Happy Sunday to you all, it's bloggin' time again! Today I thought I would cover a topic that I get a whole slew of questions about. Eau de Toilette, EDT, Eau de Parfum, EDP, Parfum, Eau de Cologne, Eau Fraiche--what is the difference between them all? Which one should I buy? The answers are relatively simple, yet can also be rather complex. First, we need to understand what compiles a fragrance. No matter the fragrance or brand, or whether it's an EDT, EDP or Parfum or something else, each and every fragrance contains a couple of things--essential oils and an alcohol/water mixture. The difference between each fragrance type primarily boils down to the concentration of essential oils in the fragrance. The more essential oils, the stronger or more potent and concentrated a fragrance will be. Generally, a Parfum will have the highest concentration of oils of any fragrance type. Following that are Eau de Parfum, Eau de Toilette, Eau de Cologne and Eau Fraiche, with Eau Fraiche containing the lowest concentration of essential oils. Now, let's go over each fragrance type in more detail. Parfum Parfum will be the strongest fragrance you can buy, and the longest lasting--"a little dab will do ya", as they say. Due to the highest percentage of essential oils contained compared to other fragrance types, a Parfum will more often than not carry the highest price tag. Parfums contain somewhere in the neighborhood of 15% essential oils on the low side, but can be upwards of 40%. Typically you will find that a large majority of Parfums on the market will have an essential oils concentration percentage somewhere in the 20-30% range. GO EASY with Parfum, overdo it and you'll be the only person left in the room. It's strong stuff, you've been warned. Eau de Parfum Next on the list is Eau de Parfum, or EDP for short. In terms of concentration, Eau de Parfum will typically contain a concentration level of essential oils in the 15-20% range. So, Eau de Parfum is not as strong as a Parfum, but certainly still very potent! If you're trying out a new fragrance which is an Eau de Parfum, it's always best to test it out with one small squirt, give it a few minutes, and see if additional applications are necessary. Don't overdo it at first, as all Eau de Parfums are not the same--some are stronger than others. EDP performance is usually quite good, meaning you'll be smelling good throughout most of the day without reapplying it again and again and again. But as I said with Parfum, GO EASY on it...again, don't be the only person left in the room. EDP is strong stuff also, just not as strong as Parfum. Eau de Toilette Eau de Toilette, or EDT is generally the most common of all fragrance types. In terms of essential oil concentrations, you're looking at around 5-15%, which also means an Eau de Toilette will normally be less expensive than a Parfum or EDP. EDT 's are good all around fragrances that are easy wearing, meaning they can be worn at the office, at school, at a party, etc. and not be too overpowering to others around you. An Eau de Toilette is not as projecting or potent as a Parfum or EDP, which can be a good thing in close quarters situations. All of that being said, you may need to apply a bit more EDT as it's not as concentrated. Eau de Toilette longevity is not as good as Parfum or EDP, so after a few short hours you may be reapplying depending on the fragrance. Eau de Cologne Not quite as common, is Eau de Cologne or EDC. The concentration of essential oils in Eau de Cologne is in the 2-4% range, which is quite a bit less than even in an Eau de Toilette. EDC will be less expensive than a Parfum, EDP or EDT, and will not be quite as strong or long lasting. It will also contain a high percentage of alcohol, which can be a bad thing if you are skin sensitive. An Eau de Cologne is really meant for a quick blast of scent, that will quickly go away after an hour or two. You can really go crazy and spray away, without it lasting too awful long. Again, just be careful with the alcohol. Eau Fraiche Finally let's talk about Eau Fraiche. If you look up the definition, Eau Fraiche means light, fresh and fruity--sounds so nice! The least common fragrance type, Eau Fraiche is somewhat similar to Eau de Cologne in terms of longevity and will generally get you an hour or two at best. Essential oil concentration in an Eau Fraiche is lower than EDC at around 1-3%. Compared to an EDC, Eau Fraiche can be a better option for skin sensitive types, as the percentage of alcohol is much lower than an EDC and contains more water than alcohol. It's a lot of info to digest, I know. Hopefully now though you have a little better understanding of the differences between Parfum, Eau de Parfum, Eau de Toilette, Eau de Cologne and Eau Fraiche. Whether you're buying a new fragrance for yourself or someone you love, hopefully this info will help you along the way in your fragrance adventure. Any questions? Any comments? Many thanks as always, make it a great day ahead!
