The most important ingredient in any type of fragrance is the essential oil. These are the ones that would linger on your skin after the water and alcohol evaporates. Perfumes are a combination of essential oils viz., sandalwood, cinnamon, lavender,etc.;absolutes viz., jasmine,rose,neroli;animal extracts as musk, ambergris and synthetic fragrances.
The base fragrance essence by itself is very pungent and strong and hence needs to be diluted with water and alcohol to mask the pungency and bring out the pleasant fragrance of these essential oils. The concentration of essential oils in these dilutions is what determines it being a perfume or an Eau de Toilette.
Differences between Perfume and Eau de Toilette
Perfume/Parfum: Parfum is generally an extract or extrait.It is the most concentrated or purest form of a fragrance product and is beautiful because of the whole symphony of top, heart and base notes which are released over a period of time slowly but gradually. This is due to the high concentration of essences – as much as 20%-40% by volume. Perfumes are the most expensive of all fragrances as the essential oils used are the most pure extracts.
Perfumes are used in very little quantities as they have very strong aromatic smell and they are usually sold in tiny phials with a stopper to avoid them from evaporating.
Perfumes are usually applied on the hot-spots of our body- behind the ears, base of throat, pulse-points like wrists, neck, between the cleavage, elbow-pits and behind the knees. As the vapour of these oils would raise above with heat hence the notes of the perfume would also raise along with.
Eau de Toilette: The base fragrance in an Eau de Toilette is around 10%-12% which is suspended in water and alcohol. Although it doesn’t last as long as a perfume does but it is considerably lighter and can be used liberally. The top notes – the first scent released by a perfume – are dominant; making it refreshing when it is applied. You would have to re-apply it after few hours as these tend to evaporate faster than a perfume. These are the ones that are most commonly used by everyone as they are much cheaper than perfumes and can be sprayed liberally unlike perfumes.
By:Archa Dave
