How does a cologne differ from aftershave

[prayformojo]

Now i can tell the obvious difference between an aftershave balm & a cologne

but an alcohol based aftershave how does that differ from cologne?

Sorry for the dumb question

 

[justinp]

Depends on the concentration of the various smelly components. An aftershave is the most dilute, then Eau d'Cologne is stronger, then Eau d'Toilette is stronger than that, then an Eau d'Perfume is strongest.

 

[StylinLA]

Not dumb. You don't ask you won't know.

"Cologne" in the way you reference is the generic term applied to men's fragrance, thus the name of this section is COLOGNES. That can be confusing.
Most department stores call it the Men's "Fragrance" section, but everyone will know what you mean if you say cologne.

I point that out because some men's scents are "cologne" strength. See below.

Here's the short lesson:

After Shave/AS- Higher concentration of alcohol for healing face; lower concentration of scent since you'll be smacking it all over your face

Eau de Cologne/EdC- Higher percentage of scent than AS, but most are fairly light.

Eau de Toilette/EdT- Much higher percentage of scent than AS. Meant to worn on neck, wrists, chest, etc. But not on face as a rule. Most of the "colognes" discussed in here and sold in department stores are EdT

Eau de Parfum/EdP- Some scents are available in EdP strength which tends to be even stronger than EdT. These are usually more potent and longer lasting.

Parfum- Highly concentrated fragrance with no alcohol. Fairly rare in men's scents. When you see women using those little teeny tiny bottles and dabbing it with the stopper behind their ears, that's pure perfume. Very potent. Almost 100% pure scent. Mind boggling expensive when you look at the size of the bottle. But a tiny bit is very strong.

 

[prayformojo]

Depends on the concentration of the various smelly components. An aftershave is the most dilute, then Eau d'Cologne is stronger, then Eau d'Toilette is stronger than that, then an Eau d'Perfume is strongest.

Not dumb. You don't ask you won't know.

"Cologne" in the way you reference is the generic term applied to men's fragrance, thus the name of this section is COLOGNES. That can be confusing.
Most department stores call it the Men's "Fragrance" section, but everyone will know what you mean if you say cologne.

I point that out because some men's scents are "cologne" strength. See below.

Here's the short lesson:

After Shave/AS- Higher concentration of alcohol for healing face; lower concentration of scent since you'll be smacking it all over your face

Eau de Cologne/EdC- Higher percentage of scent than AS, but most are fairly light.

Eau de Toilette/EdT- Much higher percentage of scent than AS. Meant to worn on neck, wrists, chest, etc. But not on face as a rule. Most of the "colognes" discussed in here and sold in department stores are EdT

Eau de Parfum/EdP- Some scents are available in EdP strength which tends to be even stronger than EdT. These are usually more potent and longer lasting.

Parfum- Highly concentrated fragrance with no alcohol. Fairly rare in men's scents. When you see women using those little teeny tiny bottles and dabbing it with the stopper behind their ears, that's pure perfume. Very potent. Almost 100% pure scent. Mind boggling expensive when you look at the size of the bottle. But a tiny bit is very strong.

Thanks for your help!! yes i checked i have an Eau dde Toliette (which ive used over neck area) for 5 years or so.

Think i will use nivea aftershave balm then apply EdT..

Thanks again

 

[StylinLA]

Thanks for your help!! yes i checked i have an Eau dde Toliette (which ive used over neck area) for 5 years or so.

Think i will use nivea aftershave balm then apply EdT..

Thanks again

Exactly.

 

[daleroller]

Good question. I have been wondering the same thing myself but was afraid to ask.

 

[cymric]

Here's the short lesson:

Which summarises the matter very well indeed. Just a few points:

After Shave/AS- Higher concentration of alcohol for healing face; lower concentration of scent since you'll be smacking it all over your face.

