Types of Perfumes

Guide to Perfumes Strengths and Types of Aroma

Perfumes are classified into five types. Perfume, Eau de Perfume, Eau de Toilette, Eau de Cologne, and Eau Fraiche are examples of these types. Each of these perfume types is essentially just an indication of the concentration level of the product in the bottle and says nothing about the brand or the fragrance notes found in the perfume. Let’s take a closer look at these four terms and see how they differ from one another.

Fresh

Citrus, water, and green notes are common in fresh fragrances. This means they smell fresh, zesty, and vibrant. Citrus-based fragrances are typically made with lemon, mandarin, and bergamot, whereas water fragrances are made with aquatic notes like sea spray; consider Issey Miyake’s L’Eau d’Issey or Armani’s Acqua di Gio.

For a crisp, uplifting scent, fresh green fragrances are often reminiscent of herbal and leafy scents. They are sometimes referred to as aromatic fougère fragrances because they contain lavender, rosemary, or basil notes.

Floral

Floral fragrances are one of the most popular and diverse fragrance families. This family includes any fragrance with a sweet and flowery scent that includes notes like roses, jasmine, lilies, and peonies.

Floral scents can range from light and delicate to complex and intense.

Oriental

Oriental fragrances are warm, sweet, and sometimes spicy. Oriental fragrances are a more opulent fragrance family that includes floral oriental, soft oriental, and woody oriental scents.

Perfumes and aftershaves in this family are rich and sensual, with interesting notes of cardamom, cinnamon, vanilla, and jasmine, orchid, and orange blossom.

Woody

Woody fragrances are another warm family, with a mysterious and captivating scent that is particularly popular in aftershaves. It’s a great choice for wearing in the evening because it contains wood-based scents like cedarwood, sandalwood, vetiver, and amber.

Woody fragrances are classified as mossy woods, which have an earthy, sweet undertone, and dry woods, which have a smoky, leathery aroma.

Perfume: Different Types?

Perfume contains the most perfume extract of any product available and is generally a heavier, oilier product than other perfumes. It contains 15% to 40% perfume essential oils on average. Because it usually comes in heavier bottles with ornate stoppers, this product is usually easy to identify even before reading the label.

Perfumes are classified into five types. Parfum, eau de parfum, eau de toilette, eau de cologne, and eau de fraiche are some examples. The main distinction between these five perfume types is the concentration of fragrance oil. Take a closer look at each perfume type to fully comprehend their characteristics.

Parfum

Parfum is the perfume type with the highest concentration of fragrance oil, and as a result, it is the most expensive of the perfume types. Parfum typically contains 15 to 40% fragrance oil concentration, making it heavier, stronger, and oily.

Because of its stronger, heavier, and oilier nature, a few dabs on the pulse points will last you all day. Its stronger scent distinguishes it from other types of perfume.

As you may have guessed, this product is not only the strongest of the perfume types, but it is also the most expensive. It’s also typically a product that’s dabbed on specific pulse points rather than used all over the body. This product has an approximate shelf life of 8 hours.

Eau de Perfume:

Also known as Parfum or Eau de Perfume, this product contains the second highest concentration of essential perfume oils. Most of the time, it contains anywhere from 10% to 15% perfume essence concentration in its formulation. This means it contains slightly more alcohol and water in its formulation than perfume, but it still contains a high concentration of essential perfume oils.

It also means that the scent is typically lighter and does not last as long as most perfumes. Unlike perfume, it is difficult to identify this product solely by its bottle because it can come with a stopper or be sold as a spray. In either case, this product is typically less expensive than perfume, but it remains on the higher end of the price spectrum. This product has a lifespan of 4 to 6 hours.

Eau de Toilette:

As you might expect, this type of fragrance contains a lower concentration of perfume essences than perfume or Eau de Perfume. Typically, this product will have a concentration of essential oils ranging from 4% to 15% in its formulation. As a result, it is an extremely light formula that is typically sold only in spray bottles.

Unfortunately, it also has a low percentage of essential oils and a high percentage of alcohol. Because of its quick dissipation, many people only use it for day-to-day purposes. By the end of the day, it should have completely dissipated, allowing the wearer to switch to a heavier perfume or Eau de Perfume for their evening activities. It will last between 2 and 3 hours at a time.

Eau de Cologne:

While most colognes are now classified as male fragrances, there are still many female perfumes that use this designation. When a product says it’s a cologne, it usually means it has a low concentration of fragrance elements in it. These products are among the most diluted perfume versions, with fragrance oil concentrations ranging from 2% to 5% in their formulations.

As a result, they are not only extremely light, but also extremely inexpensive. In most retail stores, a high-end perfume will almost never be listed as a cologne. Instead, these products are typically used as aftershaves or as simple fragrance splashes. This product should last about 2-hours at a time.

Eau Fraiche:

This perfume is not only one of the most affordable options available, but it also has one of the lowest essential oil concentrations. The majority of Eau Fraiche products contain between 1% and 3% essential oils. Because they contain such a low concentration of essential oils, they are usually very light and dissipate within an hour or two of being sprayed on.

That’s correct. This product has a one-hour shelf life. This product’s name literally means “fresh water,” which is easy to understand after purchasing it. After all, it’s just scented water that you spray on to feel refreshed.

