It seems like every time my wife and I go to the mall we are always asked if we want to try on the latest perfume or cologne by some nicely dressed person. Sometimes we get lucky and avoid them by going around the cosmetics counter but many times they are stationed right at the front door of the store and there is no escape. Of course I’m just kidding around, they really don’t bother me, but it did get me wondering just what is the difference between perfume and parfum?

I did a little research and found that scents are classified according to how much pure scent is in the final product. But, before listing these classifications you need to know the three primary components that make up your favorite fragrance:

Scent – This can be made from many different compounds some natural and some synthetic and serves as the base for the final product. Often these are very complex mixtures of flowers, fruits, spices and even animal scents. Highly skilled experts known as “noses” are responsible for concocting these fragrant aromas.

Fixatives – These are used to keep the scent stable and helps extend the shelf life of the product.

Solvents – Helps control bacterial growth and maintains the product consistency over the life of the scent. Alcohol is the most common solvent used in fragrance products although there is a trend towards alcohol free fragrances starting to develop.

The amount of pure scent used in a product is what determines the classification the fragrance belongs to:

Ordinary scented products – These are usually 1 to 2 percent pure scent. Products like hand and body lotion or aftershave make up this group.

Eau de Cologne - This product has between 2 and 3 percent scent and is used for men’s colognes and lighter women’s fragrances.

Eau de Toilette - Eau de Toilette has between 5 and 20 percent pure scent.

Eau de Parfum – These products contain between 10 to 30 percent scent.

Perfume – Also known as parfum it contains between 20 to 40 percent pure scent and being the most concentrated of fragrances it is also the most expensive. A drop of perfume will go a long way and should be applied sparingly.

So, now you know just what the differences are between the various fragrance products. Just for fun, the next time you are approached at the mall you might want to ask them what type of product they are promoting and see if they can answer it. By the way, if you do try a sample wait at least 10 minutes before making a purchasing decision to give the fragrance time to react with your body chemistry. It takes at least that long for the scent to fully develop and you will get a much better idea as to how the scent will smell on you.