Difference Between Eau De Toilette And Cologne


If you’ve ever thought about buying perfume, you have wondered at some point what is the difference with all the different types. You have perfume, eau de toilette, cologne, Eau de perfume, and some others. This makes it difficult to know which one to get and what to discard. Since this is determinant to your buying decision, you should know.

So, the difference between eau de toilette and cologne is the oil concentration in the fragrance. This is what determines how many hours it will last on the skin and other things such as what purpose to give each and what kind of scents will usually be applied for it.

For a man, cologne and eau de toilette don’t have that many differences, but if you want to be a guy that does his grooming right and always makes sure he’s wearing the right fragrance in the right time, you should know about this. After all, you want to not only look good but also smell great.

So, in this article, you’re going to learn not only the difference between the two but when to wear each one and everything in between. It’s a quick read that will let you know everything you need to always get this right.

Oil Concentration In Fragrance Is Different

The main difference between any type of perfume is the oil concentration in the fragrance. The more concentrated the liquid is, the longer it lasts and the stronger it is. This means that perfume, the most concentrated one, will last hours and you just have to apply it a little bit.

Now, when it comes to cologne, the less concentrated one, you’ll get something not so strong that it doesn’t last that long. Now, this does not mean that it’s worse. Colognes have another purpose. You’re supposed to wear them during the day and on occasions where you don’t want your scent to get that much attention.

Imagine that you’re going to go and drink with some friends. You don’t want to get drunk, so you plan on having just a couple of light beers. Now, you don’t want to drink anything heavy because you don’t want to get drunk.

Perfume is kind of like that. You want something to smell nice but that won’t get that much attention, so you go with a cologne.

Eau de Toilette And Cologne Are Interchangeable

When it comes to men’s cosmetic industry, eau de toilette and cologne are interchangeable. Now, it doesn’t mean that they’re the same thing. It means that they have very similar uses and duration. What makes perfume last the time it does is something called fixation. The time for colognes is 2 hours and eau de toilette is 3 hours.

This means that the biggest difference between them is in what occasions you should opt for one instead of the other. Since the period that it’ll remain on your skin without the need for you to reapply is the same, you should learn when to wear one and not the other.

Another big difference between the two is the types of scents that are usually used in these products. Colognes are usually fresher and lighter. That’s why they work so well for daylight, outdoorsy moments. While the eau de toilette has fresh but heavier tones.

So, identifying these two main differences will help you decide which one to use. As much as they’re similar in the duration, you should be able to identify when going for one or the other.

The Higher The Concentration The Longer It Lasts On Your Skin

Now that we’ve got the difference out of the way between cologne and eau de toilette, you must choose which one you’re going to wear. The first principle is understanding that the higher the concentration the longer it lasts on your skin. This means that eau de toilette has a slightly higher oil concentration when compared to colognes.

This also means that eau de toilette is better for the more formal occasion since you’re not going to be able to be constantly reapplying the product over and again. This is why eau de toilette is usually recommended for the workplace or daylight wearing, for instance.

Think of colognes for informal events. They usually happen outdoors and during the day. They’re supposed to be fun and light when it comes to the atmosphere.

So, the higher the concentration the longer it lasts on your skin. An easy way to think about this is to view it as the higher the oil concentration, the later during the day you’re supposed to wear it.

Cologne Is Perfect For Daylight Wear

Imagine that you’re going out to the park. It’s a beautiful, sunny day and you want to just have a fun day outdoors. You want to smell nice, but it’s the day and you don’t want to overdress or anything like that. So, the best that you can do is wear cologne. You’ll smell good without having that strong scent that people can feel miles away.

That’s what colognes were made for. Those fun moments in which you’re supposed to not overdo anything. That’s why it goes so well for informal occasions during the day. You can just have a fresher, lighter scent that helps compose the way you present yourself to the world.

Now, pay attention that you’re getting an authentic cologne and not a body deodorant. There’s a big difference and some brands do sell one as the other. You must make sure that you’re getting an authentic, high-quality cologne.

The RawChemistry Cologne is a great men’s cologne. It works well for all the occasions that we’ve mentioned above. You can wear it for any light and fun events that you have during the day. Click to view pricing on Amazon here.

Eau De Toilette Is Great As Aftershave

You probably shave in the morning before going out to the office. Now, there’s a good chance that you apply some aftershave balm or something similar when you’re done. Now, one thing that might be missing from your grooming routine is applying eau de toilette afterward.

The reason is simple. It’ perfect for an aftershave. It gives you a light scent that it’s still heavy and strong enough to bring out a masculine vibe. Since the eau de toilette lasts around 3 hours on the skin, you should wear it for more formal occasions. So, if you’ve just finished shaving, wear an eau de toilette.

Make sure that you get one that has a stronger scent instead of fruity, fresh ones that you normally find in colognes. This will be the perfect final touch for your grooming routine in the morning.

So, if you want help picking the right eau de toilette, go with the Calvin Klein Euphoria Eau de Toilette for Men. It’s a great eau de toilette with all the characteristics that we’ve talked about for the perfect aftershave. To view pricing on Amazon, click here.

Go With Cologne For Light And Fresh Scents

The main differences between eau de toilette and cologne are the time that each one lasts and the difference in the tones of the fragrances. This makes each one perfect for one time of the day than the other. In the case of the cologne, you’ll find fruity, fresh, and light tones.

This is what makes this product perfect for daylight wear during informal events. It’s fun, relaxing, and cool. It’s like those shorts that you wear when you go to the park. They’re great but you wouldn’t wear them in certain places. They scream informality and youth. That’s what the colognes are all about.

So, if you’re headed for any event that resembles those descriptions, you can’t go wrong with cologne. You can make use of your senses to determine whether or not to wear a specific cologne.

Now, for fun daylight events consider the St James of London Sandalwood & Bergamot Cologne. It’s a great men’s cologne that will give you this cool, youth vibe right away. Take a look at the best pricing here.

Eau De Toilette Is The Choice For The Workplace

Now, if you need some tips about when to use the eau de toilette, don’t worry. The best places to wear this is the formal events that you have during the daylight or even the early evening. Pretty much anything related to your workplace. If you also have meetings, this is the perfect occasion to wear your eau de toilette.

Another great opportunity to wear the eau de toilette is a wedding. As you can see, most places that you would wear a suit during the day will do. The Eau the toilette gives you a formal, stronger vibe without being a too strong scent like a perfume.

For events like those, you should pick the BLACK RON MARONE’S Men Eau de Toilette. It’s a great men’s eau de toilette. With heavy notes than cologne but still perfect for daylight wear. Get yours here.

Final Thoughts

So, that’s the difference between eau de toilette and cologne. They’re not that different, you should not wear them interchangeably. Pick the right occasions for each, and you’ll be good to go and rock your fragrance.

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