The Different Concentrations Of Perfume Available

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When purchasing perfumes for women there are several different fragrances and types to choose from. Some perfumes are based on fruits, some the outdoors, and some perfumes are based on abstract concepts such as seasons or emotions. However, when deciding on a perfume you not only have to consider its scent but also its concentration.

When buying perfumes for women be sure to consider the perfume’s concentration. A perfume’s concentration refers to how much of its chemical composition is made up of perfume oils. The higher a perfume concentration the stronger its sent is and the less alcohol (or water) it contains. A perfume’s concentration affects its price, how long it can be worn, and how it reacts to your skin. Perfume concentrations come in five specific types which are detailed as follows.

The Five Perfume Types

Eau Fraiche

Eau Fraiche is a low concentration perfume with only 1 to 3 percent of its mixture being composed of fragrance. It commonly lasts for one to two hours making it ideal for shorter outings. Unlike Eau de Cologne (another low concentration perfume) Eau Fraiche does not have a high alcohol content and it is mostly water. It is commonly one of the more affordable types of perfume you can purchase.

Eau de Cologne

Another type of low concentration perfume Eau de Cologne is composed of 2 to 4 percent of fragrance with the remaining mixture being composed of alcohol. Eau de Cologne lasts for roughly two hours due to its low concentration. Because of this low use time Eau de Cologne comes in larger bottles and is more affordable than more highly concentrated perfume types. Historically Eau de Cologne referred to perfumes that made use of citrus and herb fragrances.

Eau de Toilette

Starting with Eau de Toilette you begin to move into more highly concentrated perfumes. Composed with a fragrance concentration of 5 to 15 percent Eau de Toilette is one of the most popular types of perfume you can purchase due to it offering a longer lasting fragrance while still being affordable. With a usage time of 2 to 3 hours, Eau de Toilette is often considered a perfume for use during daylight hours. The name of this type of perfume is derived from the French phrase ‘faire sa toilette’ meaning to get washed.

Eau de Parfum

Eau de Parfum is a high concentration perfume type with a composition of 15 to 20 percent fragrance that lasts four to five hours when worn. Suitable for wearing everyday Eau de Parfum is also considered an evening perfume that you wear before going out for the night. While highly concentrated with a high alcohol content it is also noted for being suitable for those with sensitive skin when compared to the other less concentrated options available.

Parfum

Parfum is the most concentrated type of perfume you can buy and is also referred to as Pure Perfume or De Parfum. Highly concentrated Parfum is commonly composed of 20 to 30 percent fragrance, however, concentrations as high as 40% and as low as 15% do exist. Due to its high concentration Parfum is quite long lasting and can be worn for 6 to 8 hours also, it is milder on sensitive skin due to lower alcohol content. Among the various types of perfumes on the market, Parfum is commonly the most expensive.

Final Thoughts

Perfumes can be quite complex and there are subtleties and nuances concerning not only concentration but as base notes, scent mixes, and overall composition. With so many different options available it can be difficult knowing where to start with your perfume purchase.

Proper research is very important as higher end perfumes can be quite expensive and you don’t want to buy a high-quality perfume that is not to your liking. Always keep your own preferences and taste in mind in addition to that also consider what you’re looking for in a perfume in terms of its use and the time frame (a few hours or all day) required as well.

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