Perfume is described as a mixture of fragrant essential oils, aroma compounds, solvents, and fixatives. These are used to give the body a 'pleasant scent'. Cologne on the other hand is scented water made of alcohol and fragrant oils. Both of these scents are complex combinations of natural materials, made from the oils found in plants and synthetic products. This increases the heightened smell that they omit and their lasting power. The liquid base for perfume is alcohol and the ratio of alcohol to scented perfume concentrates will determine how the final mixture will be classified.
The most common and famous versions of perfume are Eau du Toilette (EDT), Eau de Parfum (EDP), and Eau de Cologne (EDC). Since each of these come in various strengths based on the concentration of oils, this also dictates their pricing.
Essential oils: These are concentrated liquids that contain volatile aroma compounds extracted from plants. They have a distinctive scent reminiscent of the plant. Essential oils have been used for medicinal purposes and some believe they are a cure for skin remedies to common ailments. This has shown an increase in people who want to avoid antibiotics and pharmaceutical drugs.
Perfume (parfum): This fragrance has a 15% - 40% of perfume concentrates. It is the purest form of scented product and the most expensive. Perfume can usually last around six hours, longer than other scent types.
Eau de Parfum: This perfume has a mixture lower in oils composed of 15% - 18% of oils with a slightly weaker alcohol and water. It is the more common form of perfume and the most popular. Although it normally does not cost much it provides long-lasting fragrance.
Eau de Toilette: Don't let the meaning of toilet water sway you when selecting this type of perfume. Containing approximately 4% - 8% of essential oils it's a much thinner dilution of the same materials with a weaker alcohol and water mixture. This fragrance was meant to be a wake up in the morning by applying a refreshing body splash. This is a light scent that usually doesn't linger as more intense fragrances.
Eau de Cologne: This fragrance is for either men or women and is considered aftershave. Further diluted of oils, 3% - 5%, this fragrance is weaker in alcohol and water mix. This is a light fresh fragrance mixed with citrus oils.
Creams and lotions: These products contain fragrance content comparable to Eau de Toilette, around 5% in essential oils. The remaining formula is a combination of beeswax, lanolin, petroleum jelly, minerals, and other oils and fats. These usually contain small amounts of fragrance.
Stick perfumes, pomades and solid perfume: These products of essential oil dissolved in wax and in some cases blended with other fats making it easier to apply to the skin.
Bath oils, salts and powder: Oils are blended with mineral oil, lanolin, or other fatty oils from plant origins. Salts have a mixture of baking soda and sodium carbotage. Powder has essential oils mixed with talc or cornstarch. The talc is sifted through silk screens after being ground very fine.
