Classic, enduring, versatile: As a guideline for an eau de parfum a fragrance oil content of ten to fifteen percent is cited. This concentration most manufacturers offer. However, the percentages may not be seen as a universal guarantee. And the ‘eau de parfum’ should be understood as a point of reference within a product line  regarding scent character, projection and quality.

A parfum, often also called an extrait de parfum, is usually offered in a higher concentration than an eau de parfum and can vary between fifteen to forty percent. This results in a denser structure, lower volatility or greater longevity. However, for different concentrations, brands do not always simply vary the quantity of the same fragrance blend. You may experience this in the fragrance launches of this autumn as well. A parfum and an eau de parfum sharing the same name do possess different focal points, notes or scent progressions. The parfum, for example, can come across as warmer or more base-not-focused, whereas the eau the parfum projects a brighter scent.

Suitable for every day, uncomplicated: The fragrance oil content of an eau de toilette is reduced to five to ten percent. But the same applies here: the actual formula is more important than the label. Thus the eau de toilette may feel lighter, brighter, and often more citrusy in the opening, providing a discreet scent, whereas an eau de parfum frequently carries more weight in the heart and basis note.

With a fragrance concentration of two to four percent, an eau de Cologne is light, airy and subtle. The oily content, very low, fades just a few hours after you apply it. Nevertheless a spritz refreshes and leaves a soft scent. Moreover, eaux de cologne are classified as so-called ‘close-to-the-skin’ scents, as they are only perceptible to others when, for instance, they near the wearer.

Fleeting, delicate, summery: No scent is lighter than an eau fraȋche, as the fragrance concentration is only one to three percent. It gives an impression of the eau de parfum, but vanishes away in an instant. Eaux fraȋches appear particularly natural and caress you merely with a subtle hint of the fragrance. They can have a refreshing, revitalizing or soothing effect; the eau dynamisante belongs to the same family.

The origins of ‘parfum’ and of fragrance concentrations go back a long way. As early as ancient Egypt, priests honored their gods by filling entire temple complexes with heated aromatic blends. Pharaos, too, began to perfume themselves. In the 17th century the perfume trade in France experienced a boom: At that time, personal hygiene with water was frowned upon as it was believed that water could introduce germs into the body. The nobility therefore washed itself primarily with scented water – ‘eau de parfum’ – to mask body odors. For the less affluent population the perfumers of that time developed the less expensive ‘eau de toilette’. The fragrance concentration ‘eau de Cologne’ dates back to the 18th century: Its inventor is Johann Maria Farina who wanted to create a fragrance that masks unpleasant odors with freshness. Instead of heavy floral essences which were common until then, he used zested notes such as bergamot, lime and grapefruit in a low concentration; he named his fragrance after his adopted homeland, Cologne. The fragrance concentration ‘eau fraȋche’ is a more recent creation, designed to address the need to refresh oneself.