Common Types of Perfume Concentrations & Scents

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Plus, learn how to find the perfect perfume for you

Co-authored by Mason Hainey and Raven Minyard, BA

Last Updated: September 12, 2025 Fact Checked

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• Types of Perfume
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• Fragrance Families
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• Perfume Compositions
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• Fragrance Notes
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• Choosing a Perfume

|Show more |Show less

If you’ve ever used perfumes or body fragrances, you’ve probably noticed that some last longer than others. This is because different types of perfumes have different oil concentrations; the higher the concentration, the longer the perfume lasts. In this article, we’ll explain the difference between all the types of perfume, as well as the different fragrance families and perfume compositions. Plus, we interviewed fragrance and beauty experts to help you choose your signature scent.

Types of Perfume Concentration

Perfumer Mason Hainey explains that perfumes come in different strengths. The higher the fragrance concentration, the longer the fragrance will last. Here are the main types of perfumes and their strengths:

• Parfum: 20-30% fragrance oil concentration, lasts 12+ hours
• Eau de Parfum: 10-20% fragrance oil concentration, lasts 8+ hours
• Eau de Toilette: 5-15% fragrance oil concentration, lasts 4-7 hours
• Eau de Cologne: 2-4% fragrance oil concentration, lasts 2-3 hours
• Eau Fraiche: 1-3% fragrance oil concentration, lasts up to 2 hours

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Section 1 of 5:

Types of Perfume & Their Strengths

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   Parfum Parfum, or extrait de parfum, has the highest concentration of fragrance oils of all perfume types. Because of this high concentration, it’s also the most expensive type. Parfum is usually heavier and oilier, and in some cases, can last up to 24 hours. Because there is less alcohol in alcohol-based blends, it is recommended for people with sensitive skin.

   • Concentration/strength: 20-30%
   • Longevity: 12+ hours
   • While alcohol is the most common carrier for fine fragrances, it isn’t the only option. Perfumes can also have an oil or water base, which are both gentler on the skin than alcohol.

   Meet the wikiHow Experts

   Mason Hainey is a perfumer and the founder of MIZU, an all-natural perfumery based out of Rhode Island.

   Shipra Taneja is a makeup artist and the founder of Taneja’s Bride, a lifestyle, beauty, and fashion blog.

   Barbie Ritzman is a beauty specialist, influencer, content marketing strategist, and the owner of Barbie’s Beauty Bits, a digital marketing brand, with over 10 years of experience in the beauty industry.

   Alain Ferro is a fragrance expert and the director of the Grasse Institute of Perfumery in Grasse, France, the world’s perfume capital.
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   Eau de Parfum Eau de parfum has the next highest concentration of fragrance oils, and according to Hainey, is the “gold standard for longevity.” It is less expensive than parfum because it has slightly more alcohol and water in the ingredients, and it usually lasts around 8 hours. Eau de parfum is also generally okay for those with sensitive skin due to its low alcohol concentration.

   • Concentration/strength: 15-20%
   • Longevity: 8+ hours
   • It’s important to note that alcohol concentration isn’t the only thing that affects how harsh a perfume is. Certain fragrance ingredients, like cinnamon or oak moss, can also irritate the skin in high concentrations. Always check a fragrance’s ingredients to make sure it’s safe for you to use, especially if you have known allergies or sensitivities.
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   Eau de Toilette Eau de toilette is a light formula, usually between 5-15% oil concentration, and is typically sold in spray bottles. It is the most popular type of perfume because it’s affordable and often mistaken for eau de parfum. However, due to its low concentration of essential oils and high percentage of alcohol, it tends to dissipate quickly.

   • Concentration/strength: 5-15%
   • Longevity: 4-7 hours
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   Eau de Cologne Eau de cologne is one of the lightest perfumes, with an oil concentration between 2-4%. It’s often considered a masculine formula, though there are feminine eau de colognes, too. These fragrances often come in large bottles, as you need to use more of them than higher concentrations and apply them frequently.

   • Concentration/strength: 2-4%
   • Longevity: 2-3 hours
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   Eau Fraiche Eau fraiche is the most diluted type of perfume, with a perfume extract concentration of just 1-3%. The main ingredient in eau fraiche is water, and the term literally translates to “fresh water.” These fragrances typically last around an hour or two and are often used to freshen up.

   • Concentration/strength: 1-3%
   • Longevity: 2 hours
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   Perfume Oil Perfume oils have a pure oil base with no water or alcohol. The essential oil concentration can vary, but it’s typically around 10-20%. A carrier oil makes up the rest of the blend. Because perfume oils have a high concentration, they tend to last for at least 8 hours.

