What is the difference between eau de toilette, eau de parfum and perfume: which is better to choose?
The same aromatic composition can be released in different concentrations. Actually, concentration is the main difference between eau de toilette and eau de parfum and perfume. Concentrate refers to various fragrant substances: essential oils, essences and synthetic substitutes. Translated from French, “eau de toilette” means “water for washing.” Among all types of perfume, it is the lightest and most suitable for everyday wear.
How to distinguish eau de toilette from eau de parfum and perfume?
Perfume product types reflect the concentration of aromatic substances in the solvent. How to distinguish eau de toilette from perfume and eau de parfum:
- By marking. Eau de toilette is labeled Eau de toilette (EdT), perfumed water is labeled Eau de parfum, and perfume is simply Parfum without “Eau de.”
- According to packaging. The absence of a spray bottle and a small glass bottle of exquisite shape and texture are more characteristic of perfumes.
- By aroma. Perfume has the most complex aromatic composition and unfolds over a long period of time. The scents in eau de toilette are mixed, making it difficult to distinguish one notes from others. Compared to perfumes, they smell noticeably weaker and do not leave a trail. Eau de parfum has a characteristic aromatic pyramid, a slight sillage, the notes are distinguishable, but there is no long-term development.
- In terms of durability. Eau de toilette requires renewal after 2-4 hours, perfumed water – 6 hours.The three perfumes are the most persistent - they do not lose the richness of the aroma for 5-12 hours on the body and up to 30 hours on cotton fabric.
The difference between the products is partly explained by the composition (see photo):
The differences between eau de toilette and perfume and perfume in the table:
| Eau de Toilette | Eau de parfum | Perfume | |
| Name | Eau de toilette (EdT) | Eau de parfum (EdP), Parfum de toilette, Esprit de parfum | Parfum or Perfume |
| Compound | 6-20% fragrant substances;
alcohol 85% strength |
12-15% aromatic raw materials with a share of fragrant oils 15-25%;
alcohol 90% strength |
10-30%, sometimes up to 50% odorous substances with a share of essential oils of 20-30%;
alcohol of 90-96% strength, containing fixatives of animal origin or oils or solids |
| Purpose | universal: daytime, evening, for office work, business dinner, party, romantic date | evening;
for special occasions |
|
| Season | spring Summer | spring Summer Autumn Winter | winter autumn |
| Package | spray bottles with a volume of 35-200 ml, as well as 2 ml samples | beautiful glass bottle with a volume of 7 to 50 ml, often without a sprayer | |
| Aromatic pyramid: base, heart, top notes | +- | + | +++ |
| sillage | +- | + | +++ |
| Durability | +- | + | +++ |
| Economical | — | + | +++ |
| Minuses | weak durability;
inexpressive aromatic composition (often); weak or absent sillage; synthetic "cheap" smell (sometimes) |
too intense for everyday wear (sometimes) | high cost; lack of dispenser (often);
leave stains on clothes (often); intrusive and annoying aroma (sometimes) |
To understand the perfume in front of you or something else, you need to shake the bottle slightly. With a high content of essential oils, many very small bubbles will appear inside.
What is eau de toilette?
The most extensive category of perfumed products is eau de toilette. All fashion brands produce fragrances in eau de toilette concentrations.
High demand is due to its versatility and availability. Synthetic fragrances are often used to make products, which allows the price to be reduced to a minimum. In the aromatic composition of eau de toilette, the upper, refreshing and light notes sound stronger. The eau de toilette has virtually no sillage or longevity. By definition, they are superfluous here.
Eau de Toilette gained popularity thanks to Napoleon. While on St. Helena Island, he discovered that his favorite cologne had run out. Then he created an aromatic liquid with bergamot and called it eau de toilette, that is, “water for care” or “water for washing.”
Eau de parfum – what is it?
Initially, eau de parfum was created for niche and selective perfumery as a lighter version of perfume.
It is characterized by an optimal ratio of durability, aroma concentration and cost. Typically, EDP perfume is significantly superior in richness and richness of taste to EDT perfume. Unlike eau de toilette, it leaves a trail. The difference with perfume is also noticeable - eau de parfum is not as deep and loses intensity faster.
La niche perfume, niche, is distinguished by its unique composition on the skin, the design of the bottle, and the high quality of fragrant substances.
What can be called perfume?
Depth, versatility, complexity of aroma, sillage, durability - this is what distinguishes perfume from other types of perfume products.
They are the most concentrated aromatic substances, often of natural origin. Currently, perfumes are practically not produced.
The art of creating perfumes originated in ancient times. The first known perfumer is the caretaker of the Tapputi palace, mentioned in Mesopotamian cuneiform tablets dating back to the 2nd century. BC e. She made perfume from flowers, oil, myrrh, calamus, using filtration and distillation. In Cyprus, in one of the ancient factories, the oldest perfume in the world was discovered, which is already 4000 years old.
Question answer
How is perfume different from cologne?
Cologne has the lowest percentage of fragrant substances - about 2-5%. But thanks to tannins, sometimes its durability is high. Colognes are labeled Eau de Cologne (EdC), are fragrant (replacing perfume) and hygienic (for cleansing and disinfecting the skin, usually after shaving). For a long time, it was believed that cologne was the male version of perfume. Different manufacturers contribute their own understanding of the product. Also, cologne is “water from Cologne,” where this type of perfume was first created, smelling of mountain daffodils and orange blossoms after the rain.
What's better?
Any perfume product has its advantages and disadvantages. It cannot be said that perfume, or eau de toilette, or eau de parfum is better. You need to choose based on preferences and lifestyle. It is optimal when a woman has perfume and eau de toilette or eau de parfum in her arsenal for different events and seasons. Perfumers advise using perfume on special occasions, and using eau de toilette or eau de parfum every day.
Definitions of perfume products and concentrations may differ in different countries and manufacturing plants.In the end, the final result is influenced not only by the concentration of odorous substances, but also by the quality of the raw materials used, the perfume formula, which often combines a hundred different elements - synthetic and natural. Eau de toilette from one manufacturer can be more durable than eau de parfum from another brand and be more expressive. When choosing, you need to take into account the characteristics of the products, your body, the brand’s reputation and many, many other subtleties.