7 Different Types Of Perfume: What Literally No One Tells You

I’ve worked as a Beauty Advisor in a local beauty store, and once in a while, we took out all the perfumes to clean and reorganize them. That was when I realized how many different types of perfume there are on the market.

There are different perfume categories, subfamilies, sizes, etc., so not to overwhelm you right away, let me start by sharing the 7 different types of perfume we’re going to talk about in this post:

1. Parfum
2. Eau de Parfum
3. Eau de Toilette
4. Eau de Cologne
5. Eau Fraiche
6. Perfume Oil
7. Body Mists

I’m going to teach you everything about every single type of perfume, what it is, what the pros and cons are, which perfume the most long-lasting is, why perfume smells different on everyone, and so much more!

So if you’re curious to learn the basics so it’s easier to pick a perfume that fits your preferences, keep reading.

After figuring out the differences between the 7 types of perfumes, it’s time to figure out what the fragrance families are and the fragrance notes.

After reading all the posts, I promise you will know everything about perfumes, and picking your next favorite fragrance will be a breeze!

Fragrance VS Perfume: Is It The Same?

When you’re exploring the world of scents, you’ll often come across two terms – fragrance and perfume.

While these terms are frequently used interchangeably, they aren’t exactly the same thing. So let’s dive in to understand what sets them apart.

What Is Fragrance?

A fragrance is a broad term used in the beauty industry to refer to any product that provides an aromatic experience.

The fragrance is what you smell. So this means that there are different types of fragrances based on the type of scents, such as Floral, Fruity, Oriental, Woody, and Citrus. These are often called fragrance families.

This includes everything from your favorite bottle of perfume or cologne to scented candles, body lotions, and even laundry detergents.

In crafting a fragrance, manufacturers typically start with essential oils derived from natural sources like flowers or spices. They’ll then mix these oils with alcohol and water to create what we commonly know as “perfume”.

What Is Perfume?

Perfume specifically refers to a highly concentrated form of scent designed for personal use. It’s typically composed of essential oils blended with alcohol and water.

A key characteristic distinguishing perfumes is their longevity – they’re formulated so that their scent lingers on your skin for hours.

When creating perfumes, there’s an added layer of complexity. A typical perfume is made up of fragrance notes: top notes (the first scent you smell), heart notes (which develop after wearing for a while), and base notes (the long-lasting scent).

This structure creates what’s known as an olfactory pyramid – giving your favorite perfumes their depth and longevity.

7 Different Types Of Perfume

Parfum

The term “parfum” is often interchangeably used with “perfume.” It is simply the French variant and a more sophisticated way of saying perfume. You can also refer to it as Extrait de Parfum or pure perfume. 

Any fragrance expert would tell you that there are levels (literally) to smelling good. And parfum has the highest fragrance concentration. This means that your parfum contains more essential oils and less alcohol.

Parfum contains about 20-30% of fragrance concentration, allowing it to linger on your skin for 12+ hours. So parfum has a more pungent scent that lasts the longest.

One of the best fragrances for women to experience this long-lasting effect is the gorgeously floral Versace Bright Crystal.

Eau de Parfum

Delving into the world of perfumes, you’ll soon discover that Eau de Parfum is a category that demands attention.

Boasting a higher concentration of fragrance oils compared to other types, it’s known for its long-lasting scent and rich composition.

Typically, Eau de Parfum (EdP) contains around 15% to 20% pure perfume essence. This concentrated formula results in a scent that can linger on your skin for up to eight hours – perfect if you’re after a signature smell that stays with you all day.

Eau de Toilette

If you’re searching for a light, fresh fragrance, Eau de Toilette might be just what you need. This type of perfume is one of the most popular and versatile options available. It’s especially favored for daytime wear due to its subtlety.

Eau de Toilette (EDT) boasts a concentration of around 5% to 15% pure perfume essence. EDT tends to have a lighter scent that doesn’t linger as long because it’s less concentrated than some other types, like Eau de Parfum or Parfum itself.

The term “eau de toilette” is a derivative of the French phrase “faire sa toilette,” meaning getting ready. Get ready with the famous Marc Jacobs Daisy Love to boost your confidence.

Eau de Cologne

You’re probably familiar with the term “Eau de Cologne,” but do you really know what it entails? This type of perfume, commonly known as simply ‘Cologne’, has a rich history and unique characteristics that set it apart from other fragrance types. Let’s delve into its complexities.

Originally hailing from Cologne, Germany, in the 18th century, Eau de Cologne was first crafted by an Italian perfumer named Johann Maria Farina.

He described his creation as reminiscent of a “spring morning in Italy… after the rain,” capturing fresh citrus and herbal notes. The primary distinction between Eau de Cologne and other perfume types lies within its concentration levels.

Compared to stronger variants like Parfum or Eau de Parfum, Eau de Cologne typically contains just 2-4% perfume oils diluted in alcohol and water. This lower concentration produces a lighter scent that doesn’t linger as long on your skin.

It’s often perceived as refreshing due to its dominant citrus top notes – think lemons, oranges, and bergamot – paired with subtle hints of herbs such as rosemary or thyme.

Eau Fraiche

Similar to EDC, Eau Fraiche can last for about 2 hours. This perfume type contains the lowest fragrance concentration, reaching only 3%. Eau Fraiche is light and airy, suitable for those looking for a subtle scent. 

Tip: Why not give this alluring burst of fresh femininity, Dior Addict Eau Fraiche, a try? You’ll see why so many reach for this type of perfume.

Perfume Oils

Perfume oils are essential oils naturally extracted from spices, flowers, and woods, then diluted with carrier oils. These concentrated oils are rubbed into the skin, offering long-lasting exuberance of roughly eight to twelve hours. 