   • Concentration/strength: 10-20%
   • Longevity: 8 hours
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   Brume Parfumée/Body Mist Body mists, also known as perfume mists or brume parfumée, aren’t technically perfumes. They’re lighter, less concentrated fragrances that often have a higher water and alcohol content than perfumes. Body mists offer a delicate, lingering aroma rather than a strong, lasting scent.

   • Concentration/strength: 5-8%
   • Longevity: 2-4 hours
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Section 2 of 5:

Types of Fragrance Families

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   Floral Each perfume has a fragrance family, or a category based on its dominant scent characteristics. Floral fragrances are one of the most popular fragrance families, and they’re comprised of any perfume that has a sweet and flowery scent, like rose, jasmine, or lily. These fragrances can be light and delicate or complex and intense.

   • Common notes/scents: jasmine, rose, peach, lily, peony, orange blossom, ylang ylang, geranium, violet
   • Fragrance families are based on the fragrance wheel, a diagram created by Austrian perfumer Paul Jellinek in 1949. Over the years, other perfumers, like Michael Edwards, created their own versions. Edwards’s wheel is commonly used by perfume retailers today.
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   Woody Woody fragrances are a warm family, often used for aftershaves. They use wood-based smells like cedarwood, sandalwood, vetiver, and amber to create a mysterious and captivating scent. These fragrances are split into mossy woods, with sweet and earthy undertones, and dry woods, with smoky, leathery undertones.

   • Common notes/scents: sandalwood, cedar, amber, oakmoss, leather, fir, camphor
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   Fresh Fresh fragrances are typically comprised of citrus, water, and green notes. They have zesty and vibrant smells that leave you feeling refreshed. Citrus-based fragrances are typically created with lemon, mandarin, and bergamot, and water fragrances have aquatic notes, like sea spray. Green fragrances are created with notes of herbal and leafy scents, like lavender, rosemary, or basil.

   • Common notes/scents: lemon, sage, lavender, basil, mint, lemongrass, grapefruit, rosemary, mandarin
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   Amber/Oriental Amber, or oriental, fragrances are warm, sweet, and sometimes spicy. Amber fragrances are one of the more luxurious fragrance families, and can vary from floral amber, soft amber, and woody amber. These perfumes and aftershaves are rich and sensual, with notes like cardamom, cinnamon, and vanilla.

   • Common notes/scents: nutmeg, vanilla, cinnamon, patchouli, amber, musk, sandalwood, anise.
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   Gourmand While the above categories are the 4 main fragrances on the fragrance wheel, some perfumers also include subcategories, like gourmand, as unique fragrance families. Gourmand is the newest fragrance family, with scents characterized by notes reminiscent of edible sweets and desserts. These fragrances are sometimes called “foodie” fragrances and are made for both men and women.

   • Common notes/scents: caramel, candy, vanilla, chocolate, coffee, almonds
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   Chypre Pronounced “sheep-ra,” chypre fragrances are a subcategory that falls between the woody and amber families. They’re characterized by their citrus top notes, cistus or labdanum middle notes, and mossy base notes. Chypre fragrances were originally considered more masculine but are now considered more feminine. Chypre is one of the oldest fragrance families.

   • Common notes/scents: bergamot, oakmoss, patchouli, labdanum
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   Fougère Pronounced “foo-shair,” fougère comes from the French word for “fern.” These fragrances are categorized by their fresh, woody scents. They consist of sweet, floral top notes like lavender, and middle and base notes of mossy, wooden scents like oakmoss. Fougère fragrances are typically considered masculine scents.

   • Common notes/scents: lavender, geranium, vetiver, bergamot, oakmoss, coumarin
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Section 3 of 5:

Types of Perfume Composition

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   Alcohol Alcohol perfumes use alcohol (usually ethyl alcohol) to dilute fragrance oils. The alcohol acts as a solvent and allows the oils to evaporate and project the scent when sprayed. Because alcohol evaporates quickly, it leaves behind a stronger fragrance (aka, a sillage) than other carriers. Alcohol perfumes make a bold first impression.

   • Though alcohol-based perfumes have a strong sillage, they tend to lose their scent more quickly than oil-based perfumes because the alcohol evaporates quickly. However, the longevity of a fragrance is often based on its fragrance concentration. The higher the concentration, the longer a perfume will last.
   • Alcohol can also cause skin dryness, irritation, and allergic reactions in some individuals, so it isn’t usually recommended for those with sensitive skin.
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   Oil Oil-based perfumes use other oils to dilute the fragrance oil. These oils carry the scent’s essence in a concentrated form, making the fragrance more long-lasting than alcohol-based perfumes. The middle and base notes reveal themselves gradually, creating a complex scent that reacts uniquely with each individual’s skin chemistry.

