Which Type Of Perfume Lasts The Longest: Fragrance Types Demystified

Choosing a scent -whether it be for a new season, a special occasion or just because- can be a deeply personal experience. However, it helps to know the basics before you part with your cash. We are here to help you explore the world of fragrance, as it can be a confusing place at times. A world filled with beautiful bottles, exotic names and alluring aesthetics, but an overwhelming range of options.  


If you’ve ever asked yourself ‘ what type of fragrance lasts the longest?’ you are definitely not alone. Our guide is here to explain the intricacies of the task. We will break down the different types of fragrances on offer, explain the make up of your favourite scents and explore the key factors that go into affecting their staying power, so that you can go on to make an informed decision into what your next scent will be, fully armed with the knowledge of what will work best for you. 

 

The four main types of fragrance 

The first thing that you may notice when you begin your fragrance journey, is that scent comes in several different formulations, each with their own strengths and scent profiles. These formulations fall under 4 basic types and are generally defined by the concentration of aromatic oils (not to be confused with perfume oil) that are used in the blend. This concentration will play a major role in the longevity of the fragrance, which we will come back to later, but first let’s take a look at the four main types of fragrance:

Extrait de Parfum (Parfum)

Extrait is the be all and end all when it comes to types of fragrances, and often contains highly concentrated aromatic compounds. It is luxury in a bottle and is often given as gifts or purchased for special occasions. It is specifically designed to be intense and lingering and shouldn’t be underestimated.

Typical oil concentration: 20-30%

Typical longevity: 8-12 hours+

 

Eau de Parfum (EDP)

One step down from the strongest, EDP is the most popular form of fragrance for daily wear, as it still lasts an impressive amount of time, without the price tag of extrait. 

Typical oil concentration: 15-20%

Typical longevity: 6-8 hours.

 

Eau de Toilette (EDT)

EDT are lighter, fresher scents, and are popular as both summer fragrances and as starting scents for younger people. They are also usually available at lower price points, making them an accessible and attractive option for on the go scent, ideal for warm weather (holidays!) and quick spritzes. They also work fantastically for those who prefer softer, casual and toned down personal fragrances.

Typical oil concentration:  5-15%

Typical longevity: 3-5 hours.


Eau de Cologne (EDC)

EDC are the lightest, most fleeting of fragrance types. They are often marketed towards men, although many of the blends found blur the gender lines, especially in middle eastern influenced scents and this is a trend that is growing more by the year. In spite of the word cologne signifying masculine, heavy notes, cologne is actually quite refreshing and sharp, but will require regular reapplication.

Typical oil concentration: 2-5%

Typical longevity: 2-3 hours.


The importance of oil concentration

As we touched upon above, the concentration of fragrance oil is key to which type of perfume lasts the longest. The more concentrated a scent is, the longer it will cling to the skin. In the most straightforward way, extrait de parfum tends to offer the best longevity. 

In contrast, types of fragrances with lower concentrations of oil tend to rely more heavily on alcohol, which evaporates quicker and takes the scent away with it. There will be some occasions when a softer tone that can only be found in eau du toilette or cologne is more appealing, such as times when freshness or price limitations are a factor, but these will also require more frequent top ups than the higher concentration fragrances.


Sillage vs Longevity - which is more important?

In the world of perfume, longevity refers to the length of time a fragrance lingers on the skin, while sillage refers to the scent trail or how far the fragrance projects. Longevity can be thought of as how long the scent remains on the skin, whereas sillage is how strong and far the fragrance is perceived by others.

It is worth noting that a strong scent is not the same as a long lasting scent, and applying perfume throughout the day is not always the best way to go. A higher intensity perfume is not always suitable for the occasion and there is an art form to finding a fragrance that unfolds and becomes better as the day progresses. 

 

Scent evolution throughout the day

One of the most beautiful things about fragrance is that it is not a static experience - it evolves as time passes, and with the right consideration, this can be key to formulating the perfect fragrance profile for your signature scent. 


Most fragrances are structured in a basic three layer configuration:

 

Top notes

heart (or middle) notes

base notes.


When you spray any of the types of fragrances listed above, the top notes are the immediately apparent ones. They are often fresh and bright and hugely appealing, but they can fade within mere minutes. 

Next come the heart notes. These are the ones that give a particular perfume its unique character and will typically last for a few hours. Finally you will sense the base notes emerging. These have deeper, richer tones, with scents such as wood, oud, vanilla and amber, and they tend to linger the longest on the skin (and especially on fabric). This natural journey is important when judging not only the longevity of a perfume, but also if you enjoy each part of its progression. It is always a good idea to come back to a scent before buying it: the scent you fall in love with at first spritz wont be the same scent you’ll be wearing in an hour's time or at the end of the day.

 

Fragrance families and notes - their influence on longevity

Another key component for fragrance longevity is the actual notes that are found within each blend. Not all perfumes fade at the same pace, even with the same oil concentration levels. The fragrance family and note compositions can vastly influence how long a scent will linger. For example: citrus, green and aquatic based fragrances tend to evaporate quickly, mainly down to their lighter molecular structure (plus, as they tend to be more subtle, you may not notice them as instantly and repeatedly as their more overt cousins.) On the other hand, woody, spicy and musk based scent are usually far slower at fading, often remaining highly detectable for hours after application.

 

Other considerations for long lasting fragrance:

 

Application techniques

Where and when you apply your fragrance matters. Application to pulse points (wrist, neck, behind the ears) will help the scent to diffuse effectively due to the body heat found there. Disregard the movie scenes where characters rub their wrist together after applying scent - this will only serve to break down fragrance quicker, shortening its lifespan! Want your scent to linger, or even to create your own unique scent profile? Take a look at our blog on the ancient art of layering.

 

Skin types

Fragrance reacts to each individual person’s natural oils found on the skin. This is why scent smells slightly different from person to person. Unfortunately this also means it will last differently from person to person. On dry skin, perfume will evaporate quickly, while oily or well-moisturised skin will hold onto the scent far longer. Applying an unscented (or matching scented) lotion before applying fragrance can help to increase its staying power throughout the day.

 

Weather and environment

Invariably, heat intensifies fragrance, causing it to project out further, quicker and more intensely. The consequence of this, however, is that it also evaporates faster. Cold weather allows scents to linger longer, and there is an alluring quality to wearing something warm and heavy in Winter. In Summer, you may want to wear something stronger to make it last, but have a think about this - wouldn’t it be more beneficial to wear something light and refreshing (such as cologne or eau de toilette) and simply reapply?

 

Storage

There is more to making your perfume last longer than simply when you are wearing it. Proper storage is vital to maintaining the natural life span of your scents. They may look cool on a sunlit windowsill or dressing table, but exposure to light, heat and air can degrade them fairly quickly. Keep bottles in cool, dark places, away from windows and radiators to preserve them at their best.


So, do you think you can answer what type of fragrance lasts the longest? The prosaic answer is clearly extrait de parfum, due to its slow evaporation and high oil concentration. But the answer is far more nuanced than mere fragrance types. How you wear your perfume, the time of year and day, the location you find yourself in and how you store your fragrance all have a part to play.

At the end of the day, what type of fragrance you go for should match you as an individual and your lifestyle. If that means that you need to reapply a few times a day, then so be it. A lasting impression is worth so much more than a lasting fragrance. Luckily, many scents come in travel sized bottles too…

 

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