The earliest usage of perfumes dates back to 4000 BCE, around 2500 years ago, in Mesopotamia. Later, Romans and Arabs adopted perfume-making, and it travelled throughout the world. Perfumery in the modern world has evolved from natural fragrances to artificial scents developed in labs. A perfume is a blend of fragrant oil and solvents such as water and alcohol. The percentage of fragrant oil in a perfume decides its type. Perfumes have been used to smell good, but that’s not the only reason people wear perfumes. Queen Cleopatra famously soaked the sails of her ships in perfume so that the scent announced her arrival long before she was seen. Perfume is worn to attract or seduce, impress others, and express one’s personality. Modern-day perfumery categorizes perfumes into 5 major categories based on their fragrance concentration. Eau de Cologne With the lowest fragrance concentration of all, Eau de Cologne is a light and mild perfume that is made of 2-5% fragrance oil diluted with alcohol and water. It was originally a blend of citrus oils, but other fragrance oils are now utilized as well. It is also known as Cologne in general because it originated in the German city of Cologne. Eau de Cologne was originally used as medicine, but its usage has evolved in the modern world. It is used as a fragrance that is directly applied to the skin as an aftershave and deodorant after a bath, as well as a fabric fragrance and deodorizing agent in cleaners at home. It comes in bigger packaging and amount as it needs to be applied more. Eau de Cologne is typically cheaper than other perfume types due to its lower concentration of fragrance oil. Eau de Toilette Eau de Toilette comes from the French term ‘faire sa toilette’ which means getting ready. It is a casual, daily wear fragrance that has lower fragrance oil, i.e., 5-15% of fragrance oil diluted with alcohol and water. It lasts for 2-4 hours. It is also known as toilet water or grooming water, which comes from its literal meaning. Eau de Toilette is considered by some people as a daywear perfume due to its light fragrance and low longevity. It is the most popular type of perfume, which is affordable due to low prices. Eau de Parfum Eau de Parfum in French means perfume water. As we can see from its literal meaning, it is pure perfume diluted with alcohol and water. With a 15-30% fragrance oil concentration, Eau de Parfum is a compromise between Eau de Toilette and Extrait de Parfum. It lasts for 4-6 hours, depending upon its application. There are different ways to apply Eau de Parfum. It can be applied directly to the skin or on clothes. One can even spray it in the air and walk into it. Eau de Parfum is a good choice for those who want a stronger scent at an affordable price. Extrait de Parfum Extrait de Parfum, also known as Perfume or Parfum, is a strong blend of fragrance oils with very little alcohol content. It has a 30-50% fragrance oil concentration, which will help it stay for longer—6 to 8 hours or longer depending on the application and fragrance. Extrait de Parfum is good for those with sensitive skin as there is a low amount of alcohol in it. It is the most expensive of all the perfume types as it has a higher fragrance oil concentration than others. A few sprays on pulse points go a long way. Huile de Parfum Huile de Parfum is a French term, which means perfume oil. Huile de Parfum is 100% fragrance oil. It is different from regular perfumes. It is oil-based, has the highest fragrance oil concentration, and lasts longer than 8 hours. Huile de Parfum has no alcohol, making it an excellent choice for people with sensitive skin. The alcohol dries out the skin, which is a no-no in the case of Huile de Parfum. It also increases the longevity of the perfume oil. Huile de Parfum is good for those who prefer long-lasting and subtle scents throughout the day. Read about the difference between Eau de Parfum & Huile de Parfum here Perfume Type Fragrance oil concentration Longevity Eau de Cologne 2-5% Up to 2 hours Eau de Toilette 5-15% 2-4 hours Eau de Parfum 15-30% 4-6 hours Extrait de Parfum 30-50% 6-8 hours Huile de Parfum 100% 8+ hours Introducing Tottagatti, India’s #1 Huile de Parfum brand Tottagatti is one of the first brands to bring Huile de Parfum to India. At Tottagatti, we are committed to delivering you the best fragrances which are made to last long. Certified by the IFRA, each of our fragrances is unique and different from each other. Packaged in a circular bottle with a dropper and a small roll-on travel bottle, it is easy to carry. To apply the Huile de Parfum, all you need to do is drop, rub, and smell. Once applied, each of the notes of the perfume oil releases their fragrance one after the other. On top of that, Tottagatti perfume oil is a paraben-free and cruelty-free product. Vegans and sustainability followers, Tottagatti’s perfume oil matches with your principles. Check out our range of Huile de Parfum for men and women