To effectively choose the right perfume, you must first become acquainted with the various types available. You may be drawn to a particular scent, but in order to fully enjoy it, you must be familiar with various perfume types in order to select the appropriate variant.

Different perfume types do not necessarily affect the scent or overall quality of the product; rather, they highlight the concentration of fragrance oils in the perfume. The following is a detailed explanation of the various types of perfumes. Choosing the perfect perfume will soon become a breeze with the help of this guide.

Parfum Eau De Parfum

Eau de parfum, also known as parfum, has a fragrance oil concentration ranging from 10 to 15%. As a result, they have a lower oil concentration and a higher alcohol and water concentration than parfum.

Nonetheless, eau de parfum is a powerful perfume that will last on your skin for 6 to 8 hours. In contrast, eau de parfum is difficult to identify because it is housed in a spray bottle or a stopper bottle.

Toilette Eau De Toilette

The fragrance oil concentration in eau de toilette ranges from 4 to 15%. Because of its relatively low fragrance oil concentration and high alcohol content, this lighter fragrance perfume is typically housed in a spray bottle. It typically lasts between 2 and 4 hours, implying that you will need to refresh it at some point during the day. Alternatively, at night, replace it with a stronger eau de parfum.

Because of its light body, it is appropriate for office wear or any occasion where you do not want your perfume to be offensive. Eau de toilette is appropriate for the warmer weather of summer and spring.

Cologne eau de toilette

Eau de cologne perfume was created for people who prefer a lighter version of a particular fragrance scent. However, it has since evolved into a more masculine fragrance. Even so, some female fragrances are still listed as eau de cologne. Eau de cologne typically has a fragrance oil concentration of 2 to 5%. Eau de cologne also has a duration of 2 to 4 hours.

This type of diluted perfume is not only light, but it also allows you to get the fragrance scent you prefer at a lower cost. Many expensive fragrances for men with a “eau de cologne” characteristic, on the other hand, are typically marketed as a splash on or aftershave fragrance.

Eau de Fraiche (French elixir)

Eau de fraiche, also known as fragrance water, is the cheapest and least concentrated type of perfume. Typically, fragrance oil concentrations in eau de fraiche range from 1 to 3 percent. Because of the ultra-light fragrance oil concentration and high alcohol concentration, eau de fraiche usually dissipates within an hour or two of being stored in a spray bottle.

Eau de fraiche is also a loose translation for freshwater. As a result, it’s an excellent summer product for trips to the beach or the gym. You can use eau de fraiche to rehydrate after a workout or while relaxing at the beach.

Because it has a stronger scent, is heavier, and oilier, eau de parfum is ideal for the colder months. However, you must choose fragrance notes that are appropriate for the winter season. Because of its lighter scent, eau de toilette is ideal for the warmer months. However, as with eau de parfum, you must select the appropriate fragrance note combination.

Eau de cologne is ideal for male fragrances, especially aftershave and splash on fragrance. So, after shaving, a few spritzes or pats on the face will leave your skin feeling fresh and lightly scented.

Eau de fraiche, as the name implies, is ideal for refreshing. So, rather than using it as your go-to perfume, it’s ideal for times when you need to refresh, such as at the gym or the beach. You can also toss it in your bag to keep you hydrated throughout the day.

As a hack, combine a similarly scented eau de parfum or eau de toilette with an eau de fraiche for a less expensive fragrance refreshment option throughout the day.

Oils of Perfume

The final category we’d like to include is PERFUME OILS. These are perfumes with a pure oil base that do not contain any alcohol or water.

The concentrations of essential oils used for the “perfume” fragrance element in perfume oils can vary.

Most perfume oils contain fragrance essential oils in concentrations of up to 20%, with a carrier oil making up the remainder of the blend.

Women’s Collection

There are also more concentrated Perfume Oil Attars. An attar is a natural perfume oil that is the pure, undiluted version of their respective Eau de Parfum. They are made with 100% pure essential oils and absolutes, with no carrier oil or alcohol. Attars last longer than eau de parfums. Instead of being sprayed, they are applied with the bottle’s stick. Women’s Collection

Hopefully, this has given you a better understanding of the various natural perfume categories on the market today, so you know what you’re getting.

Fragrance Families The first step to finding your favourite fragrance is to understand the different scent families that every scent is based on. The four main types are warm, woody, oriental and fresh, with each effect brought out by different combinations of fragrances. Fresh scents, like Davidoff Cool Water, generally rely on aquatic and citrus notes, whereas warm scents like DKNY’s Be Delicious use more florals and juicy fruit scents. Next take a look at our fragrance strength chart to understand the longevity of different fragrance types.

Summary – Types of Perfumes

When you go perfume shopping, don’t let the salesperson influence your decision based on the type of perfume. Contrary to popular belief, one perfume type is not necessarily superior or of higher quality than another. Eau de parfum, for example, is not always of higher quality than eau de toilette.

Because of its higher price and fragrance oil concentration, you are led to believe so. It’s not a bad idea to choose eau de toilette over eau de parfum. You could simply choose eau de toilette if you want the same fragrance scent but prefer a lighter variation that will not be offensive in an air-conditioned office.

Remember that the quality of your perfume is not determined by its type or concentration of fragrance oil – you can find a low quality eau de parfum just as easily as a high quality eau de parfum. The same is true for all other perfume types. As a result, perfume types merely serve as a guide to selecting the appropriate perfume.