| When shopping online, or even the old fashioned way | | | | makes the product cheaper. Also somewhat |
| in high street shops there is a bewildering array of | | | | suprisingly the high concentration of aromatic |
| perfumes and aftershaves. Looking across the ranges | | | | compounds in pure perfumes make them rather |
| available from Armani to Versace or Banan Republic | | | | unpleasant and most people would be put off by |
| to Yves Saint Laurent there is a huge range of | | | | them. By far the most common solvents for the |
| products to choose from. However many people get | | | | dilution of perfume oil are alcohol and water. The |
| confused over the difference between Eau de | | | | alcohol normally used is ethanol. However other |
| Perfum (EdP), Eau de Toilette (EdT) and Eau de | | | | substances can be used to dilute perfume oil with |
| Cologne (EdC). Because of the difference in the | | | | fractionated coconut oil, or liquid waxes such as |
| products ingredients the price between these can be | | | | jojoba oil being frequently used. |
| considerable. | | | | The intensity and longevity of a perfume is based on |
| Most manufacturers of designer label perfumes and | | | | the concentration, intensity and longevity of each of |
| aftershaves provide various versions of each product. | | | | the aromatic compounds (natural essential oils / |
| The difference between these is the concentration | | | | perfume oils) used. The ingredients in a perfume |
| of the aromatic compounds that are contained within | | | | evaporate at different rates. This is why a freshly |
| the finished scent. | | | | applied perfume or aftershave smells different a |
| The most concentrated of these is called 'Perfume | | | | couple of hours later. As the proportion of aromatic |
| Extract' (Extrait) where the aromatic compounds can | | | | compounds increases in the product, so does the |
| be between 15% and 40%. That said you will rarely | | | | intensity and longevity of the scent created. |
| find this as it can iritate the skin it is so strong. | | | | Different perfumeries or perfume houses assign |
| Eau de Parfum (EdP) is the next most concentrated | | | | differing amounts of oils to each of their perfumes |
| and is also sometime known as Parfum de Toilette | | | | which they produce. Consequently, although the oil |
| (PdT). The aromatic compounds for this fragrence | | | | concentration of a perfume in Eau de Parfum (EdP) |
| are typically 15% but can range from 10% to 20%. It | | | | dilution will necessarily be higher than the same |
| is sometimes listed as "eau de perfume" or | | | | perfume in Eau de Toilette (EdT) from within the |
| "millésime". | | | | same range, the actual amounts can vary between |
| Eau de Toilette (EdT) is the next strongest with a | | | | perfume houses. So be warned, an EdT from one |
| typical concentration of about 10%, but again this can | | | | house may be stronger than an EdP from another! |
| range from between 5% to 15% of the aromatic | | | | Men's fragrances, which normally referes to |
| compounds that give it its distinctive smell. | | | | aftershaves, are rarely as EdP or perfume extracts. |
| With a typical concentration of 5% (but again | | | | Also women's fragrances are rarely sold in EdC |
| varying, this time between 3 and 8%) is Eau de | | | | concentrations. Although this gender specific naming |
| Cologne (EdC). In this category you will find Chypre | | | | trend is most common for attributing fragrance |
| citrus type perfumes. | | | | proportions, it does not directly have much to do |
| Finally, Splash and After shaves contain about 1% to | | | | with whether a fragrance was intended for men or |
| 3% of the aromatic compounds. | | | | women. |
| Perfume oil has to be diluted with a solvent because | | | | So when you are shopping online for your favorite |
| undiluted oils contain high concentrations of chemical | | | | scent, be it a perfume or an aftershave by Jean Paul |
| components that will likely result in allergic reactions | | | | Gaultier or Givenchy, check to see what |
| and possibly injury when applied directly to skin or | | | | concentration you normally buy and then compare |
| clothing. Also the pure forms of the scents tend to | | | | the prices for the same concentration of the product. |
| be very expensive, diluting with a cheap solvent | | | | |