Fragrances are quite special and personal. They are associated with a certain memory, a certain person, or a certain time. There are emotions associated with these fragrances. Fragrances do make a statement. Your fragrance is a part of your identity. This article is solely dedicated to EAU DE Toilette.
For those who don’t know what an EAU DE Toilette is, it is a lighter and less concentrated perfume. The concentration of EAU DE Toilette stands between perfume and cologne. The concentration level of Eau de Toilette is around 5-15%. The fragrance will last about two to three hours.
Eau de Toilette has similar concentration to cologne. It has about 10% aromatic essence. Eau de Toilette focuses on their top notes. When the fragrance is applied, the first scent of the first notes is dominant. It evaporates with time, usually in between 2 to 4 hours. Eau de Toilette is mostly for day wear.
Why Is It Called EAU DE Toilette – History
There is a lot of confusion and stories regarding the origin of Eau de Toilette. Some say it was made for Queen Elizabeth in the fourteenth century. It was produced by a Hungarian man, which then was called Eau de la Reine de Hongrie (Hungary Water). This perfume contained rosemary which evaporated on the skin slowly.
Another said this was a concoction of scents used by the King of France Louis XIV. It was called heavenly water. He used it to perfume his shirts. The concoction contained aloe wood, orange flower, musk, rose water, and various spices.
The last one about this is it was used as a skin toner. According to a journal Medical Record in 1905, a toilet water spray restored energies that were lost in social, business or domestic situations. There was a type of toilet water named plague waters during the fourteenth to sixteenth centuries that was supposed to dispel the bubonic plague.
Eau de Toilette; Toilet Water
There is often question – Why is it called Eau de Toilette or Toilet water. The term Eau de Toilette is taken from the French term “faire sa toilette”. It means getting ready. Eau de Toilette is means water for one’s attire.
The French ‘toilette’ translation is toilet water. It literally translates into the toilet water. The most appropriate term can be grooming water. It is basically a scented cologne used as a skin freshener. This is why eau de toilette is called toilet water.
Types of Perfume
There are five main categories of perfume. Each of the categories is separated on account of their concentration, base of fragrance oils. Let’s look at the five types of perfume –
- Parfum/Perfume: This perfume has the highest oil concentration. There is about 20 to 30% of essential oils in here. This perfume is more oily and heavy due to more essential oils. It last for about 24 hours. The best thing about this is the less use alcohol. Perfect for sensitive skins.
- Eau de Parfum: This perfume has about 15 to 20% of oils, which next to Parfum. It has more alcohol compared to Parfum. This perfume can last about 6 to 8 hours.
- Eau de Toilette: we have discussed Eau de Toilette above. It usually lasts for 2 to 4 hours.
- Eau de Cologne: Eau de Cologne has the lightest concentration – only 2 to 4%. It lasts about 2 hours.
- Eau Fraiche: This perfume is diluted with oils of about 1 to 3%. The main ingredient here is water. ‘Eau Fraiche’ means freshwater. It lasts for about an hour.
Eau de Toilette VS Eau de Parfum
The difference between Eau de Toilette and Eau de Parfum is one of the most asked questions. The difference between Eau de Toilette and Eau de Parfum is scientific. Eau de Parfum has higher concentration of fragrance oils than Eau de Toilette. There is 15% to 20% perfume oil in Eau de Parfum. Eau de Toilette however is fresher and lighter with a lower concentration. The concentration does have an effect on the scent. Eau de Parfum will leave a richer and sweeter note on the skin.
The shelf life of perfumes is generally between three to five years. In between Eau de Toilette and Eau de Parfum, eau de toilette lasts longer as it ages slowly. There is a higher concentration of alcohol in the formula of eau de toilette.
Eau de Toilette is for daily purposes. The formula is lighter. You can still enjoy this perfume for hours. Eau de Parfum on the other hand is intense. Eau de Parfum contains more perfume oil with less alcohol and water consistency.
Which one to Choose?
Choosing between Eau de Toilette and Eau de Parfum is a personal preference. If you are confused then ask yourself, what do I want? How strong my fragrance should be? Eau de perfume will be of higher concentration that means more aromatic, more lasting.
There are people who start with eau de toilette and then slowly transition to Eau de perfume. It’s always personal preference. The fragrance is personal. It is a part of who you are. So, you should choose it. Something that speaks to you!
Unisex Eau de Toilette
There often comes a question – Do men wear Eau de Toilette. The answer is – Yes. Eau de toilette showcases some of the best unisex fragrances. For those who don’t know what Unisex fragrances mean
– they are a hybrid of fragrances that is suitable and can be applied by both men and women. Eau de Toilette’s unisex fragrances give a combination of a feminine edge over a masculine note that brings out some great and charismatic scents.
For example Boss Bottled By Hugo Boss Eau de Toilette, Calvin Klein CK One Summer 2017 Eau de Toilette Spray, Calvin Klein CK One Eau de Toilette Spray, Penhaligon’s Juniper Sling Eau de Toilette. There are more fragrances of this kind. They also have a dedicated set of fragrances for men and women separately.
Which one to choose?
Choosing a fragrance is hard. In order to select which eau de toilette you want in the sea of options, you need to select the notes first. Each of the perfumes has different layers of notes. There is a top note, then a middle note, then the base notes. In eau de toilette, the top note dominates. So, remember that while choosing. Always test out a few samples after you have made which notes you want.
Conclusion
Fragrances can be a trait or a feature we associate someone with. Someone likes something fruity, someone wears something fresh, someone wears something spicy. It’s all about personality and preference. Remember that while choosing your fragrance. Don’t follow someone else choose one that you like, that speaks to you. If you are confused about choosing an eau de toilette fragrance, look into your taste and the notes of perfume. You will instantly get an inclination towards one. That’s when you make the decision.
