Perfumes’ Concentration and Difference in Saturation
Almost any perfume consists of a base material, which is alcohol or oil, as well as aromatic oils and water. The saturation of a perfume directly depends on the ratio of aromatic substances in the whole composition. The higher is the concentration — the more saturated the aroma will be.
Parfum / Extrait (fr.)
The first place is rightfully owned by perfumes — they contain about 20-30% of perfume oils. The production of “pure” perfumes is a rather complicated and expensive business, therefore they are most often produced in small volumes, limited quantity, and by no means by every manufacturer. Finding them on store shelves is sometimes difficult and the price of perfume is quite high.
Eau de Parfum / EdP (fr.)
The most popular type of perfumery is perfumed water. The proportion of aromatic substances in it ranges from 11 to 20%, and it’s being represented on the market by a wide range of brands. Many people choose this particular type of perfume due to the fact that its aroma lasts as long enough as 3-5 hours.
Eau de Toilette / EdT (fr.)
Eau de toilette belongs to light perfumery — the content of aromatic oils in them is 5-10%. Eau de toilette is characterised by a lighter and more volatile aroma with pronounced top notes.
Eau de Cologne / EdC (fr.)
The cologne’s content of aromatic substances is just 2-4% but due to the fact that it contains special tannins, it can compete with eau de toilette in terms of saturation.
It’s also important to know that during the summer heat the perfume not just opens faster but volatilises faster too. In winter — the opposite. The Fashiongton Post advises you to experiment with your favorite perfume at different seasons of the year and you will definitely see the difference.