Fragrances come in many forms but I will just talk about (or write about these two lol).
Simply, all fragrances are largely the same, but they’re given a name based on the concentration of oil in alcohol and water .A Perfume sometimes called Extrait has 15-40 % perfume oil, while a Eau de Toilette has 5-15 % perfume oil. Perfumes are classically defined as a combination of top, heart, and base notes released over a period of time. The top notes is the first scent released by a fragrance. After the top notes have faded, the middle or heart notes of a fragrance become noticeable. Lastly, the base note which is usually 30 minutes after the fragrance is applied is what the fragrance will smell like once it’s mixed with the chemistry on your skin.
Since a perfume has more concentration of the essential oils, it does last longer and so it’s more expensive. It’s usually more of a oiler consistency that’s why they are usually sold in smaller volumes and in stopper bottles vs spray bottles. It’s best applied to pulse points such as behind the ears, the inside of the wrists, elbows and knees, so that the pulse points will warm up the perfume and release the scent continuously. Perfume is considered the most beautiful form of fragrance because it releases the top, heart, and base notes over a period of time, as opposed to one faster than the other.
With Eau de Toilette which in French translates to toilet water (yep some fancy toilet water lol), the top notes, the first scent released, are dominant. This makes it initially very refreshing, and it then evaporates rather quickly which makes it perfect for warmer climates.
There is also Cologne or Eau de cologne which has the least amount of perfume oil and Eau de perfume which is stronger than Eau de toilette. It’s alway best to try each variations of fragrance on your skin to see how it wears, just remember when in doubt follow your nose! If you haven’t already see last week’s beauty experience video, click here to get a tour of the fine perfumery Le Labo located in New York City!