The Strongest Scent: Perfume Types And Their Power

When it comes to perfumes, the strongest type is known as 'parfum' or 'extrait de parfum'. This type of perfume has the highest fragrance concentration, typically ranging from 15% to 40%, with most falling between 20% and 30%. Parfum lasts the longest on the skin, usually around six to eight hours, and because of its high concentration of fragrance, it also tends to be the most expensive type of perfume. Parfum is a good option for people with sensitive skin as it contains less alcohol than other types of perfume, meaning it is less likely to dry out the skin. The next strongest type of perfume is 'eau de parfum', with a fragrance concentration of between 15% and 20%.

Parfum: the strongest type with the highest fragrance concentration

Parfum, also known as extrait de parfum or pure perfume, is the strongest type of perfume with the highest fragrance concentration. Parfum typically contains 20–30% fragrance, though concentrations can be as high as 40% or as low as 15%. As a result, parfums are the longest-lasting type of perfume and can usually be smelled for six to eight hours. They are also the most expensive type of perfume due to their high concentration of fragrance.

The higher concentration of fragrance in parfum means that there is a greater amount of perfume oils and a lesser amount of alcohol. This makes parfum better suited to those with sensitive skin, as the higher alcohol content in other types of perfume may cause skin dryness. However, due to the high concentration of oils, only a small amount of parfum is needed for the fragrance to last.

Parfum is the purest form of fragrance, and its higher price tag reflects this. The term 'parfum' refers to the entire fragrance concentrate, with the specific ingredients used allowed to remain secret.

Eau de parfum: considerably high concentration of fragrance oil

When shopping for a new fragrance, you may have noticed the term 'oil concentration' mentioned. This refers to the amount of oil present in a perfume, which will determine its category, strength, and how long it lasts.

Eau de parfum (EDP) has a high concentration of fragrance oil, typically containing between 15% and 20% oil, although some sources state it can contain up to 25%. This makes it a long-lasting and intense fragrance that will make an impression as soon as you walk into a room. It is a popular choice for both perfume brands and customers.

The higher concentration of oil in eau de parfum means it is more expensive than other fragrance types with lower concentrations. However, it is generally less expensive than parfum, which has the highest concentration of fragrance oil. Eau de parfum usually lasts for around four to five hours, although one source states it can last up to eight hours.

As well as its longevity, another benefit of eau de parfum is its versatility. EDP fragrances are suitable for everyday wear and can be worn all year round, with some ideal for chilly, snowy weather and others more pleasant for hot, summer days.

If you want a fragrance that will make you stand out and get you lots of compliments, eau de parfum is a good choice. Its strong and personalised scent will ensure you are noticed. However, if you prefer a lighter fragrance, eau de parfum may be too overpowering. In that case, you might prefer to choose eau de toilette, which has a lower concentration of oil and is one of the most popular types of fragrance available.

Eau de toilette: more affordable, with a quick burst of scent

When shopping for perfume, it can be overwhelming with all the different scents and fragrance concentrations available. The concentration of a fragrance refers to its strength. The higher the concentration, the purer the fragrance, as there is a greater amount of perfume oils and less alcohol. This also makes the fragrance more expensive.

Eau de toilette (EDT) is a less concentrated form of perfume with a fragrance concentration of between 5% and 15% (typically around 10%). It is a weaker concentration of fragrance than eau de parfum (EDP) but stronger than eau de cologne (EDC). EDT fragrances usually last between two and three hours, although some sources state they can last up to seven hours. EDT is considered a daywear fragrance and is perfect for those who want a quick burst of scent before fading. It is also one of the most popular types of fragrance available, and is more affordable than EDP.

The term eau de toilette comes from the French term "faire sa toilette", which means "getting ready". In French, "toilette" refers to personal grooming and, in an archaic sense, the word meant the material that women's robes and dresses were made of. As these dresses were worn during a time when there was a general lack of bathing, women would wear massive amounts of perfume to cover up their stench, and so eau de toilette came to refer to a type of perfume.

Eau de cologne: much lighter, often used as a body splash

When it comes to choosing a perfume, there are many options to consider. The type of perfume you choose depends on the concentration of the fragrance, which is linked to its strength and longevity.

Eau de cologne is a much lighter option compared to other types of perfumes. With a fragrance concentration of only 2-5% (or 2-4%, according to some sources), it is often used as a body splash throughout the day. As a result, eau de cologne doesn't last long and needs to be reapplied regularly. Typically, the scent lasts for around two to three hours. Due to its low concentration, eau de cologne is considerably cheaper than other perfumes and usually comes in bigger bottles.

The name 'eau de cologne' refers to a traditional recipe that uses herb and citrus notes with little anchoring of base notes. It contains a mixture of citrus oils, including lemon, orange, tangerine, clementine, bergamot, lime, grapefruit, blood orange, bitter orange, and neroli. It may also contain oils of lavender, rosemary, thyme, oregano, petitgrain (orange leaf), jasmine, olive, oleaster, and tobacco.

The original Eau de Cologne was created by Giovanni Maria Farina in 1709 in Cologne, Germany, and was used as a perfume delivered to nearly all royal houses in Europe. Its ability to produce a constantly homogeneous fragrance was considered a sensation at the time. The success of Eau de Cologne led many other businessmen to sell fragrances under the same name.

Eau fraiche: the lightest concentration with a subtle, delicate fragrance

When shopping for perfume, it can be overwhelming with the countless scents available and the different fragrance concentrations. The fragrance concentration of a particular perfume is known as the strength of the fragrance. The higher the concentration level, the purer the fragrance as there is a greater amount of perfume oils and less alcohol, which also makes the fragrance cost higher.

Eau fraiche is the lightest concentration with a subtle, delicate fragrance. It has a perfume oil concentration of 1% to 3%, lower than that of eau de cologne. It is perfect for those who don't want a heavy scent. Eau fraiche will only last a couple of hours at best but is great for creating a subtle, delicate fragrance. It is similar to eau de cologne in that the scent will generally last for up to two hours. While eau fraiche has a low fragrance concentration, it does not contain a high amount of alcohol. The remainder of eau fraiche is mostly water.

The first perfumes called "Eau fraiche" were Eau Sauvage by Dior, Eau de Guerlain by Guerlain, Eau de Rochas by Rochas, and Eau de Lancôme by Lancôme. Eau Sauvage was a revolution in perfumery, with many women borrowing it from their male partners because it was a new olfactory form based on freshness.

Eau fraiche is part of the citrus family, which is often dressed with a chypre facet or a Nouvelle Fraîcheur facet. The aromatic facet often accompanies the fraiche scheme. Eaux fraiches are found in both men's and women's perfumes but are often considered unisex scents.

An eau fraiche often has light chypre (e.g. moss or patchouli) and woody (vetiver or cedar) base notes, as well as jasmine and synthetic notes. The citrus facet is at the heart of the eaux fraiches. It is present in almost all the eaux fraiches fragrances in its top notes. It is a very volatile and not very tenacious facet, similar to eaux fraiches. The specificity of eaux fraiches fragrances is to have a long-lasting freshness, unlike real eaux de cologne that are very ephemeral.

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