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| Perfume Terminology
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The perfume industry has a unique language, and when you’re buying fragrances, you want to be 100% sure what the different names mean.
What’s the difference between “eau de toilette” and “eau de parfum”?
What’s does “Cologne” actually mean?
Is “cologne” always for men and “perfume” always for women?
We’ve taken some of the more commonly-used words and put them into this glossary of perfume terms and definitions, to help you make your choice.
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| Main Terms
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Eau de Cologne (EDC)
Eau de Cologne is the term used today to refer to a perfume solution with around a 3% compound in an oil and water base. It’s the lightest of perfumes and, therefore the least expensive.
Eau de Toilette (EDT)
Eau de Toilette is a perfume solution with a 3-8% compound in an oil and water base. It has intermediate strength.
Eau de Parfum (EDP)
Eau de Parfum is a perfume solution with a 10-15% compound. It is stronger than the EDT.
Perfume
Perfume, or “parfum”, has the highest concentration of oils, with a 25-50% compound, which makes it the most expensive of fragrance types. It also lasts much longer than others.
Cologne
Interesting fact: Cologne is a city in Germany where the very first modern perfume, as we now know it, was produced. That was about 300 years ago, and it was called Eau de Cologne – a perfume made basically from citrus oils. If you want a classic brand of Eau de Cologne that’s about 200 years old, try Farina Gegenuber or 4711. Today, cologne is a word usually used to describe men’s fragrances, although many women fragrances come in “eau de cologne” versions, and they are not for men at all! They are just slightly weaker in fragrance concentration.
Fragrance
When we say “Fragrance” we usually mean “perfume”, but they’re not quite the same thing – fragrance is the scent of the perfume, while perfume is the actual product.
Aftershave
This product’s strength would be less than “Eau de Cologne”. Aftershave is a men’s toiletry product that could be classified as a cosmetic or a fragrance. It comes in the form of a lotion, a gel, or a balm. After shaving, men apply it for a few reasons: It makes the skin look smoother, soothes sensitive skin, closes the pores after shaving, and it serves as a light cologne. The cologne usually isn’t strong enough to interfere with the man’s primary cologne. In fact, there are some designer fragrances that have introduced aftershave that complements their fragrances.
For additional terms of the perfume industry, read our Full Perfume Glossary.
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