Eau de confusion

[KAV]

I understand scent strengths start strongest with cologne, eau de cologne and eu de toilette.
I just received my second bottle of Woods of Windsor, expecting the 100ML bottle marked aftershave. Instead I received a 100ML bottle of different design marked eau de toilette.
I thought aftershave was a clumsy english term for same?
I understand aftershaves are promoted as a final antiseptic touch for minor nicks and abrasions with a brief scent.
They both smell good, with the bittersweet knowledge of being discontinued

[diggity]

Kav,

I am no expert on these things. In fact, my nose is pathetic compared to others around here, as is my knowledge. But I believe that the EDT typically has a higher alcohol content than the Aftershave and therefor lasts longer. EDT typically is supposed to be used on "pulse points", whereas Aftershave can be used on the face. Hope this helps.

_________________
Nathan

[KAV]

THANKYOU, It makes sense. Now to find my pulse points

[diggity]

Good luck. I've been trying for years. My wife seems to be able to find them though

_________________
Nathan

[KAV]

Is that like errorneous zones?

[diggity]

Those too!

_________________
Nathan

[Squire]

KAV, aftershave probably started as a post shave antiseptic and scented finish but today it's watered down cologne.

_________________
Regards,
Squire

[Chap]

Edt is mean't to be an applied fragrance, so you smell of lavender all day long, aftershave, normally a splash, is to treat your skin after shaving.

I am not sure you have it right about the strengths either. I was lead to believe, that perfume extract is the strongest ( in terms of most smell compounds by weight or volume), then perfume (Edp), followed by edt, which is in turn, tailed by colognes(Edc), and finally, aftershave being the weakest.

While edt is typically the strongest scent you will find in men's scents, they are sometimes referred to, one and all, as "colognes". I very much doubt you would find perfume ( as in a scent in eau de parfum strength ) in a man's scent, at least the ones on Jermyn Street. Women's scents, while known under the umbrella of "perfume", they also come in different strengths.

Though of course, don't take my word for it, I could be talking nonsense.

[KAV]

I just received another explanation @ BASENOTES and 3 conflicting definitions I googled.
I think it comes down much like razor blades. I find what I like and then see how long it lasts on me to fine tune it's use.
Aftershave can be splashed on my freshly shaven face and everything else is pulse pointed.
I'm timing the WoW edt. It sure was nice as I chased off a racoon and grabbed 9 cases of empty budlight. That's @ $9 more toward a certain bottle of Bois de Portugal Kevin Costner wont get.
I love the money I've saved on disposables since returning to Wet Shaving.

[bernards66]

The 'strength' of a scent is measured by the percentage of scent oils contained therein. parfum ( perfume in English, and occasionally called 'extract' ) has the highest percentage of scent. Chap is correct that it's rare for men's scent to be offered in this concentration although Penhaligon's used to sell Hammam in 'extract' strength. Next down the line is eau de parfum. Offerings for men are rare in this concentration as well, although some of the Creed scents, labeled millesime are eau de parfum...double strength cologne. Next comes eau de toilet, then 'cologne' and the lowest concentation of scent is 'aftershave'. In the past, a few firms reversed the order with toilet water and cologne, but usually, this is the hierarchy. ( now Bargepole will come along and pick nits and make a hash of all this....just watch ).
Regards,
Gordon

[KAV]

Just keep that bottle you PMed me about. I'm working on it

[bernards66]

Oh I will. In fact, it's sitting here as I type.
Regards,
Gordon

[Bargepole]

More or less what Gordon said. Couple of points.

(1) After shave or "shaving lotion" sometimes has other things in it -- glycerine, for example -- to soothe the skin after shaving. This is not always true though. Trumper's after shaves are more often than not simply the eau de toilette strength, watered down.

(2) In England men always used to refer to "shaving cologne" becuase otherwise you might be applying SCENT and your testicles would immediately drop off.

(3) It's usually not simply dilution. Formulae change. The great and noble Habit Rouge exists in various "strengths" (some current, some not) -- After Shave, Eau de Cologne, Eau de Toilette, Eau de Parfum and Extrait (= "perfume"). All are different but have a close family resemblance. They're siblings, really. Even the flankers -- Habit Rouge Légère, Habit Rouge Sport, the ancient Habit Rouge Dry -- are close cousins.

(4) Creed tell tall stories. But it's a bit like grading badger hair. There's no universally accepted standard. What perfumer A may call eau de toilette, perfumer B might call eau de parfum. As always, your own nose is the only guide.

By the way. Pulse points. Bah. I prefer the other approach -- was it Mae West who said she put perfume anywhere she hoped to get kissed. I passed this on to a Big Hollywood Movie Star who said "That's a bit sad." I asked why. "Well, hell," she said, "I put it where I damn' well EXPECT to be kissed." Times change.

Both, however, a bit daft. A lot of fragrances do NOT TASTE GOOD. You wouldn't want to get a lip-load of Shalimar or indeed Pino Silvestre.

_________________
Michael

People say it's never too late. How wrong they are. --Felix Dennis

[bernards66]

Yes, well, Creed is indeed notorious for tall tales. They claim their millesime is eau de parfum although to me, they smell no more potent than many of their 'colognes' A "lip-load of Pino Silvestre"?....( shutter ).
Regards,
Gordon

[Bargepole]

Yes but without a reference point are you going to be able to tell from just smelling something what strength it is -- that would require a nasal sort of calibrated Intens-O-Meter up the snout. I think the proof is in the persistence really. Never thought about it much before. Interesting topic.

_________________
Michael

People say it's never too late. How wrong they are. --Felix Dennis

[a-cut-above]

[KAV]

Please don't ask how, but I managed to get a generous dose of Ogalalla sandalwood on my lips yesterday . It was 'interesting' being witch hazel based I wiped most off. But I spoke with a funny accent for 10 minutes.