What is the Difference Between Cologne and Perfume

Perfume or cologne is something that we regularly use from a bashing party to a corporate presentation. Often we go to the market and successfully find a presentable perfume or cologne that is best for us. But do you know what is the difference between cologne and perfume?

If not, then you are reading the right article. When you go to the stores to get yourself a perfume, you must have seen different names. These names are  Eau Fraiche, cologne (eau de cologne), toilette (eau de toilette), perfume (Eau de parfum), etc.

They are all different scents that are differentiated by the scent’s longevity and many other aspects.

What are the different types of fragrance?

Apart from the smell, there are several factors that make perfume different from one another. It can be the amount of time the scent lasts. It can also be the amount of fragrance concentration or the natural, synthetic oil, or the amount of alcohol in the perfume.

Here we will first check what the available perfumes are and their definition with alcohol concentration. Then later, we will specify the difference between cologne and perfume.

What is Pure Perfume, Parfum or Extrait De Parfum?

Pure perfume is not like the usual perfume that we regularly come across. Some people may confuse pure perfume with perfume oil, but it is not perfume oil. Perfume oils are too dense and may cause irritation to your skin.

Pure perfumes have the highest concentration of fragrance, about 15% to 30% of perfume oil. The perfume oil concentration in pure perfume is good enough to make the perfume noticeable, last longing, and potent.

The extension of the perfume from the body to the air is more noticeable with Pure perfume. Pure perfume appears to be more thick and dense in the air. There is a probability that if you hug someone wearing pure perfume, then he or she may smell like your Pure perfume.

What is Eau de Parfum (EDP)?

Eau de Perfume is the next dense most perfume there is. That means the perfume concentration in Eau de Perfume may not be as much as pure perfume, but the concentration is around 15% to 20%, which also pretty high.

The fragrance concentration in Eau de perfume is good enough to stay from morning till evening without making others feel irritated around you. That is one of the reasons why many people like to use Eau de perfume. Eau de perfume is the familiar perfume that you will find in the stores. The scent can be so prominent that it can even stay with you when you remove your clothes.

What is Eau de Toilette (EDT)?

Eau de toilette is not as dense as Eau de perfumes. The fragrance oil concentration of eau de toilette is around 5% to 15%. This percentage of fragrance oil makes it much lighter, and the fragrance also does not last as long as perfumes.

Many perfumes producing brands release Eau de perfume at first and later release another version of the same perfume as Eau de toilette as a lighter version. In that case, some of the notes have to be changed to turn a dense perfume into a lighter one as Eau de toilette.

What is Cologne or Eau de Cologne?

Eau de cologne is referred to as perfume for men in North America, though this idea does not entirely hold the truth. Eau de perfume refers to fragrances with a very light concentration of perfume oil. The concentration of fragrance oil in Eau de Cologne is not more than 2% to 4%.

The cologne’s total content is covered by the higher concentration of alcohol, making it last for a shorter period. These are best for a freshening-up session, but you have to put it on again because it does not last for the whole day but a few hours.

What is Eau de Fraiche?

Eau de Fraiche consists of lower fragrance oil concentrations like Eau de perfume. The perfume oil concentration of Eau de Fraiche is 1% to 3%, which makes it a fragrance that does not last more than a few hours.

The key difference between Eau de Fraiche and Eau de cologne is the level of alcohol. Cologne consists of a larger amount of alcohol where Eau de Fraiche consists of a more considerable amount of water.

The main difference between perfume and cologne

So far, we have provided the definition and some necessary information about all kinds of fragrances. You probably know the difference between pure perfume, Eau de Parfum, Eau de toilette, Eau de Cologne, and Eau de Fraiche.

This section will present the difference between perfume and cologne, more specifically by Fragrance type, Fragrance lasting, alcohol amount, and perfume oil concentration.

Fragrance types

The fragrance of Eau De perfume is most dense than any other type of fragrance. The idea of Eau de perfume is that the scent will linger for a more extended period, which means it can stay from morning to evening. That is another reason why most perfume consists of thick notes like wood, patchouli, musk, etc.

On the contrary, cologne is designed to stay for a shorter period. The best fragrance notes for cologne arecitrus oils, floral and fruity oils, etc. When you are using a cologne, you cannot expect it last from morning to evening, but surely a cologne will spread fast and stay for hours.

Alcohol concentration

The alcohol concentration in perfumes is much lower than cologne; that is the main reason why perfumes are more dense, thick, and can last for long. The alcohol concentration in perfume is around 70% to 80% and slightly more in some cases.

On the other hand, cologne consists of higher alcohol concentration. And that is what makes it last for a shorter time than perfumes. The amount of alcohol concentration is around 80% to 90%, and sometimes it can be 95% in a cologne.

The concentration of perfume oil

There is a higher concentration of perfume oil in most perfume, and the amount is much higher than cologne. The concentration of fragrance oil in perfume is around 15% to 20%, and in pure perfume, it is 15% to 30% percent. That is why perfume emits a thicker smell and can last for a day, sometimes even more.

For cologne, the oil concentration is around 2% to 5%, sometimes a little more. The amount of alcohol covers the rest of the perfume. That is why cologne consists of more alcohol, which lasts for a few hours but not the whole day.

Final Word

Now that you know the definition of all types of fragrance, it will be easy for you to go to the store and check them according to your knowledge. You will know what you are using and when you have a specific requirement, you can find a suitable scent for you.

Many people may think that perfume is for ladies and cologne are for men, but the difference between perfume and cologne is in some other place. Now that you know the difference between perfume and cologne, you can also guide your peer in the right way while using a fragrance.