We all like to smell nice, whether it be at work, at a social event or perhaps on a date. The alluring smell of our favourite fragrance hopefully makes us the head turner for all the right reasons wherever we are.
It’s easy to get bogged down in the vast selection now made available to us though. Do we go for an Eau de Toilette? Would an Eau Fraiche be more suitable or is perfume the way to go? How much should be applied, and not only where should it be applied but, the biggest question may even be, how to apply cologne or other fragrance types properly?
Much depends on how long you want your fragrance to last, your skin sensitivity and ultimately how strong you may like it to smell. We’ve put together this guide so you can understand each fragrance type a little more. We break down each fragrance type, so you know what the best choice for your skin may be, as well as what fragrance may be right for your occasion and your tastes.
How many different fragrance types are there?
If you’ve only ever been used to enjoying the odd EDT or EDP, you may be surprised to know that there are in fact five different fragrance types. Still, there can be an argument to say there are six if you include perfume oils, the fragrance type that has a pure oil base and no water or alcohol in their blends.
These five, or six, fragrance types are also known as concentrations. This refers to the balance of perfume oils to water and alcohol. The higher concentrations contain more oil and less alcohol and water, the lower concentrations being more alcohol and water based with fewer perfume oils present.
At Ombre Lamar, our unique luxury Oud fragrances are made from absolute oils, making them a long-lasting scent option for both men and women. Utilising the benefits of natural Oud oil, you can enjoy that noticeable scent for hours. So, let’s look at all the options and see which may work best for you.
Eau Fraiche
Eau Fraiche is a light scent where the alluring aroma of your chosen fragrance will typically last for just 1-2 hours. These tend to have a fragrant oil content level of anything between 1-3%, the lowest of all the concentrations available. It may be noticeable to some by the name but much of the composition of an Eau Fraiche scent is water, with very little alcohol content. For many, these kinds of fragrances are used to freshen up if you need a little additional scent for a short time. Light and unobtrusive, Eau Fraiche is your short-lived fragrance that adds a touch of scent, but not much.
Eau de Cologne
Eau de Cologne, also known as EDC, is the next level in fragrances but is still comparatively weak compared to the next ones we feature. With an essential oils concentration of around 2-5%, the majority of the product is made with alcohol. Cheap to buy and lasting typically around 2 hours, EDC is often seen as the choice for teenagers looking to experiment with new scents or those who may only want a brief hit of fragrance. Eau De Cologne was often seen listed as a masculine scent type but there are feminine EDC available.
Eau de Toilette
Perhaps one of the most popular and commonly seen fragrance types, Eau de Toilette or EDT is the next step up in fragrance. With an oil concentration of up to 15% and the remainder of the fragrance made from alcohol and water, it is a little stronger than the EDC and Eau Fraiche and will last up to four hours in most cases. Quite often EDT is seen as the fragrance for use in the daytime whilst an EDP (which we cover shortly) is preferred for evening use.
Eau de Parfum
Eau de Parfum, Eau de Perfume or EDP is, like EDT, another extremely popular fragrance. You can expect a fragrance concentration of 15-20%, it still has fairly high levels of water and alcohol, but you can expect to get 4-5 hours of scent from using it. In some cases, this could be even longer. There are some who claim it’s possible to get as much as 8 hours from a spray of an EDP. Compared to other fragrance types, EDP is often seen as the best or one of the best options for those with sensitive skin, despite the alcohol content still being quite high.
Extrait de Parfum/Perfume
When you opt for a extrait de parfum or perfume, you are choosing the more expensive option of the fragrance types covered so far but by far, the one that provides you with the most scent for the longest time. With less alcohol and more oil, the chosen scent can last as long as 24 hours in some cases. They can be made up of as much as 40% fragrant oils but more commonly, you’ll see a parfum have around 20-30%. With much more oil content and less alcohol, perfumes tend to be kinder to sensitive skin.
Our Oud parfum is oil-based, crafted from the absolute oils of specially selected flowers. This helps us to create a unique collection of scents that not only captivate us but last for hours without fading.
Due to the higher oil content, you’ll notice the liquid appears thicker and oilier than the previous ones we have mentioned. This also means you’ll need much less of it to get a lasting fragrance that evolves as the day progresses. With the wonderful array of notes that complete the scent profile, you can benefit from a collection of top, heart and base notes that give you, and those around you, are deep sensory experience. This may sound confusing to those who have not explored the world of fragrance fully but have no fear. Ombre Lamar will guide you through it.
Understanding the evolution of your fragrance: From top notes to base notes
We’ve taken you on the journey of the differing fragrance types and how they work to give you the scent you desire, however, to fully comprehend it, you need to climb the fragrance pyramid.
At Ombre Lamar, we carefully curate our parfum to ensure you have a long-lasting scent that evolves whilst you wear it. This is where the fragrance pyramid plays an important role.
When we talk of a fragrance pyramid, we talk about how the composition and development of the scent changes over time. With our parfum, this is an exhilarating scent adventure that takes you through a journey of sensory exploration. Our fragrance pyramid is split into three sections. At the top we have the top notes, we then have the middle notes with the base notes at the bottom supporting the scent. How they work and what they do is a journey itself, join us!
Top notes
The top notes are the first scents noticed once a perfume is applied. They will normally be light and fresh giving a pop of fragrance that brings attention and commands curiosity. Top notes will normally include citrus fruits and light floral notes. Think lemon, orange, and lavender for example. They will normally evaporate within 10-20 minutes of application but the first impression they generate is captivating, alluring and most definitely favourable. They then nicely lead us into the middle, or heart notes of the scent.
Middle notes
As the top notes fade, the middle notes that we also call heart notes come to the fore. These are what make the perfume or parfum stand out. They are its core and offer an incredible blending of the remaining elements of the top notes and the yet-to-be-discovered base notes. These will normally be made of floral and spicy elements so expect to see rose, jasmine and cinnamon among them. With a longer-lasting presence than the top notes, you can see this element of the scent last for as long as 60 minutes in many cases. These heart notes define the perfume and maintain their presence long after the top notes have gone.
All scents have a foundation or base and it’s these that help give the middle notes their longevity, alone though, the base notes give so much more.
Base notes
The base notes are what form the basis of the perfume. They provide depth and longevity, helping the scent last and complete its journey through a variety of indulgent aromas. Base notes are normally composed of rich and heavy ingredients that deliver long-lasting scents for you and others to enjoy. Base notes could be sandalwood or vanilla for example and, thanks to the slow evaporation they could last for as long as 18 hours in products like an Oud fragrance.
You can think of base notes as the anchor to the other notes as it holds on to them to help create a lasting fragrance that can become more pronounced as the scent dries.
As you can see, there are a host of options that may suit different occasions. Knowing the difference between extrait de parfum, eau de parfum and eau de toilette can help you make a decision that not only sees you benefit from a more premium product but also not waste money on something that won’t last as long as you had hoped. If you would like further guidance on finding the ideal fragrance for you, speak to us at Ombre Lamar, you can book 30 mins of free perfume testing where our experienced team can help you find the ideal scent for you. Alternatively, contact us to ask any questions you may have.