Most people do not know the differences between perfumes and colognes and pick one that is convenient or has a pleasant scent. However, there are key differences between the two that you should remember when shopping for a new scent.
Don’t Let Gendered Marketing Fool You
Before we look at the differences between colognes and perfumes, we have to dispel a huge misconception. Despite the gendered marketing you see on different mediums, these are not made for any one gender.
Most scents are unisex, and so colognes and perfumes should be too. The main differences between these products are their staying power, the fragrances added, and what is used to make them. So no, perfumes are not only for women, and colognes are not only for men.
Since cologne and perfume are genderless words that describe fragrances, many designers now create unisex fragrances for their lines. Escentric Molecules UK, for example, created unisex fragrances for their Molecule Fragrance and Escentric Molecules lines specifically for those who do not usually wear them.
Strength Differences
The main difference between perfumes and colognes is their strength, which often translates to different staying powers. Perfumes have a higher concentration of fragrant oils so they are stronger and last longer. This means that you can still catch a whiff of your perfume a few hours after applying it.
Conversely, colognes are lighter, have lower oil concentrations, and last about two to eight hours.
Notes
Perfume has a perfume essence or essential oil concentration of 20% to 30% compared to cologne’s 2% to 4%. To ensure it is balanced, designers and manufacturers add alcohol and water to colognes, which is why they often fade much faster.
As for notes, all colognes and perfumes contain base, middle, and top notes. Colognes lean more towards lighter tones, while perfumes lean towards heavier ones that last longer on the skin.
The top tones are typically floral or citrus, such as berries, lavender, and orange. Middle tones include spice notes such as cinnamon, nutmeg, and cardamom. Lastly, base tones are typically more earthy so you will find vanilla, sandalwood or musk tones. The combination and concentrations of these different types of notes give perfumes and colognes their signature and distinctive scents.
Usage
Many people favour the higher concentrated perfumes for special occasions and colognes for daily wear as it does not overpower the people around them. People may also decide whether to go with perfume or cologne depending on the occasion.
For most guys, the flowery and more powerful fragrances of perfumes are not ideal. Cologne and perfume bottles with the word “homme” would be an excellent option for them.
If you have been confused about whether to buy cologne or perfume in the past, this guide should make things easier for you. It is best to ignore the gendered marketing directed at these products and instead choose ones that please you and that you can wear for a long time and on different occasions.
