Fragrances for Beginners

Just What Is the Difference Between Perfume, Eau de Parfum, Eau de Toilette, Cologne, and Testers?

Shopping for fragrance can be confusing at best, or overwhelming at worst. Not only are there top notes, middle notes, and bottom notes, but whole classes of scents. What’s more, once you’ve decided on a scent, another decision must be made: perfume, eau de parfum, eau de toilette or cologne?

Fragrances are available in perfume, eau de parfum, eau de toilette, or cologne form. The main differentiating factor of these is the concentration of aromatic compounds in a solvent – that is, how much fragrance is in the formula’s composition. The more actual perfume concentrate it contains, the longer the scent will last on your skin, and the more expensive the product. Following is a breakdown of these categories.

Perfume

Perfume, also referred to as perfume extract, is the most concentrated formulation, and is usually the most expensive. It contains 15-30% aromatic compounds. Due to its high amount of aromatic compounds, it also tends to last the longest when applied to the skin. It is usually sold in small bottles of 1 ounce or less.

Eau de Parfum

Eau de parfum, also called eau de perfume, is the next most concentrated formula, and one of the most popular purchases. It consists of 10-15% aromatic compounds.

Eau de Toilette

Eau de toilette is also a popular choice, and is less expensive than the perfume or parfum formulations, although its scent will not last as long when applied to the skin. Eau de toilette contains 5-20% aromatic compounds.

Cologne, or Eau de Cologne

Eau de Cologne originated in Cologne, Germany. Today, it is a generic term that defines a class of scented formulations by its typical concentration of about 2-5%. Cologne products are available for either men or women, and are sometimes mistaken for aftershave, which is actually a formula containing moisturizer, an antiseptic agent, and perfume. In addition, aftershave can be a gel, lotion, or liquid.

Tester

Testers are even more discounted than the fancy boxed versions and are great if you don't have a need for the fancy box. Testers are 100% authentic, fresh and completely full just like the original fragrance, however they are meant for the counter in a department store. Testers often come in a plain white box but sometimes they do not have a cap or a box. The savings on the packaging means you save even more!

 

For any perfume concentration, be sure to keep the bottle tightly sealed and stored in a cool, dry place away from windows or direct sunlight or heat sources to maximize its shelf life. For best results, store opened bottles inside their boxes. Fragrances usually last three years from the date they were manufactured.

Pheromones

The Way to a Man’s Heart is Through His Nose

It’s a common phrase that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach; however, it may can also be said that the way to his heart is actually through his nose. Pheromones, which are odorless and invisible to the eye, are blends of chemicals that a body produces to send a signal to someone else. They are thought to be the reason behind menstrual cycles becoming synchronized among women who live together or spend a lot of time together; they are also behind the “marking of territory” that dogs deposit to claim their boundaries.

Pheromones are secreted externally and can stimulate a man's sexual behavior through olfactory sensors, which process information. Researchers believe that it is the olfactory epithelium that may mediate the signals given by pheromones.

In human sexual attraction, pheromones indicate a woman’s availability for breeding. A 2002 study by San Francisco State University researchers and published in Physiology and Behavior concluded that men are more attracted to women wearing pheromones.

The study – the first to independently test a sexual attractant pheromone for women – showed that women's perfume, when laced with synthetic pheromones, can act as a sexual magnet of sorts and make them more attractive to men. Of the 36 women tested, 74 percent of those who were wearing their usual perfume, but with the pheromone added, experienced an increase in three or more of the following socio-sexual behaviors: formal dates (incidence of kissing, heavy petting and affection), sexual intercourse, and sleeping next to a romantic partner. By contrast, only 23 percent of the group of women who had a placebo added to their regular perfume experienced an increase in any of these behaviors.

The researchers’ conclusion was that the pheromone users were more sexually attractive to men than those who did not use the synthetic pheromones.

What can women do to increase their pheromones and attract a mate? Based on this study’s findings, a woman actively seeking a mate should dab on some artificial pheromones in addition to her regular perfume. Perfume, when laced with a artificial pheromone, drastically increased the women’s sex appeal to men.

Fragrance Notes

  1. First, there are top notes, which are what you smell immediately after you spray. They are very light and last just a few minutes.
  2. Middle notes become apparent about 15 minutes after application. These can last an hour or more.
  3. Bottom notes are the heavier scents which last the longest, usually for several hours.


Pretty straight forward, right? But when we start throwing around words like “patchouli” and “sandalwood”, you may rekindle some confusion. Because being informed helps you find a product you’ll love, we‘ve put together a list of common fragrance notes and what they smell like.

