Which is stronger?
EDT vs. Cologne
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In theory, edt is stronger than cologne. Having said that, ingredients/ratios may differ between an edt and a cologne of the same name and brand. This means that the aroma may differ and longevity may differ. And fragrance strength may vary between different manufacturers. For instance, D.R. Harris Sandalwood Aftershave (which should be weaker than edts and colognes) makes an excellent edt/cologne because it lasts as long as they do. Similarly, Tabac aftershave makes an excellent substitute for Tabac cologne. But, in theory, edts are stronger than colognes.
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Thanks much!
This chart from wikipedia gives the "official" definitions, but remember that in all cases the Marketing Department reserves the right to ignore facts 
- The Powder perfume incorporates a record of 31% perfume essence into the cosmetic talc formula, with no trace of alcohol.
- Perfume extract, or simply perfume (Extrait): 15-40% (IFRA: typical 20%) aromatic compounds
- Esprit de Parfum (ESdP): 15-30% aromatic compounds, a seldom used strength concentration in between EdP and perfume
- Eau de Parfum (EdP), Parfum de Toilette (PdT): 10-20% (typical ~15%) aromatic compounds, sometimes listed as "eau de perfume" or "millésime." Parfum de Toilette is a less common term that is generally analogous to Eau de Parfum.
- Eau de toilette (EdT): 5-15% (typical ~10%) aromatic compounds
- Eau de Cologne (EdC): Chypre citrus type perfumes with 3-8% (typical ~5%) aromatic compounds. "Original Eau de Cologne" is a registered trademark.
- Perfume mist: 3-8% aromatic compounds (typical non-alcohol solvent)
- Splash (EdS) and Aftershave: 1-3% aromatic compounds. "EdS" is a registered trademark.
This chart from wikipedia gives the "official" definitions, but remember that in all cases the Marketing Department reserves the right to ignore facts
- The Powder perfume incorporates a record of 31% perfume essence into the cosmetic talc formula, with no trace of alcohol.
- Perfume extract, or simply perfume (Extrait): 15-40% (IFRA: typical 20%) aromatic compounds
- Esprit de Parfum (ESdP): 15-30% aromatic compounds, a seldom used strength concentration in between EdP and perfume
- Eau de Parfum (EdP), Parfum de Toilette (PdT): 10-20% (typical ~15%) aromatic compounds, sometimes listed as "eau de perfume" or "millésime." Parfum de Toilette is a less common term that is generally analogous to Eau de Parfum.
- Eau de toilette (EdT): 5-15% (typical ~10%) aromatic compounds
- Eau de Cologne (EdC): Chypre citrus type perfumes with 3-8% (typical ~5%) aromatic compounds. "Original Eau de Cologne" is a registered trademark.
- Perfume mist: 3-8% aromatic compounds (typical non-alcohol solvent)
- Splash (EdS) and Aftershave: 1-3% aromatic compounds. "EdS" is a registered trademark.
Chris, any idea where "perfume oils" fit in this scheme? I really have never heard.
I cannot give you a citation for what I am about to say, and I could be wrong.
The chart lays out what is in effect a French categorization of scents made in the way scents are traditionally made in the West, or at least one of the ways scents are traditionally made. Such scents, except powder perfume, which I know nothing about, generally have an alcohol base.
Some subpart of Muslims, at least, avoid all alcohol even as a carrier for perfumes. Moreover, I am guessing some cultures have always have more scents based upon oils than upon alcohol. Further, some aromatic compounds start out as an oily extract from something else and those and still others may be sold as an ingredient for making scents in an oil base.
In any event, I do not think the chart applies to "perfume oils" and I do not know of any official chart for such things. As far as I know there are not cologne oils or toilette oils anyway, a chart is pretty irrelevant. Maybe the is some convention re scented oils and, say, more strongly scented oils to call the latter "perfume oils." I really do not know.
Anyway, I would say that most perfume oils are scents in an oil base not an alcohol base. I suppose they may or may not originate in a non-Western country. I am guessing if someone calls them a perfume oil they are going to be pretty strongly scented. But I do not know of any standard as to what percentage of aromatic compounds is in them.
By the way, I have no idea how accurate the chart is these days. I suspect that modern artificial scents used in the construction of scents can be powerful indeed and to talk about a certain percentage of aromatic compounds does not make sense as to many modern scents!
Thank you, Knize. All interesting points.
Always happy to tell you more than I know! <g>
I could be wrong, but aren't "perfume oils" precisely the "aromatic compounds" referred to above?
USA made "Cologne Spray" scents are on average the same strength as European Eau De Toilette (EDT)sprays.
European Eau de Cologne (EDC) sprays are weaker than European Eau De Toilette sprays.
That said, there are always ultra weak EDTs - like Eau Sauvage, Eau d'Artisan, YSL PH, L'Eau Par Kenzo - which have EDT written on the bottle, but don't last anywhere near as long as say Guerlain Vetiver and Habit Rouge Eau de Cologne.
Regards,
Renato
European Eau de Cologne (EDC) sprays are weaker than European Eau De Toilette sprays.
That said, there are always ultra weak EDTs - like Eau Sauvage, Eau d'Artisan, YSL PH, L'Eau Par Kenzo - which have EDT written on the bottle, but don't last anywhere near as long as say Guerlain Vetiver and Habit Rouge Eau de Cologne.
Regards,
Renato
cologne for me.
You may be right. Someone needs to do some Googling, methinks! If I get a chance I may look around.
I wonder if there is any convention governing this? My sense is that something like the EdC/EdT/EdP distinction is useful as a good rule of thumb when you're shopping. It's also reliable when a company makes two or more of them within a range (like TdH). Otherwise, I think it's a crap shoot. On top of that, general usage in the US suggests that "cologne" is a frag for men and "perfume" for women. So it's all pretty slippery.
Yes, there have been a number or people at Basenotes who say exactly the same as you.
But there have been plenty saying the same as me too.
The issue is one of subjective interpretation as to when a scent stops working. After a couple of hours there is some faint residual from it which may last a long time, but to my nose it may as well not be there, as it's nothing like the character the scent had for the first couple of hours.
Regards,
Renato
Yes, it is very interesting the way different fragrances work differently for different people, and I've experienced the opposite too - I've sampled fragrances that don't last very long on me, but others say they last all day.
But one thing I certainly do agree with is that Eau Sauvage does change considerably as it develops - but I like the development and the base notes, which may be why we see it differently.
There is another category of longevity in scents, where Gucci Rush and Jill Sander Pure Man are my prime examples. I put them on, and they disappeared after two hours. I wrote them up as having lousy longevity.
But I had to retract that later, when I found that if I either washed myself, or sweated a lot - they came back with a vengeance.
I guess they work well on moist people.
Regards,
Renato
+1. It's important to wear the fragrance to see how it reacts to your skin--pH levels, oil, sweat, etc. Everyone is unique. Even different parts of my own body wear the same fragrance differently. And, RE the original subject, different formulations can react differently so some people may feel that a particular EDC is stronger or has more longevity than the EDT.
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