e Eau
Most perfumes are complex combinations of natural materials, such as essential oils, and synthetic products that increase the lasting power and intensify the smell, explains Laurice Rahme, perfume expert and founder of Bond No9 perfumes (and who has also previously worked for Lancome, Annick Goutal and Creed). The products combine to form an aromatic compound.
The difference between eaux de parfum, toilette and cologne is a difference in concentration: perfume is made when aromatic compounds are mixed with ethanol alcohol, which may then be mixed with water. But it is the ratio of aromas to base solution that determines the classification, and whether the blend is labelled perfume extrait (the most pure and therefore most expensive), eau de parfum, eau de toilette or eau de cologne, in that order.
Toilette was created as a body splash to revive one's senses in the morning, and cologne as a refreshing, light fragrance to be used as a splash. It was made popular by Napoleon Bonaparte and was originally characterised by citrus aromas, or 'top notes' in perfume parlance. The terms eau de toilette and eau de cologne are often used interchangeably, and incorrectly. Eau de toilette contains about 10 per cent aromatic compounds, and eau de cologne less than 5 per cent. The original eau de cologne was manufactured by the Farina brothers in Cologne, Germany, in the 1700s.
But the most famous was 4711 Cologne, named after the house number assigned to the Mulhens Family's perfumery shop during the 1794 French occupation of Cologne. Napoleon used to bathe in a diluted version of this scent.