Perfumes are mostly produced in several concentration grades and each of them has its own advantages. Usually, perfumes are made in concentrations of perfume, eau de perfume, eau de toilette, cologne and other accompanying fragrant products. Difference between them is in concentration of perfume extract, essential oils, so called ‘jus’.
Perfume (parfum (extrait)) contains the highest concentration of fragrant components, 15%-30% of perfume extract, sometimes even more, diluted in the high quality 96% ethyl alcohol. The perfume quantity for sale is usually 7,5 to 15ml, but because the fragrance of such high concentration is very intensive and long-lasting as it evaporates slowly. Only perfume concentration fully presents the perfume composition. The high price of perfume is compensated by pleasure of wearing it.
Perfume water (eau de parfum) is the most popular concentration of essential oils, because it has an ideal ratio between the quality and price. Concentration of extract in perfume water is still quite high, 10-20% in 90% ethyl alcohol, but the price is lower for the bigger quantity (30, 35 or 50ml). Some perfume houses produce perfume water as the highest concentration of perfume extract, because production in perfume concentration is costly and the perfume market dictates the trends. Perfume water is usually produced as spray, what is convenient for usage even while traveling.
Toilette water (eau de toilette) contains 4-10% of perfume extract diluted in 80-90% ethyl alcohol. Some perfumes are produced in this concentration only. In comparison with perfume and perfume water, toilette water looses in richness of its composition, but is at the same time more appropriate for day time use, in particular to be worn at work. For the evening is, however, higher-concentration version more suitable. Men's toilette water is usually more concentrated than women's, and therefore of a concentration closer to the perfume water, and thus men's perfumes are not produced as perfume water or perfume.
Cologne water (eau de cologne) usually has the lowest concentration of essential oils, 3-5% diluted in 70% ethyl alcohol. This does not apply to American products. Cologne in this case means 'perfume water'.
After shave contains no more than 3% perfume extract. It is usually applied before perfume and is not suitable to be used instead of perfume, because it very transient.
It is known that oil base keeps the fragrance long-lasting. Lately there are new perfume products such as perfume oil or gel appearing on the market, such as Chanel #5 Elixir Sensuel gel (a product in between perfume oil and body crème), or Narciso Rodriguez for Her Musk oil. Fragrance in this concentration is quite expensive, but it is almost as long lasting as perfume and has a nice soft nuance.
Perfume water (eau de parfum) is the most popular concentration of essential oils, because it has an ideal ratio between the quality and price. Concentration of extract in perfume water is still quite high, 10-20% in 90% ethyl alcohol, but the price is lower for the bigger quantity (30, 35 or 50ml). Some perfume houses produce perfume water as the highest concentration of perfume extract, because production in perfume concentration is costly and the perfume market dictates the trends. Perfume water is usually produced as spray, what is convenient for usage even while traveling.
Toilette water (eau de toilette) contains 4-10% of perfume extract diluted in 80-90% ethyl alcohol. Some perfumes are produced in this concentration only. In comparison with perfume and perfume water, toilette water looses in richness of its composition, but is at the same time more appropriate for day time use, in particular to be worn at work. For the evening is, however, higher-concentration version more suitable. Men's toilette water is usually more concentrated than women's, and therefore of a concentration closer to the perfume water, and thus men's perfumes are not produced as perfume water or perfume.
Cologne water (eau de cologne) usually has the lowest concentration of essential oils, 3-5% diluted in 70% ethyl alcohol. This does not apply to American products. Cologne in this case means 'perfume water'.
After shave contains no more than 3% perfume extract. It is usually applied before perfume and is not suitable to be used instead of perfume, because it very transient.
It is known that oil base keeps the fragrance long-lasting. Lately there are new perfume products such as perfume oil or gel appearing on the market, such as Chanel #5 Elixir Sensuel gel (a product in between perfume oil and body crème), or Narciso Rodriguez for Her Musk oil. Fragrance in this concentration is quite expensive, but it is almost as long lasting as perfume and has a nice soft nuance.