5-15% | 4-6 hours | Daily wear, office | $$ |
| Eau de Cologne (EDC) | 2-4% | 2-3 hours | Quick refresh | $ |
| Eau Fraiche | 1-3% | 1-2 hours | Subtle, delicate | $ |
Key Differences Explained
Parfum / Extrait
Also called extrait de parfum or pure perfume, this has the highest concentration. Parfums last the longest and command the highest price due to the high concentration of perfume oil. People with sensitive skin may do better with parfums as they have far less alcohol than other perfume types.
Eau de Parfum (EDP)
After parfum, EDP has the next highest concentration. It lasts 4-6 hours on average and is suitable for everyday wear. This is one of the most common perfume types available today.
Eau de Toilette (EDT)
EDT has a perfume concentration of 5-15% and typically lasts 2-3 hours. It’s more affordable than EDP and is considered by some to be for daywear while EDP is considered evening wear.
Understanding Fragrance Notes
You will usually see top, middle, and base notes getting used to describe a perfume. The top notes of a perfume, also referred to as the top or opening notes, are what you odor instantly after spraying.
- Timing: First 15-30 minutes
- Character: Light, fresh, evaporate quickly
- Common notes: Citrus, light herbs
- Purpose: First impression
- Timing: After top notes fade
- Character: Core body of fragrance
- Common notes: Florals, spices, green notes
- Purpose: Main character development
- Timing: Long-lasting dry down
- Character: Deep, enduring
- Common notes: Woods, musk, vanilla
- Purpose: Memorable final impression
Training Your Nose: Practical Exercises
Smell Things Around You
If you are motivated to learn more about scents, smell aromatic things around you–herbs, teas, coffees, chocolate, olive oil, mangoes piled up at the grocery store. Open your spice cupboard and sniff cinnamon, allspice, or vanilla extract.
Explore Everyday Materials
You’ve bought a new leather purse? Smell the inside. That smooth note of suede or leather is in a lot of perfumes. Next time you visit a furniture store, stop by the wooden chest of drawers and give the inside a whiff to train your nose to pick up wood notes.
Kitchen Experiments
Next time you’re cooking, take out a lemon, grapefruit or orange, and slice open the skin. Compare the scent to that of the pulp inside. Smell fresh plums, and compare the scent to those of dried prunes.
- Smell spices before and after cooking
- Compare different types of leather
- Sniff earth when wet vs. dry
- Test drinks like champagne or rum
- Visit gardens to smell flowers
- Don’t need to own classics
- Just understand them as reference points
- Examples: Chanel No. 5, Youth Dew
- Helps understand modern perfumes
- Many niche perfumes are dressed-up classics
Frequently Asked Questions
Eau de toilette vs eau de parfum: What’s the difference?
The difference is simply the amount or concentration of oils in the perfume. Eau de parfum has a higher concentration than eau de toilette, making it a stronger perfume. There is also pure perfume (parfum), which has the highest concentration, and eau de cologne, which has the lowest concentration of oils.
What is the difference between a splash and a spray?
There is absolutely no difference in the perfume. The difference is in the method of application only. However, a spray bottle, being sealed all the time, could have a longer shelf life. Making the choice between spray and splash is purely a matter of personal preference.
What is a tester?
Testers are heavily discounted compared to the fancy boxed versions and are great if you don’t have a need for the fancy box. Testers are 100% authentic, fresh, and completely full just like the original perfume, however, they are meant for the counter in a department store. Testers usually come in a plain white box but sometimes they don’t have a cap or a box.
How can I keep my perfume from going bad?
Keep all fragrances in a cool, dry area, and away from windows as sunlight can unbalance the various ingredients. An opened bottle should be kept in its box to ensure extended shelf life.
What do perfume notes refer to?
Fragrances are made up of many different scents, these scents are called “notes.” Top notes are very light and last only a few minutes (5-10 minutes). Middle notes become apparent in about 15 minutes after application. These can last up to an hour or more. Bottom notes are the heavier elements. These last the longest, usually for several hours.
Summary: Your Fragrance Journey Begins
I hope some of these tips have been helpful. My goal was for you to know that fragrance is not some terrifying, alien world that’s just too complicated and too expensive for you to explore. We all start somewhere! You may not think you have a “nose,” but you might be surprised!
The important thing to remember is that fragrance is meant to be an enjoyable journey. It allows you to visit the forests of Peru, the spice markets of Istanbul or Marrakesh, or the exotic isles of Malaysia. Where you go is up to you. But go explore!
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