How Long Does Cologne Last?

Have you ever stepped into a perfume shop and felt like the only human in an alien world? Does all the talk about Eau de colognes and Eau de parfum make your head spin faster than the blades of your smoothie machine? You might also wonder how long does cologne last as compared to Eau De Toilette or Eau De Parfum?

Do you have no idea what ‘notes’ are doing outside the finance and music worlds? Did you also take a double take when you first heard the salesperson recommend one of their best Eau de toilettes for you?

Fragrances can be pretty tricky, especially if you have been picking up a random deodorant stick from the supermarket aisle all your life. Anyone entering the vast and super confusing world of fragrances is bound to feel out of place for the first time. It is only natural to feel a bit overwhelmed at first with fancy French terms like eau de toilette and eau de cologne.

But don’t worry! If you relate to the situations described above, you are exactly where you need to be! This article today will clear out all your misconceptions and doubts about the various types of fragrances. 

Right from what the different terms mean to how to tell if the perfume bottle that has been sitting on your vanity for years should now be put in the trash – we are here with answers to all the questions you have been asking yourself.

Cologne Vs Eau De Toilette – What Do These Terms Mean?

To maintain clarity, we will start from the very basic things about fragrances. What are those French words that grace the label of every alluring fragrance you pick up? What do these fancy sounding terms even mean, and how are they different from each other?

There are basically five different types of fragrances that you can get: Extrait de parfum, Eau de parfum, eau de toilette, eau de cologne, and Eau Fraiche. The main difference between these five products is the percentage of fragrance essential oils each one has in its formula. Below, I have described each fragrance a little, highlighting its perfume content.

1. Extrait de parfum:

Translated into English, extrait de parfum would mean perfume extract. Often also referred to as parfum, perfume, or pure perfume, this is the highest concentration of fragrance that you can find. Like the name suggests, it consists 20 to 40 percent of fragrance essential oils, with no diluting medium to bring down the intensity.

While one might think that the purest form of fragrance would also be the best one, this is not necessarily the case. Pure perfume can be extremely strong for some people and might weigh down on their moods. It is not great for an everyday fragrance either and would call out too much attention to itself if you wore it to work. It also has a huge price tag to it, which would burn a hole straight through anyone’s pocket if they used it daily.

2. Eau de parfum: 

One step below the extrait de parfum is the Eau de parfum. The term is French for perfume water, which gives you a hint that the fragrance has been somewhat diluted. About 15 to 20 percent of the formula’s contents are pure fragrance essential oils, with a diluting medium such as alcohol making up the rest 80 to 85 percent.

As you can see, an Eau de parfum is a super diluted form of pure perfume extract. This makes it much more reasonably priced and brings down the intensity enough to be worn during evening events and on special occasions.

3. Eau de toilette:

Though the literal translation of eau de toilette would mean ‘toilet water,’ the reality is much more pleasant. (Imagine the horror!) More appropriately referred to as ‘grooming water’ by English speakers, this version of fragrance contains about 5 to 15 percent fragrance essential oils.

Eau de toilette is a fragrance of choice for your everyday wear. This scent will quickly announce your arrival before you step into the room but is not too heavy on the senses, either. Given that you have the right pick, it can be easily worn to work and other professional settings.

4. Eau de cologne:

If you prefer a scent that is not too overpowering but lasts considerably long at the same time, you might be looking for an eau de cologne. Perfect for everyday wear, this scent is made up of 2 to 4 percent fragrance oils, with the bulk volume being alcohol. This term is usually used for a fragrance for men.

Another great option to wear every day, an eau de cologne, is even more affordable than all the options discussed above. This type of fragrance is perfect for those who want to have a signature scent all the time without it being super ostentatious.

5. Eau Fraiche:

Finally, Eau Fraiche or ‘fresh water’ is the most diluted version of all fragrances available. This is mainly meant to refresh a person rather than serve as a bold scent that sticks around for the entire day. The fragrance formula of Eau Fraiche has between 1 to 3 percent fragrance oils diluted in alcohol and water. Because water is the main constituent forming the bulk of the fragrance, this is a good choice for those with sensitive skin prone to drying out from alcohol in a perfume. 

How Long Do Cologne And Eau De Toilette Last?

Now that we have familiarized ourselves with the vocabulary let’s dive a bit deeper into the world of fragrance and compare two of the most popular versions: eau de toilette and eau de cologne.

How long does cologne last, and how long will an eau de toilette stick around? This is a question of the utmost importance when making a fragrance purchase decision.

Generally, the more concentrated a scent is, the longer it is expected to last. For example, an eau de toilette will be easily detectable on your skin for up to three hours after application. An eau de cologne, on the other hand, will last you somewhere between an hour and two before drifting away.

An excellent tip for making your fragrances stay on for longer is moisturizing your skin before spritzing on the cologne. Fragrance binds to natural oils in your body, which helps to regulate the dissipation of scent as time passes. 

