seasonal swap, toilette for parfum

Ready to trade your T-shirts for your turtlenecks? As the cool-weather season speedily approaches, we think the time is right to tweak your fragrance rituals too.

For many of us, it’s been a steamy summer: one ideally suited to light-formula colognes and eaux fraiches. But for autumn, eau de parfum and full-power perfumes satisfy our scent cravings.

“An eau de parfum has a greater presence, and can last on skin between 6 to 8 hours,” says Danny Ventura, International Training Manager at Beauté Prestige Internationale. “This version usually has a higher dosage of notes and an elevated concentration of oil,” he ads, so “during winter months, when skin tends to become drier, the eau de parfum version lingers longer, and the fragrance could be enjoyed all day long.

“Finally, an extract or perfume is the highest level of concentration that one can wear. It will last up to 12 hours, and very little needs to be used. This is why it usually comes in small sizes, and needs to be applied with fingers, dabbing small amounts on strategic pulse points.”

SCENT STAYING POWER: A GUIDE
Eau de toilette: contains about 13-17% perfume oils. Lasts 4-6 hours on skin.
Eau de Parfum: contains about 18-22% perfume oils. Lasts 6-8 hours on skin.
Perfume: contains between 23-30% perfume oils. Lasts up to 12 hours on skin.

PHOTO: iSTOCKPHOTO