   • Oil-based perfumes are more gentle than alcohol-based, making them ideal for all skin types, including sensitive skin. Common carrier oils in oil-based fragrances include jojoba oil, grapeseed oil, fractionated coconut oil, and apricot oil.
   • “Perfume oils are making a resurgence because of their light and airy quality,” says Hainey. “I love perfume oils because they’re hydrating, which is a bonus in cold, dry climates.”
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   Solid As the name suggests, solid perfumes are sold in a solid state, usually as waxes or balms, rather than a liquid. They’re applied by melting a small amount with your finger, then rubbing it on the skin, typically at pulse points like the wrist and neck. Hainey explains, “[Solid perfumes] are long-lasting because they’re wax-based, which helps trap the scent on the skin. They also provide moisturizing benefits.”

   • You can even make your own solid perfume! Hainey says, “I make mine with beeswax, which has a slightly sweet, honey-like scent and a higher melting point, making it more durable.”
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   Water While not as common, some fragrances use water as a carrier rather than oil or alcohol. Water-based perfumes have all-natural ingredients, making them ideal for those with skin sensitivities or allergies, and are usually less overpowering than perfumes made with alcohol or oil. Because water evaporates more slowly than alcohol, these perfumes leave behind a more natural scent that quickly reveals the true notes of the fragrance.

   • Because these fragrances don’t contain alcohol, they also help retain moisture in your skin, making them ideal for body spray, hair spray, and room spray. They’re also not as sticky!
   • Water-based fragrances may fade more quickly than other types of fragrances due to their composition.
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Section 4 of 5:

Understanding Fragrance Notes

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   Top Notes Top notes, also known as head or opening notes, are what you smell immediately after applying your perfume or aftershave. These notes evaporate quickly, but form your first impression of the fragrance.
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   Middle Notes Middle notes, or heart notes, are what you smell once the top notes have disappeared. These are considered the main body of the fragrance. They’re typically more well-rounded than top notes and last longer.
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   Base Notes Base notes are the scents left at the end. They’re usually what you remember most about how a perfume smells. They last the longest and mix with the middle notes to create the full body of the perfume or aftershave.
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Section 5 of 5:

How to Choose the Right Perfume

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   Research the ingredients. Makeup artist Shipra Taneja says, “The number one thing you should keep in mind when choosing a perfume or cologne is ingredients. For example, an allergy can definitely cause more grief than enjoyment, so trust that you know what fragrances bother you. Also keep in mind body chemistry plus perfume can change the scent, so testing perfumes with samples is a fabulous way to save money and make sure that a scent works for you!”
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   Determine which fragrance families you like. “The best way is to start smelling everything,” says Hainey. “Go to a place like Macy’s or Sephora and explore different scents to see what you respond to. Do you like citrus notes? Earthy vetiver? Woody or floral scents? Test them on your skin because fragrance reacts differently to each person’s body chemistry, which is influenced by diet, climate, and even culture. Once you find something you like, explore fragrances within that scent family.”

   • In addition to trying free perfume samples in stores, beauty and skincare specialist Barbie Ritzman says, “Another way to get free samples is by signing up for newsletters or looking for sample request forms from your favorite perfume brand… Don’t forget to check social media platforms for giveaways and search for relevant hashtags. Additionally, beauty influencer platforms sometimes offer sample giveaways or exchange samples for feedback.”
   • Can’t decide which scents you like? Take our “What Perfume Note Am I?” quiz to see which fragrance notes best fit your personality!
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   Consider how long you want the scent to last. Not all fragrances are created equal. If you want a strong perfume that will last all day, go for a stronger concentration, like parfum or eau de parfum. If you’re just looking for a quick touch-up, an eau fraiche or body mist will likely do the trick.

   • “Once a perfume is formulated, you can’t change its longevity, but you can apply it strategically to make it last longer,” explains Hainey. “Pulse points like the wrists, neck, and even hips are great spots. Layering with an unscented moisturizer or using a perfume oil base can also help hold the scent longer.”
   • “When it comes to fine fragrances, the best practice is actually to apply perfume to clothing rather than directly on the skin,” explains fragrance expert Alain Ferro. “This is because perfume molecules can react with the skin’s chemistry, altering the scent or causing it to fade more quickly. On fabric, the fragrance lasts longer and retains its original character.”
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   Decide how unique you want the scent to be. “Selecting a signature scent depends on personal preference and lifestyle,” says Ferro. “Some people prefer well-known luxury brands like Dior, Chanel, or Guerlain because they are crafted by expert perfumers and widely recognized. However, these are mass-produced fragrances, so many others will be wearing the same scent. Another option is niche fragrances, which are created by independent perfumers in smaller quantities and often feature more creative compositions. However, niche fragrances vary greatly in quality—some are outstanding, while others are not very well-balanced.”
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