What's the Difference? Cologne and Perfume
Cologne and perfume are often incorrectly regarded as interchangeable words, synonyms, but that is simply not the case. They are different. Cologne is a weak sister of perfume. Cologne is comprised of 5% to 8% essential oils compared to perfume, which is 25% to 30% essential oils with the remaining volume composed of ethyl alcohol and water. Cologne’s scent will not endure as long as the scent of perfume because of the lower concentration of essential oils. Think of perfumes and colognes as music for the olfactory system. Perfumes have three notes. The top note, comprised of the most volatile oils, is the first to fade. After the top note fades, the scent changes because its composition consists of only the middle (heart note) and base (dry down) notes. The middle note fades next, again changing the composition and fragrance. The last note to fade is the base note because it is fabricated from the least volatile oils. So you see, each perfume and cologne is a carefully composed symphon...