Perfume Terms You Should Know
Before You Shop
by Miranda Mendelson
SLASHEDBEAUTY.COM
Shopping for perfume can be overwhelming...
... thanks to the various terms used to describe the fragrance!
Tap through to learn the vocab that'll make picking perfume easier!
Eau de Parfum
Eau de Parfum
Compared to Eau de Toilette, Eau de Parfum is stronger and contains a higher concentration of fragrance oils. Eau de Parfum develops more fully while wearing, meaning you get more layers of fragrance notes.
Eau de Toilette
Eau de Toilette
Eau de Toilette is less concentrated, and will provide a lighter scent. It also usually does not last as long as Eau de Parfum, and is usually characterized by its top notes.
Notes
Notes
When looking at a perfume's description, you'll notice they're broken up into top, middle, and base notes. These scents make up the layers of a fragrance as it develops.
Top Notes
Top Notes
‣ First Impression of a Fragrance ‣ Evaporate Quickly ‣ Don't Last Long
Middle Notes
Middle Notes
‣ Richer Scents ‣ Longer Lasting ‣ Main Mood of Fragrance ‣ Revealed Once Top Notes Evaporate ‣ Also Called "Heart Notes"
Base Notes
Base Notes
‣ Heavier Scents, ie. Musk ‣ Support the Middle Notes for a Well Rounded Fragrance ‣ Revealed After 30+ Minutes-- the Lasting Effect of the Fragrance
How to Test Perfumes
How to Test Perfumes
The best way to test fragrances is to wear them throughout the day. Subscriptions like Scentbox allow you to choose fragrance tubes with a 30-day supply to try each month.
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Swipe up to watch my Perfume 101 video for more tips on picking a perfume for beginners!