The Best Eau de Colognes
If you're shopping for a new perfume and you come across eau de cologne, eau de toilette, eau de parfum, or parfum, it's no wonder that you might be a bit confused about which type to buy. The differences between all of these have to do with the concentration of essential oils, or parfum, in each. The closer you get to pure perfume, the more pure (and expensive) the product will be.
Eau de colognes are often used interchangeably with eau de toilettes. Both have the lowest concentration of pure perfume in the mixture, but eau de colognes typically have a bit less, usually between 1-3% is actually pure perfume, while an eau de toilette will have 3-8% pure perfume in it. By those standards, eau de cologne probably has the least amount of alcohol in it, followed by eau de toilette.
If you're looking for a high quality women's eau de cologne, then start with labels like
Elizabeth Arden,
Bulgari, Acqua di Parma, and more. These labels use high-quality essential oils in their eau de colognes, but they are still affordable and won't have an overpowering scent of alcohol in them. Popular eau de colognes for men include brands like
Aramis, Royal Cophenhagen, Pierre Cardin, Liz Claiborne, and more.
For a lower-priced but still pleasantly fragrant option, try the
Victoria's Secret line of eau de colognes. They have impressive fragrances that still evoke the natural essential oils that make up the ingredients, without appearing to strong-smelling or full of alcohol. Overall, these eau de colognes will be light and cooling scents to wear-if you're looking for something longer lasting and a bit more fragrant, try cologne or an eau de parfum.