Tuesday, March 3, 2009

The Difference Between Perfumes and Colognes

By James

Why do people use perfumes and colognes? There are a number of reasons why people choose to wear them. Beside the fact that it can make you smell good, good perfumes can also make you more feel more attractive and thus increase your self-confidence. A few centuries ago, people used to smell really bad. That was until a few clever people discovered the use of colognes and perfumes.

Nowadays, it's almost unacceptable to even smell bad. If you have body odor, then the least you should do is to slap on some deodorant, or spritz on some cologne or perfume. Not only will you smell better, but masking the odor will lead others to believe you actually smell good!

But while everyone may be familliar with perfumes and colognes, very few know what makes them so different. Most people assume that perfumes are for women, and colognes are for men. While there may be some truth to that in terms of their usage, that isn't what makes them different.

The main difference lies in the concentration of essential oils found in both substances: perfume has more varieties of essential oils mixed in it than cologne. And depending on which brand, they have different potencies. The essential oils are then diluted with ethanol, water, and various solvents, a critical step that prevents it from irritating your skin.

Technically, perfume tends to stay on much longer than cologne. Most people's perfumes can linger for up to seven to eight hours, which is why you only need a spritz or two on your body. With even heavier perfumes, all you need to do is to place one or two dabs on your neck. Compared to perfume, cologne is 3-4% less concentrated. That's why it doesn't linger on the body as longer. Cologne should be applied on your pulse areas"mainly your neck and wrists"so that it can radiate around your body.

So next time you want to impress a few people at a party, tell them a little bit about the proper ways of wearing colognes and perfumes. They might even compliment you on the way you smell! - 17943

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