Types of Perfume

Parfum

Parfum, also known as extrait de parfum or pure perfume, has the highest fragrance
concentration. Parfum will contain anywhere from 15% to 40% fragrance however concentration
is generally between 20% to 30% for most parfums. Of all scents, parfums last the longest; usually
six to eight hours. Parfum generally also commands the highest price of all the fragrance types
due to the high concentration of fragrance. People with sensitive skin may do better with parfums
as they have far less alcohol than other fragrance types and therefore are not as likely to dry out
the skin.

Eau de Parfum

After parfum, eau de parfum (EDP) has the next highest concentration of fragrance. Eau de
parfum generally has a fragrance concentration of between 15% and 20%. On average, eau de
parfum will last for four to five hours. It is also generally less expensive that parfum and while it
does have a higher concentration of alcohol than parfum, it is better for sensitive skin than other
fragrance types. Eau de parfum is one of the most common fragrance types and is suitable for
everyday wear.

Eau de Toilette

Eau de toilette (EDT) has a fragrance concentration of between 5% and 15%. It is cheaper than
eau de parfum and is one of the most popular types of fragrance available. EDT fragrance will
normally last for two to three hours. Eau de toilette is considered by some to be for daywear
while eau de parfum is considered nightwear. The term eau de toilette came from the French
term "faire sa toilette" which means getting ready.

Eau de Cologne

Eau de cologne, or EDC, has a much lower concentration of fragrance than the above types of
perfume. EDC generally has a 2% to 4% percent concentration of fragrance and a high
concentration of alcohol. It is cheaper than other types of fragrance however the scent generally
only lasts for up to two hours. EDC generally comes in bigger bottles and more of the fragrance
needs to be used. Originally eau de cologne referred to a traditional recipe that used herb and
citrus notes with little anchoring with base notes.

Eau Fraiche

Eau fraiche is similar to eau de cologne in that the scent will generally last for up to two hours.
Eau fraiche has an even lower concentration of fragrance than eau de cologne, normally only 1%
to 3%. While eau fraiche has a low fragrance concentration, it does not contain a high amount of
alcohol. Along with the fragrance, the remainder of eau fraiche is mostly water.
Along with the types of perfume listed above, there are mists, aftershaves, and other types of
fragrances available. Higher end fragrances can cost a significant amount of money so doing
research beforehand will ensure that you get the type of fragrance you are looking for. Along
with fragrance types there are also fragrance notes which determine the final scent. With all of
the types and scents available, shopping for perfume is not always easy but it is possible.

There's something incredibly personal and powerful about fragrance. Scent has the power
to evoke memories and feelings in a way that our other senses can't. (Plus, in this writer's opinion,
there's no better compliment than being told that you smell amazing.)

That said, because scent is so intimate, it can be difficult to choose a fragrance. And that's where
this breakdown comes in. In the fragrance world, perfume can be divided into seven different
categories. If you know what type of fragrance you like, choosing one becomes a much easier
task. Here, we explain the seven major types of fragrances, plus share our fave products in each
category.

Seven Fragrance Types

Woody
Reminiscent of a walk among the California redwoods or sitting around a campfire, woody scents
are characterized by smelling like the great outdoors—but they can honestly be very sultry. If you
like the smell of wet asphalt (which is called petrichor), you'll probably enjoy a woody scent. Also
recommended for people who enjoy hiking 14ers, camping, and various other outdoor
activities—or those who simply want to give off the illusion that they enjoy those things.

Citrus

Citrus scents are crisp and clean, usually characterized by notes like lemon, grapefruit, orange, and
bergamot. They're refreshing, like a Pamplemousse La Croix on a hot summer day.

Gourmand

Gourmand fragrances are probably the most divisive type: You either love them or you can't
stand them. That's because they're sweet—a good gourmand fragrance will be almost-but-not-
quite cloying—and powdery. Think fragrances that smell like the top of a crème brûlée. Common
notes include vanilla, chocolate, burnt sugar, and caramel.

Floral

Like a Spotify playlist of Boyz II Men in scent form, floral fragrances are unapologetically romantic.
They're flirty and feminine and can range in intensity—some floral fragrances are full-on "walking
the Brooklyn Botanic Garden during cherry blossom season," while others incorporate fruity
elements for a sparkling, playful effect. Composed of notes like rose, orange, marjoram, and
sandalwood.
Fruity

Composed of notes like cherry, pear, and watermelon, fruity scents are evocative of hot summer
days. They can be sweet, but the best ones never get cloying, and can range from playful to
sophisticated, depending on the other notes the fruit is paired with.

Spicy

Spicy fragrances are, frankly, sultry. Warm, sensual notes of cardamom, incense, and pepper are
common. Basically, this is the perfume one would wear if they wanted to feel mysterious.

Aquatic

This scent category conjures up images of drinking limoncello in Positano by a sparkling ocean or
reading a paperback book on the beach. Aquatic perfumes, as the name suggests, are
characterized by marine notes like algae, salt, and fresh sea air.

Fragrance Notes in PerFumery

Notes in perfumery are descriptors of scents that can be sensed upon the application of a
perfume. Notes are separated into three classes; top/head notes, middle/heart notes, and base
notes; which denote groups of scents which can be sensed with respect to the time after the
application of a perfume. These notes are created carefully with knowledge of the evaporation
process and intended use of the perfume. The presence of one note may alter the perception of
another—for instance, the presence of certain base or heart notes will alter the scent perceived
when the top notes are strongest, and likewise the scent of base notes in the dry-down will often
be altered depending on the smells of the heart notes.
The idea of notes is used primarily for the marketing of fine fragrances. The term is sometimes
used by perfumers to describe approximately scents or the perfumery process to laypeople.

Top notes are otherwise called the head notes

Perceived immediately upon application of a perfume, top notes consist of small, light molecules
that evaporate quickly. They form a person's initial impression of a perfume and thus are very
important in the selling of the product. The scents of this note class are usually described as
"fresh", "assertive" or "sharp". The compounds that contribute to top notes are strong in scent,
very volatile, and evaporate quickly.
Although not as saliently perceived, the heart and base-notes contribute much to the scent in
the top notes.
Citrus and ginger scents are common top notes.
Middle Notes are also called the "heart notes"
The scent of a perfume that emerges just before the top notes dissipate. The middle note
compounds form the "heart" or main body of a perfume and emerge in the middle of
the perfume's dispersion process. They serve to mask the often unpleasant initial impression of
base notes, which become more pleasant with time. Not surprisingly, the scent of middle note
compounds is usually more mellow and "rounded". Scents from this note class disappear
anywhere from twenty minutes to one hour after the application of a perfume.
Lavender and rose scents are typical middle notes.

Base Notes
The scent of a perfume that appears close to the departure of the middle notes. The base and
middle notes together are the main theme of a perfume. Base notes bring depth and solidity to
a perfume. Compounds of this class are often the fixatives used to hold and boost the strength
of the lighter top and middle notes. Consisting of large, heavy molecules that evaporate slowly,
compounds of this class of scents are typically rich and "deep" and are usually not perceived until
30 minutes after the application of the perfume or during the period of perfume dry-down.
Some base notes can still be detectable in excess of twenty-four hours after application,
particularly the animalic and musk notes.