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Fragrances are a personal thing. With so many options and classifications out there, it can be confusing to know which suits you best.
If you’ve always wondered what’s the difference between eau de toilette, eau de parfum, and perfume, it all boils down to how potent the scent is.
Basically, the more oil it contains, the more potent the fragrance and the longer lasting it will be.
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To better understand what makes them different, here’s a breakdown of what each one actually is and how long the scent type can last:
1. Parfum or perfume
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The highest concentration of oils in a fragrance is found in parfum (French spelling), or perfume. It usually has “between 25% and 35% of oil concentration and less percentage of alcohol,” according to Fourthsense.
Naturally, the higher the concentrate, the longer the scent will last. Fragrance expert, Patti Kapla, told Bustle that perfume can last up to seven hours on a person. Some say it can also last up to 24 hours.
Kapla emphasised that everyone’s body chemistry is different, so the longevity of one’s perfume wear-time is dependent on that.
2. Eau de Parfum
The second highest concentration of oils is in eau de parfum, with a percentage of essences between 10% and 15%. This scent type is expected to last around four to five hours on your body.
Eau de parfum is essentially developed from the same perfume essence, but is more diluted with alcohol and water.
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3. Eau de Toilette
With less than 10% oil concentration, eau de toilette usually needs to be reapplied several times throughout the day, as it evaporates quicker and often only lasts for three hours at a time.
Former marketing manager of Diptyque, Mary Wallace, shared with Byrdie that eau de toilette is often lighter and fresher, perfect for day time use, while eau de parfum offers more depth, making it better for evenings.
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BONUS: Cologne
Although, cologne is often mistaken for men’s perfume, it’s actually just a lighter version of perfume and eau de toilette.
Cologne usually has less than 5% oil concentration, which makes it more affordable than perfumes in general. As it’s less concentrated, it’s said to be able to last roughly two hours before you need a top up.
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Now that you know the differences between fragrance types, hopefully this can help you select the best option for your body and preference!
Look out for more #SAYSbeauty tips and trends!
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