 

Citrus Notes

Citrus notes include some self-explanatory scents like lemon, grapefruit, blood orange, lemongrass and clementine. Below are a few you may encounter that are not so self-explained:

  • Bergamot: This fruit is a cross between a pear-lemon and an orange or grapefruit. It has a fruity-sweet scent with mild spiciness.
  • Yuzu: Yuzu is a Japanese citrus with an aroma similar to grapefruit.
  • Neroli: Neroli is a fragrant distillation of a fresh bitter orange flower. This smells like a bitter version of orange and honey blossom.

Fruit, Veggie and Nut Notes

We trust that you know what coconuts, cherries, apples, almonds, olives and pumpkins smell like. The more uncommon notes in this category are as follows:

  • Osmanthus: Osmanthus smells most simply like an apricot.
  • Passionfruit or Passion Flower: Passionfruit has a sweet and calming scent that is a mix of fruity, floral and grassy.
  • Litchi or Lychee: Litchi’s scent is closest to a mix of a grape and a rose.
  • Malt: Malt is produced from grains and it’s odor profile is reminiscent of roasted barley and fine beer and whiskey.
  • Carob: Carob has a sweet smell that lends to dates and cocoa powder.

Floral Notes

Contrary to popular belief, not all flowers smell the same. Here’s how to differentiate floral notes:

  • Black Elder: Black elder includes nuances of various aromas including floral-herbs and berries.
  • Cherry Blossom: Cherry Blossom has a powdery, sweet and lightly tangy smell.
  • Dandelion: Dandelion smells a bit citrusy with a hint of rose.
  • Freesia: Freesia has a refreshing peppery-flower smell with green nuances.
  • Geranium: Geranium’s scent lends to that of a rose, but less powdery and more lemony.
  • Hyacinth: Hyacinths have an intensely intoxicating floral scent that is oily and green. It is slightly sweet, enticing and fresh.
  • Lilac: Lilac smells fresh and clean with an intimate floral scent lending to honey and jasmine.
  • Lavender: Lavender has an aromatic clean scent that can be described as medicinal and lending to licorice.
  • Lily of the Valley: Lily of the Valley has a bright, green floral scent that is slightly sweet like jasmine.
  • Orchid: Orchid notes are powdery, sweetish and clean.
  • Poppy: Poppy notes are a mix between a floral scent and warm, dry earth.
  • White Floral: White floral notes are the most intoxicating of floral scents and emanate intense femininity.

Green Notes

Green notes refer to scents that evoke the smell of snapped leaves, foliage, freshly cut grass and nature. They make a fragrance feel crisp and are most commonly used in sporty or summertime fragrances.
  • Olive Leaf: Olive leaf notes have a bitter-ish green scent that is a touch smoky.
  • Juniper: Juniper is a berry that is typically used as a spice. Their scent lends to that of gin as they are used to flavor it.
  • Fig Leaf: Fig leaf notes bring to mind earth and foliage. It is a unique scent that is very green and a touch bitter.
  • Artemisia: Artemisia is a strongly herbal smelling plant that lends to the scent of vermouth.

Spices

  • Oriental Notes: Oriental notes refer to those that are spicy and come from exotic parts of the world. This can include cinnamon, vanilla, pepper, nutmeg, etc.
  • Allspice: Allspice notes are a combination of spices including cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and nutmeg.
  • Caraway: Caraway smells sharp, sweet and lightly spicy.
  • Ginger: Ginger notes are common in fragrance and smell spicy and sharp yet light enough to pair well with citrus and vanilla.
  • Pepper: Pepper, though presumably self-explanatory in scent, is not something you want to directly sniff unless you enjoy sneeze attacks. Pepper has a hot and bracing scent that is earthy.
  • Saffron: Saffron is a small flower whose smell is bittersweet, leathery, soft and earthy.

Woody Notes

  • Bamboo: Bamboo has a dry, paper-like scent that smells very natural.
  • Birch: Birch smells like “cooked wood.” It is used in leather scents and is masculine.
  • Cedar: Cedar has a distinctive woody and spicy scent.
  • Sandalwood: Sandalwood is an oriental woody note that is soft yet sturdy and rich with a hint of green, and a lingering, satisfying scent.
  • Vetiver: Vetiver has a musty, dry, woody scent with bitter chocolate and smoke hints. It is earthy, and aromatic.
  • Driftwood: Driftwood has a watery, slightly musty scent but is light and beachy.
  • Patchouli: Patchouli smells sweet, dark, earthy and woody. It is a green herb of the mint family.

Misc

  • Amber: Amber is a sweet scent that evokes feelings of warm coziness. It is powdery, yet darker and honey-like.
  • Musk: Musk is an animalistic note that adds a subtle touch of sensuality and warmth.
  • Water: Watery notes are fresh and dewy.