On some occasions the fragrance of the AS, when comparing to its stronger cousins, has been altered as well. The human nose may not be able to pick up the low concentration of various oils and the like, leading to a decidedly different overall scent. That may or may not be the intent.

Parfum- Highly concentrated fragrance with no alcohol. [...] Almost 100% pure scent. [...]

Actually, no. A parfum is still at most about 40% fragrance, the rest is carriers (or so Wikipedia tells me). But it still requires a very gentle application (as well as controlled storage) considering that the common EdT can, with a modest application, easily last for several hours. And that's at a concentration four times as low as the parfum.

 

[Falstaff]

Depends on the concentration of the various smelly components. An aftershave is the most dilute, then Eau d'Cologne is stronger, then Eau d'Toilette is stronger than that, then an Eau d'Perfume is strongest.

I mistakenly was under the impression that Eau d'Toilette was less concentrated than Eau d'Calogne.
Blade & Badger to the rescue of ignorance once again.

 

[Go West Young Man]

Aftershave - a product intended to treat and help heal the skin after shaving. Scent is secondary, if present at all, and will fade very quickly.

Cologne - perfume for men.

 

[StylinLA]

Actually, no. A parfum is still at most about 40% fragrance, the rest is carriers (or so Wikipedia tells me). But it still requires a very gentle application (as well as controlled storage) considering that the common EdT can, with a modest application, easily last for several hours. And that's at a concentration four times as low as the parfum.

Don't doubt it. Never truly researched it. Just know it's much more concentrated.

 

[PlayerPiano]

Very informative, I was wondering what that mysterious "toilet water" was.

 

[The Knize]

Good notes.

I would reinforce that supposed different "concentrations" of different scents--that is AS, EDC, EDT, EDP, and perfume, regardless of the concentrations that actually contain of smelly stuff--can smell very different, and many times this has to be intentional by the maker. The easiest reference is Tabac--SS, AS, EDC, and EDT--smell quite a bit differently, with the EDT being the least favored among many folks becuase it seems more floral, if I am recalling accurately.

If I recall correctly, D R Harris throws an even bigger curve ball though with its Arlington EDC compared to its Arlington AS, the latter being, at least what I had, pretty much all citrus, while the former has quite a bit of "fern." Again, going by memory here, which is not all that reliable now in my dotage!

EDIT: Also, I note that Pinaud, in particular, seems to call its variously named products AS, cologne, edt (as I recall), or even "hair tonic," with no particular rhyme or reason as to concentration or even potential use. (I am a Pinaud fan, by the way, so this is not a dis!)

 

[DULLAH]

It's essentially exactly the same construction, just varying concentrations. Some AS may have added glycerin or emollients.
But all AS that don't contain glycerin, aloe extracts, or other emollients, are literally just weaker eau de cologne scents.
StylinLA did an excellent job breaking it down, with the one correction being true, there is still some alcohol in parfum, "pure parfum" or "attar/atir", is the pure oil form.

 

[The Knize]

<But all AS that don't contain glycerin, aloe extracts, or other emollients, are literally just weaker eau de cologne scents.>

One would surely think this would be a sensible thing to do, but it is not quite so. See my post below!

 

[StylinLA]

StylinLA did an excellent job breaking it down, with the one correction being true, there is still some alcohol in parfum, "pure parfum" or "attar/atir", is the pure oil form.

Ya, I was out of my league with the parfums...not much experience with them.
I thought they had no alcohol.

The only one I've ever seen for men is Clive Christian's Number One which is $15,000 or some such....

 

[Professor Blighty]

Colognes are there purely for their scent, aftershaves have an extra job to do. Aftershaves should also have a mild disinfectant within the mix which helps to fight off bacteria which may have been picked up from the razor blade; there should also be an ingredient to help close the pores. Usually mamaris or a witch hazel derivative will do this. Aftershaves tend to be cheaper overall than colognes as the amount of scent in aftershaves is reduced, as is the alcohol content. Hope all that makes sense!