Different Types of Perfume

We often see a variety of perfumes in the market and they tend to be sold at different price points. And, sometimes the labeling of the perfumes can be very confusing. It's important to understand the different types of perfumes and the meaning of the terms, which is why you may see Pure Perfume or Parfum, Eau de Parfum (EDP), Eau de Toilette (EDT), Eau de Cologne, and Eau Fraiche label on the perfumes as it allows you to select the type of perfumes you want to buy in the future. The most common way to describe a perfume is perhaps considering its concentration level, or more specifically, to see how much high grade alcohol and/or water has been added to the perfume oils.

Here's the terminology and general concentration level of each scent strength:

Perfume (Pure Perfume) or Parfum 
This is the most highly concentrated or purest type of fragrance that lasts all day with least application. As such, it is also the most expensive. A Parfum will contain 20% percent or more (typically up to 30 percent) of the essential fragrance.

Eau de Parfum (EDP) 
This is the second most concentrated type of fragrance that lasts up to 4-5 hours. Only slightly less potent (and expensive) than Parfum. It contains 15-12% perfume essence concentration. There is no need to spray a lot of it as it is quite strong as mentioned and lasts for a long time.

Eau de Toilette (EDT)
This is more concentrated and most popular type. It lasts up to 2-3 hours. It contains 5-15% of concentration which makes it lighter than EDP. Has a delicate fragrance and is a good choice for everyday wear. This is also a light scent designed for shorter wear on the skin.

Eau de Cologne (EDC) 
This is the least concentrated amongst the four levels fragrance. Eau de Cologne is the most vulnerable and often marketed to men. It contains 2-4% of concentration and generally lasts up to 2 hours. It is close to an aftershave and apparently a more popular choice as it is more gentle on the skin.

Eau Fraiche
This is the feminine term used for women's eau de cologne concentrations, containing 1-3% of perfume oil and generally lasts only about 1 hour away and quickly evaporate due to the high rate of alcohol. Therefore, does not smell as strong as other perfume concentrations. Eau Fraiche is usually referred to by the term Body Mist Perfume or Body Splash.