Have you ever walked by the perfume counter at your local department store or drug store and smelled the lovely scents? You might be surprised to find out that “perfume counter” is more of a general term, and that not everything sold there qualifies as a perfume. So, what exactly is perfume or cologne, and what’s the difference? What is it made of, and what factors decide the price? 

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The History of Perfumes

Creating pleasant smells on and around humans is an ancient practice. If you have read the Bible, you probably remember that two of the Three Wisemen carried frankincense and myrrh to visit the baby Jesus. Frankincense was made of the resin of an East African tree and would be burned for its pleasant scent. Myrrh, also from a tree, was a fragrant gum resin used to make both perfume and the earliest forms of toothpaste. 

How Perfumes Are Made

The scents found in perfumes are formed by essential oils. The purest perfumes are made of high concentrations of these oils and a brand-specific mixture of ingredients. These secret combinations accentuate the smell and make it stronger and longer-lasting, with a smaller amount needed to make an impact. The highest-priced perfumes are expensive because they have the largest concentration of these essential oils. 

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To make cheaper options available, many perfume companies offer watered-down versions of the pure perfumes. The watered-down product’s name begins with “eau,” the French word for water.  While these are amenable to a larger market, the products are not as strong and do not last for the same amount of time as their more expensive counterpart.

 

Of the cheaper versions, the “Eau de Parfum” has the least amount of water added. Next on the list is “Eau de Toilette,” and finally “Eau de Cologne.” Of these varieties, the pure perfume with no water would be the most expensive, while the cologne would cost the least. 

Finding the Perfect Fragrance

In addition to price flexibility, the different amounts of water added to the scents give more options to the people wearing them. Different people have different natural scents, and certain skin types don’t hold fragrance for as long. An Eau de Toilette might actually smell better than a pure perfume, depending on the person. Before purchasing a fragrance, it’s important to try a variety of options to find the best compliment for your body chemistry. What smells great on you might not make a good-smelling gift for someone else!