Types of Perfumes: Fragrances, Colognes & Scents

Fragrance.... Often defines a person even before introduction. A perfume can express lot about a person. A good perfume can ease up a conversation and can have a lasting effect on the persons we meet. That is why everybody needs a signature perfume, the one that symbolizes him/ her.

There are a diverse range of fragrances that nature has gifted us with, which perfumery experts have mastered to extract over centuries and have provided us with magnificent compositions.

Generally a perfume is made by mixing the essential oils with pure grain alcohol and distilled water. Alcohol is generally used because it evaporates faster and helps diffuse the perfume's notes.

You are probably wondering what these notes are.

Perfumes are usually a blend of different levels of scent, called as “notes”. When a perfume is sprayed on a skin, the fragrance moves through the notes in an order.

The notes that are smelled as soon as the perfume is sprayed are “Top Notes”. These are the notes that usually disappear the first, making way to the heart notes which are the core of a perfume. These are generally the main essence of the perfume and helps determine the family, the perfume belongs to. Next up are base notes which accentuate and fix the fragrance of the heart notes. These contain the fragrance's foundation, making the scent last longer on the skin.

There are generally different classifications of perfumes depending on the percentage of essential oils used in them. The higher the amount the longer the perfume lasts. The types are

Lightest of Commercial perfumes, a cologne is something which consists of 2% to 5 % of concentration of oils. These types usually last around 2 to 3 hours depending on the body type. This was once the most common used concentration for male and female fragrances but now it is used mostly for male fragrances.

Stronger than EDC this group contains 4% to 10% of perfume essence. These lasts longer than EDC, up to 4 hours. EDTs are mostly concentrated on the top notes. They are fresher and lighter and are a best choice for workplace or the summer.

Stronger than the former two, and little expensive, this genre of fragrances lasts longer than EDT. These contain 10 to 20% of concentration and can last up to 3 to 6 hours.

These are considered the yardstick of fragrance houses. They have strong base notes which makes it last longer, revealing the perfume's true scent after few hours of wearing. These are the designer fragrances that generally make the signature of a person. If you want one to be your signature check out the collection from Amazon.

Strongest and the most expensive in the lot, this is a pure form of perfume generally consisting of 15% to 40% of essential oil concentration. Not only a limited amount is sufficient to make the perfume radiate but this can also last longer than any other type, typically more than 8 hours.

These are a 100% concentrated perfume oils which available without additives like water or alcohol. They are used in the build of a perfume and are widely famous in Middle Eastern Perfumeries. These are sold in minute quantities and are very expensive. A drop or two of these is enough and lasts upto 12 hours of application.

So the next time you go to buy a perfume, keep the above points in mind and buy the best one that satisfies your gut.