Classifications of “scents” help consumers and professionals choose the appropriate fragrance for the occasion.

Perfumes are classified by their scent and concentration levels. The oils used in making perfume are diluted by ethanol and water, because the undiluted oils can cause damage to the skin or to clothing, or can cause allergic reactions. Accordingly, there are Pure perfume, Eau De Parfum, Eau De Toilette and Eau De Cologne, with Pure perfume containing the largest percentage of aromatic oils, and Eau De Cologne the smallest amount.



The fragrance “design houses” use different levels of concentration for the same category of perfume; for instance, the Eau De Parfum belonging to one house, may be much stronger than one from another house making it difficult for the consumer to make easy transitions from one brand to another. There are also three different perfume classifications according to scents; the traditional scents were created in the early 1900`s; the modern scents date from 1945; the Fragrance wheel was created in 1983, there being seven standard fragrance categories depending: the Fougere (meaning “Fern-like) family, Floral, Oriental, Fresh (Green), Adehydic (Modern), Tabacco/Leather an Chyper (after a perfume from Cyprus of Roman times) .