Shopping for fragrances can be confusing when it comes to concentrations. Terms such as “eau de toilette”, “eau de cologne” and “parfum” are often listed online and on packaging. But what do they really mean? And how do you pick a concentration when shopping? Does it make a difference?
To start, these terms all refer to the concentration of essential oils in a men’s or women’s fragrance. The term “eau de cologne” was coined in 1709 by Giovanni Maria Farina, an Italian perfumer from Santa Maria Maggiore Valle Vigezzo, who created a light, fresh spirit-citrus perfume. “I have found a fragrance that reminds me of an Italian spring morning, of mountain daffodils and orange blossoms after the rain,” he wrote to his brother Jean Baptiste. He named his fragrance Eau de Cologne, in honour of his new hometown, Cologne.
Farina’s fragrance was so popular it was delivered to ‘nearly all the royal houses in Europe’ and was a sensation as he was able to blend a multiple of ingredients and create a homogenous scent. A single vial of the perfume cost half the annual salary of a civil servant at the time. It was the brisk, fresh citrus oils that made it so universally popular. The original eaux de cologne were a mixture of citrus oils from such fruits as lemons, oranges, tangerines, limes and grapefruits. This was the birth of modern perfumery.
When it comes to fragrance concentrations, you have four common choices: eau de cologne, eau de toilette, eau de parfum and parfum. Each has its benefits.
Eau de Cologne: 1 to 5% Concentration
A spritz will last 1.5 hours
Who is it best for: someone you likes very light, fresh scents
Eau de colognes are still manufactured today and are often described as splashes. They are the lightest of all fragrances and are meant to be splashed and used liberally – most often in hot summer months. Since citrus notes evaporate quickly, you need to reapply often throughout the day.
Eau de Toilette: 8 to 12% Concentration
A spritz will last 3 hours
Who is it best for: this version works for anyone who doesn’t mind reapplying half way through the day. It isn’t too strong and works well in work environments.
Eau de Toilette dates back to the 14th century and was made popular by Hungarian Queen Elisabeth who mixed fragrant oils with alcohol to create a perfume that evaporated slowly on the skin giving the scent longevity. She named it “Water of the Queen of Hungary” and promoted it everywhere she went. The scent itself was based on a single herbal note, rosemary.
The name itself comes from the French word “toilette” referring to the shaving and grooming ritual. The first versions were blended around a principal ingredient: geranium water, lavender water, lilac water or violet water and were applied directly to the skin after shaving or bathing.
The King of France Louis XIV (1638-1715) used eau de toilette called “heavenly water” to perfume his shirts; it consisted of aloewood, musk, orange flower, rose water and spices.
Until about a decade ago, eau de toilette was the most commonly sold fragrance concentration in the world. It was used for both men and women. You will still find it used in summer editions and in many men’s fragrances.
Eau de Parfum: 12 to 20% Concentration
A spritz will last 5 hours
Who is it best for: scent enthusiasts who want a fragrance with lasting power
Eau de parfum is a relatively new phenomenon in modern perfumery. In the past, the cost of producing this stronger and more concentrated form of fragrance was too expensive for brands to produce commercially. The cost of the perfumed flower essences and oils was too high for them to make a profit. But advances in chemistry and distillation methods brought the price down about 15 years ago. Perfume manufacturers were able to produce a longer lasting fragrance at a cheaper price. Today, eau de parfum is the most popular form of fragrance followed by eau de toilette and parfum.
Parfum: 20 to 40% Concentration
A spritz will last 8 hours
Who is it best for: fragrance fans who want a strong, long-lasting fragrance that you can still smell late in the evening after having sprayed in the morning. This is a great version for a signature scent that you truly love and want to smell throughout the day and night.
Parfum is the most concentrated form of fragrance you can buy. It can contain upwards of 40% essential oils giving it extraordinary longevity. Parfum is the biggest scent trend in the past year – particularly in men’s scents. These are strong, long-lasting formulas and ideal for anyone who finds scent doesn’t last on them.
Danielle
November 1, 2021 at 6:42 pmI had no idea that eau du cologne had such light longevity! I don’t have any myself but that explains why it’s not as common-place to find them.
September Dee
November 1, 2021 at 10:53 amI love these tip Thanks for the tips!
Angela Citrigno
November 1, 2021 at 10:21 amThank you for clarifying perfume terminology. I remember when edu de toilette fragrances were mainly the only choice because of costs. I love that you can now go to a major retail outlet and find a vast variety of perfumes for sale. Thank you @scentlodge for creating this platform. You have turned me into a scent enthusiast ❤️🧡💛💜💙💚🖤🤍🤎💖 @959angela
Janet Moulton
November 1, 2021 at 9:30 amExcellent Guide to Scent Concentrations. You’re becoming my ‘Lisa Eldridge’ of the scent world, if that makes sense, no pun intended.
So helpful, in understanding how I might want to use a scent on any particular day. If I wanted to change up my scent throughout the day, depending on my activities, I should probably use an Eau de cologne or Eau de toilette; if I want to be remembered, I should probably use an Eau de Perfume or Eau de Toilette. How did I do?
Cheers! @felinesxhugsx
daniela sborlini
November 1, 2021 at 8:31 amlove this article, so much detail. nice to know the history of all the fragrance terms