Tip: Perfume oils are activated by the heat of your skin. Apply your Nest Indian Jasmine or any other perfume oil to your pulse points to smell excellent for longer. 

Body Mist

Now this is actually a bonus category since body mists are still quite a new concept on the market, but they’re another type of perfume for sure.

Body mists are often made with natural ingredients like essential oils. These mists are a great way to naturally refresh your scent throughout the day.

Body mists, compared to traditional perfumes and colognes, offer a unique advantage. They can be generously applied to larger areas, such as the neck and chest, without overpowering those around you due to their lighter formulation.

How To Choose Your Ideal Scent

Navigating the world of perfumes can be daunting, but don’t worry! You’re not alone in this journey. By understanding your preferences and how different types of scents interact with your skin, you’ll find the perfect fragrance that’s just right for you.

Let’s start by identifying what type of scents resonate with you. Do rose fragrances make your heart flutter? Or perhaps gourmand fragrances or amber fragrances captivate your senses?

You might find yourself drawn to the earthy allure of woody fragrances. Knowing what category appeals to you is an essential step in finding the ideal perfume.

When testing out new perfumes, it’s crucial to remember that everyone’s skin chemistry is unique. The same perfume may smell differently on two different individuals due to their personal body chemistry.

So when choosing a fragrance, always test it on yourself rather than relying solely on how it smells from the bottle or on someone else.

Another factor to consider is longevity – how long a scent lasts on your skin before fading away. Some types of perfume, like Eau de Parfum, tend to last longer than others, like Eau de Toilette or Cologne.

If longevity matters most for you, go for stronger concentration variants such as Pure Perfume or Extrait De Parfum.

Also, remember that time plays a significant role in our perception of a fragrance as scents evolve throughout wear; this process is known as scent evolution.

A good tip here: don’t rush into buying a fragrance after just smelling its top notes (the first impression). Wait around for about thirty minutes so that heart (middle) and base notes reveal themselves – they’re actually those making up most of the wearing time!

Lastly, consider when and where you’ll be wearing the scent: daily work routine or special occasions? Winter season or summer heat? Some fragrances work better under certain conditions than others.

Why Do Perfumes Smell Different On Everyone

A scent smells differently on every person due to the skin’s pH balance, which differs slightly and can change the way a scent smells. This is why a scent can smell amazing on your friend and horrible on you.

But there’s even more. It looks like your diet, hormone balance, and skin type influence how a fragrance eventually smells on you.

For example, eating herbs and spices often or not so much affects how a perfume smells. Also, like hormones, when estrogen drops, and you start to sweat a tad more, it’ll change how the scent smells.

Last but not least effect, is your skin type. If you have normal skin, you are likely to find that most perfumes will smell pretty accurately on the skin.

But it seems like dry skin absorbs perfumes quicker, which will make them softer in scent and disappear sooner too.

If you have oily skin, it can cause the fragrances to pop, which means that it can accentuate certain fragrance elements. This can turn a pretty average fragrance into a better, longer-wearing version, while other fragrances might be too overwhelming.

I recommend that everyone always test a fragrance on their own skin before buying it. Not only try the perfume on a piece of paper or your friend; this can smell very differently and give the wrong impression.

How Long Does Perfume Last Before It Expires

When a perfume expires, the scent molecules have broken down and are no longer as potent as they once were.

How long a perfume lasts before it expires depends on several factors, including the different types of perfume, how it’s stored, and how often you use it.

According to the FDA, “perfumes and colognes are mixtures of hundreds of ingredients, including natural essences or extracts, fixatives, aromatizers, preservatives, solvents, and water. The average shelf life for perfume is 2 years; for cologne, it is 3 years.”

However, generally speaking, most perfumes will last for 3-5 years before they start to lose their scent.

If a perfume expires, it doesn’t necessarily become toxic or unsafe to wear, but the scent will become less appealing and noticeable.

Tips To Make Your Perfume As Long Lasting As Possible

• Don’t store perfumes in direct daylight. Having your perfumes stored in direct daylight means that the molecules will break down quicker and thus makes it go bad sooner.
• Keep your fragrances in average temperatures. If you store them in a warm, humid place (for example, in your bathroom), it will also cause the molecules to break down quicker.
• It’s optional to store your perfumes in the fridge. If you live with your family, storing your fragrances in the fridge sounds like an impossible storage idea, but you may want to check out a beauty fridge like this one from COOSEON since it’s good to store your perfumes in a cool place.

Final Thoughts On The Different Perfume Types

Exploring the world of perfumes has been quite a journey. You’ve discovered that there’s more to scents than just smelling good. They can be complex, intricate and even tell a story about the wearer.

Choosing your signature scent from these types isn’t always straightforward. It’ll depend on your personal preference and lifestyle.

Are you into lighter fragrances that can be worn daily? Or do you prefer luxurious intense aromas for special occasions?

Here’s a quick reminder of all the different types of perfume:

Type	Concentration	Duration
Parfum	20%-30%	Up to eight hours
Eau De Parfum (EDP)	15%-20%	Five-six hours
Eau De Toilette (EDT)	5%-15%	Few Hours
Eau De Cologne (Cologne)	2%-4%	Mild & Short-lived
Eau Fraiche	(1%-3%)	(1 -2 Hours )
Perfume Oil	20%+	8-12 Hours
Body Mist	.05%-2%	Q

Don’t forget that scents evolve throughout the day due to their top, middle (heart), and base notes. So next time when you’re testing out different types of perfumes, remember to give them some time before making your decision.

Perfume shopping doesn’t have to be overwhelming anymore now that you’re armed with this knowledge about different perfume types. Here’s hoping your next fragrance purchase will be an informed one!

Frequently Asked Questions