Types of aromatic products
You create a fragrant aura around yourself by the very choice of perfumes and the way you perfume yourself with them. What impression is created — of challenge or intimacy, openness or mystery, and how long does it last? All this depends directly on the fragrance and on what type of product you used: Parfum or Eau Toilet, Eau de Parfum or Spray Cologne.
All types of these products consist mainly of odorous concentrate, alcohol and water and differ in their proportions. Sometimes, in the smallest doses, dyes and antioxidants are added, but the smell does not change from this.
The most concentrated and intense are liquids, which are called Parfum in the French manner, and Perfume in English; their other, somewhat outdated name is Extrait. They are produced in small bottles, most often — 7 or 15 ml (in America this corresponds to 1/4 oz. or 1/2 oz.). The proportion of odorous concentrate here is, as a rule, from 20 to 30%. Parfum is the most expensive type of aromatic liquid, an exquisite packaging, an exclusive bottle is prepared for it. The mixture of fragrant oils here often includes a high percentage of the most expensive natural flower essences, which in other types of products are partially present in the form of artificial substitutes. Parfum is the noblest of gifts, a symbol of advantage and the flagship of the perfume series.
Eau de Parfum (water-perfume, daytime perfumes) takes the second place in strength, here the share of odorous oils is from 15 to 25%. Some manufacturers turn this designation into Parfum de Toilette (toilet perfume) or, like Dior, Esprit de Parfum (perfume of mild concentration). Rocha company offers in addition to Eau de Parfum also Eau de Parfum Intense («intense» water-perfume). Eau de Parfum and all its variations are optimal for a woman whose use of perfumes is a necessary habit and who attaches importance to their effectiveness, durability and volatility.
Then follows Eau de Toilette, where the proportion of odorous substances is, as a rule, from 10 to 20% (6-12% in men’s perfumes). Eau de Toilette, thanks to the reduced proportion of concentrate, becomes more restrained, lighter than Eau de Parfum and Parfum.
Designation Eai de Cologne (cologne) today it is found most often on bottles with aromatic liquids for men and implies the same as Eau de Toilette. Only occasionally it is used in perfumes for women, and then it represents the lightest of the fragrances.
For perfumes originating from the USA, the word Cologne is often used. In such cases, it usually indicates a concentration of 12 to 25% and corresponds to the French Eau de Parfum or Eau de Toilette.
total:
Parfum is a 15-25% solution of oils in alcohol (alcohol).
Any mixture with a lower proportion of oil to solvent is known as Eau.
For EDT, EDP, SDP, the solvent is a mixture of alcohol and water (hence the name Eau de…)
Eau Fraiche — usually 3% or less of perfume oils.
Cologne (EDC) is a 2-5% solution of perfume oils.
EDT is a 4-10% solution of perfume oil.
Eau de parfum (EDP) is an 8-15% solution of perfume oils.
Soie de Parfum — 15-18% solution.
PARFUM, also sometimes called extract, is a 15-25% solution, usually in alcohol.
Perfumed oil is a 15-30% solution of perfumed oils, but in oil, not in alcohol.
It should also be mentioned After Shave Lotion, which is most often shortened to After Shave. Here the concentration of odorous substances is very low, from 2 to 4%. All these types of perfumes are united by the fact that they are applied to the skin by hand. But most of them are also available in another version, with a spray gun. This can be determined by the additional designation: Spray, Natural Spray, Atomiseur, Vaporisateur.
At the same time Spray stands for aerosol: the bottle is filled with a solution under pressure and with the help of gas. If you press on the head, perfume will spray from there in tiny droplets. At the same time, they spray the liquid with extreme care. They have another advantage: an almost unlimited shelf life, because the water inside is completely protected from contact with air.
Natural Spray is written on bottles with a spray gun. They do not contain any gas, spraying occurs due to the head itself acting as a pump; but the particles are not so small. If the spray gun can be unscrewed, then you have Natural Spray in front of you. Within the same series, products of a stronger concentration have correspondingly greater intensity and durability. But this does not mean that they necessarily reveal their special intensity and durability in use, because we use different types of perfumes in different ways. Expensive perfume — Parfum in a small bottle — we willy-nilly spend a lot less than Eau de Parfum or Eau de Toilette in a large bottle with a wide neck. And Spray just appeals to generosity! Women who like intense fragrances are more likely to buy Spray Cologne or Eau de Parfum Vaporisateur and Atomiseur rather than Parfum.