Fragrance is vividly evocative.
The area within the brain that controls memories, emotions, and scent are all intertwined, meaning that there is, without a doubt, an uncontrollable connection between your most powerful memories and fragrance. So, in a sense, selecting a perfume is not just choosing a scent, you’re also choosing how people will remember you.
That said, fragrance is undoubtedly one of the most personal beauty products you can purchase, and there’s a lot to unravel with each bottle: type, price, top notes, bottom notes (what?), not to mention how it mixes with your own unique body chemistry. But there’s one element you can be sure of, and that’s understanding the difference between the fragrance world’s two foundational categories: eau de toilette and eau de parfum.
Eau de Toilette vs. Eau de Parfum: The Lowdown
Turns out, the key difference between the two types isn’t so nuanced after all; in fact, it’s wildly straightforward and scientific.
An eau de parfum has a higher concentration of fragrance oil than an eau de toilette. In the fragrance world, the order of highest to lowest concentration is pure perfume, which tends to be sold as: eau de parfum, eau de toilette, and eau de cologne.
Generally, an eau de parfum is composed of 15% to 20% perfume oil, while an eau de toilette scales a little lower, ranging from 10% to 15%.
Precise compositions will vary between brands, but it’s a safe bet to think of an eau de toilette as “lighter and fresher, while a parfum tends to be “more dense and richer” due to its higher concentration.
Do Eau de Parfums and Eau de Toilettes Smell The Same?
If both types of fragrance are made with the same notes, then yes, they would smell similar, but not exactly the same. For example, a spritz of lavender eau de parfum would release a higher concentration of fragrance than an eau de toilette, and as the level of fragrance oil is increased, certain notes can develop on the skin to be richer, sharper or sweeter, depending on the chemical makeup of the scent.
Different concentration levels of the same fragrance can be extremely subtle, which is all part of the fun, which allows different notes or ingredients to breathe, creating a singular experience for the wearer.
Wicked Good fragrances, fragrance are the same between the two types, but each has a slightly different dimension.
The bottom line: consider the same scent in the two different forms to be sisters, not twins, within the fragrance family — there will be hints of similarities, but each will definitely be unique.
Does an Eau de Toilette or Eau de Parfum Ever Expire?
Depending on the quality of ingredients and where it’s stored, most perfumes have a shelf life of at least three to five years, but it really comes down to each scent’s architecture.
An eau de toilette tends to age a little slower, thanks to the higher concentration of alcohol in the formulation, which acts as a protective preservative. On the flip side, clean and alcohol-free fragrances will lose intensity the fastest.
To maximize the shelf life of either an eau de parfum or an eau de toilette, Wicked Good recommends keeping it in a cool, dry, and dark location.
Beware of excessive light, variations in temperature (especially heat), and exposure to oxygen, as they will accelerate any fragrance’s deterioration. And if the perfume’s color shifts to a darker hue, or the scent becomes a little sour or musty, it’s time to retire.
The hard, sad truth: although your perfume bottle may look chic and trés Instagrammable on your sun-lit vanity, it’s probably not the wisest choice.
Do Eau de Parfums Last Longer Than Eau de Toilettes?
For the most part, eau de parfums should last longer, but different notes carry different patterns of longevity. “You can’t compare, let’s say, a fruity, very fresh eau de parfum with a very woody eau de toilette. Fruity and fresh notes tend to be top notes and evaporate faster, even at higher concentrations.
But maybe the coolest whimsy of all types of perfumes is that each wearer’s experience of a fragrance is different, depending upon how the formulation reacts with their skin’s specific oils. In other words, don’t blindly buy the perfume that smells divine on your best friend, because it might smell less than savory on you.
Fragrance adheres to oils, and those with drier skin may need to wear a higher concentration of fragrance in order to have an impact.
Above all, you must obey the golden rule of scent: Never judge a fragrance until you try it on your own skin.
Is An Eau de Toilette “Cheaper” Than An Eau de Parfum?
Looking at price points between the two, it’s easy to judge an eau de toilette as a cheaper, and therefore less sophisticated product, but cost doesn’t tell the whole story.
Eau de toilette is less expensive because they have a lower concentration of fine fragrance oil. Its' not because the ingredients are different.
The intensity of the fragrance you want to wear is entirely up to you, and you should wear what you connect with and what smells good on you, regardless of concentration.
Think of an eau de toilette and eau de parfum as two types of perfume options that are available to you depending on what you’re looking for, not a stark either/or situation, and definitely not a representation of who you are as a person. After all, people aren’t going to be looking at the bottle while you’re out and about.
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