How Eau De Toilette Differs from Perfume

Perfumes and colognes take up a significant part of a department store's floor space. They are prominently featured all through the center aisles and have sales assistants or demonstrators eagerly waiting to pounce on you as you walk past.

When you look on the counter, you see three bottles of fragrance that are neatly aligned in descending order. The smallest is a perfume bottle. The second bottle is known as an eau de parfum and is what is commonly sold in department stores. The third is a bigger bottle and is an eau de toilette.

The difference is in the price, quality and quantity, and how long the scent will last on your body. It is your job as a customer to know the differences because you are the one making the purchase.

Many folks make the mistake of buying toilette water, thinking it is a great deal when in fact it is a watered down version of the parfum.

All fragrances are made of natural materials, such as plant and flower extracts, and these oils and extracts determine how intense the scent is and how the perfume will last when sprayed on the skin. In order to stretch the scent, alcohol is used as the base for the perfume.

Eau de toilette and eau de cologne contain the lowest amount of natural oils for perfume, which is why most people prefer eau de parfum. There is only six percent natural oil in these varieties, and is only supposed to be used as a refresher, similar to an aftershave.

Eau de parfum is the label that is given to perfume that has a higher concentration of natural oils in it. Eau de parfum is not quite as concentrated as extract, but is still very potent. It is the most common form of perfume, and retains about 15% of the fragrance's natural oils. If you use this form of perfume, you can expect the scent to last all day long, and to linger on your clothes for few days.

The strongest concentration of perfume, which is refereed to as extract, can contain up to forty percent of perfume concentrates, which means that the oil contains much of its original scents. This is the most expensive form of perfume you can purchase, since it is more authentic and could last you for years depending on the size of the bottle.

Now that you know the distinctions between the three different types of fragrances on the market, you will be able to make an educated decision when it comes time to make your purchase.

The perfume, the eau de toilette and the eau de parfum may be able to trip other people up, but you are now a savvy, informed shopper.