What is perfume?
Perfume is a very broad word which designates, sometimes wrongly, any odorous product that one uses to perfume oneself. Indeed, an eau de toilette is not the same as an eau de Cologne or a perfume… As a reminder, the “perfume” is made up of three distinct elements : the scent concentrate, the support and the fixer. The medium used today is ethyl alcohol. It is a volatile component which evaporates quickly leaving only the odorous substance on the skin. The fixer, meanwhile, allows the fragrance to last longer. What differentiates a perfume from an eau de Cologne or one or toilet, is simply the degree of dilution of the scent concentrate in the support.
What is perfume extract?
The most fragrant formulation is the perfume extract. Its fragrant extract represents at least 20% of its composition and can even go up to 40% for the most prestigious recipes. Indeed, the more the concentrate is present, the higher the price. Ethyl alcohol is an inexpensive component. On the other hand, fragrant essential oil can sometimes cost a fortune. It all depends on the ingredients that are used in the perfume. However, the higher the concentration of a product, the more tenacious and fragrant it is. In this case, a few drops are enough to diffuse a powerful odor for several hours, even several days.
What is the essence of perfume?
A perfume essence, on the other hand, does not denote a degree of concentration. When we speak of perfume essence, it is the scent concentrate itself, made from the tissues of an aromatic plant. In fact, through the process of photosynthesis, solar energy is transformed into chemical energy.
Carbon chains are built inside plants and it is these which then give rise to odor-secreting cells stored in the tissues of plants, in micro-pockets. They are the ones that burst and give off the smell when you crumple a leaf or a flower. By performing this type of movement on a plant, we release a little perfume essence. Carried out in large quantities, this process makes it possible to obtain sumptuous fragrances.
What is eau de parfum?
Eau de Perfume, for its part, denotes an odorous concentration diluted to 12 to 25%. It is still a fairly expensive product but the lifespan is quite substantial . On average, an eau de parfum stays on the skin for 4 to 6 hours. It volatilizes faster than perfume extract but less quickly than eau de toilette. This is a perfect concentration to use on a daily basis. It saves you from having to perfume yourself during the day while not displaying an exorbitant price reserved for special occasions.
What is eau de toilette?
An eau de toilette has a much fresher and lighter trail. It contains 7 to 12% odorous concentrate. This allows its scent to last between 3 to 5 hours. It all depends on the ingredients that make up its recipe … Eau de toilette are generally very popular in summer because they are less opulent and heady than perfume extracts or eau de parfum. They display a much more spring-like breath.
What is cologne?
Finally, colognes are dosed in a concentration ranging from 4 to 6%. The first eau de Cologne was created in 1709 and this product constitutes the beginnings of our current perfumery. If the freshness of colognes is very appreciated, it must be recognized that this type of composition often lacks tenacity and that it tends to evaporate very quickly.