If you lack these natural body oils and suffer from dry skin, a little bit of vaseline on your pulse points can go a long way towards making you smell great all day. The petrolatum-based moisturizing products take over the job of your body’s oils in this regard.

How To Apply Cologne Effectively?

If you are going to be out the entire day, you will surely want your fragrance to stick around longer. One way to go about this would be to opt for higher concentrations of fragrance. This could probaby be Eau de parfum or even an extrait de parfum. 

However, these products do not come cheap and can weigh quite a lot on your pocket. If you are not ready to make a big investment at the moment, following some simple tips below=.

The most effective application of cologne requires proper preparation and strategy. It is more than just knowing where to spray cologne or how many spritz to do. How to put on cologne starts right from the condition of your skin before the application.

For the best experience, you should start off on clean skin. Spraying cologne after a shower works great because it gives you the perfect canvas to showcase your favorite scent. As we have already discussed above, moisturizing the skin before application is also preferable, especially if you will not be getting a chance to reapply the fragrance that soon.

The bottle should be poised about 3 inches away from your skin and sprayed on your pulse points. These include your wrists, neck, chest, and inside your elbows. This helps trap the scent and release it slowly over time to keep you smelling great for hours.

Oftentimes, you will see people rubbing their wrists together after having applied perfume. This is something that you want to avoid at all costs! Putting pressure on the scent just after application deteriorates the formula and ruins the entire experience.

Some people will spray their cologne on their clothes rather than on exposed skin. Other than risking permanent damage to your garments, this completely defeats the purpose of putting on a fragrance. Fragrances are designed to mix with your body oils to develop into a unique scent. 

Spraying it on top of your shirt will not allow this to happen and rob you off a magical experience. With this practice, the scent also fails to linger around for long and quickly dissipates into the environment.

Another mistake that many people make is using too much perfume. An overpowering scent is probably way worse than no scent at all. A fragrance that screams ‘notice me!’ will not leave the lasting impression that you would want for yourself. Always remember, less is more with fragrance!

Does Cologne Expire?

Some fragrance enthusiasts love to collect scents of all kinds from all over the world. I have more than a few friends who have perfume bottles teamed up on their vanities to the brink of falling over. Musky, fruity, balsamic, aromatic, floral, and spicy – they have a scent for every mood and occasion. As pretty as they look on top of their grooming station, it pains me to see them losing their magic.

Does cologne go bad? If you are an avid perfume collector, you have definitely wondered about this at one point or another. Well, sadly, like all other cosmetics and beauty products, cologne also has an expiration date. However, how long a bottle of cologne lasts is hugely variable due to its unique fragrance formula.

The alcohol in a perfume serves multiple purposes in the fragrance formula. It dilutes the strength of fragrance essential oils and makes them less overpowering. It also serves as a great carrier medium and a preservative for the scent. And so, it is usually the fragrances with the highest alcohol content that will last you the longest.

Of all the various types of fragrances, an eau de cologne has the highest concentration of alcohol. This should make a cologne the number one fragrance to buy if you want to use it over the years. However, this is not always true. An Eau de parfum can often last way longer than an Eau de toilette or even the best long-lasting cologne. This is because the longevity of a scent depends on how its ingredients react with one another over time.

Another big factor that comes into play when we talk about longevity is the nature of the scent. In general, fragrances that feature a heavy or woody base note stand the test of time better. On the other hand, lighter base notes like citrus or floral quickly lose their pleasant smell.

How To Know That Your Cologne Has Gone Bad?

The right fragrance can take you from feeling on your lowest to feeling on top of the world. But if your favorite scent has been showing signs of deterioration, you should be chucking it straight into the trash. Putting on expired perfume can have some pretty serious consequences. It may not only smell unpleasant but also lead to a bad allergic reaction in severe cases.

So, how can you tell that the perfume on your vanity now belongs in the trash?

Check The Label

The easiest and most obvious way to determine your cologne’s viability is by looking for an expiration date on the label. Check carefully both the packaging of the cologne and the bottle itself. Make a habit of noting down the best before the date of all cosmetics in bold on the product, so it keeps reminding you to use up the product before it becomes unsafe to apply.

However, you will not always find an exact expiration date on all your fragrances. In this case, there are two things to note if you want to see if your cologne is still good: a change in the scent and a change in appearance. These tests are especially important if your cologne has been sitting on the dressing table for a couple of years or if it has been a while since you last used it – even if it is not that old.

Test the Scent

Fragrances that have lived beyond their shelf life often develop a sour smell. As the ingredients in the formula deteriorate, they can give the liquid a vinegar-like smell. However, it is essential to note that your perfume does not have to smell bad to have expired and cause a bad reaction. 

Any change in the original scent can mean that your cologne is no longer safe to use – even if it still smells pleasant. Other times, the expiration only causes a scent to lose its intensity and not its character.

Check the Appearance

‘Similarly, a change in the appearance of the perfume can also hint at its expiration. This includes a change in color, opacity, or even volume. All of this indicates changes in the fragrance formula, which can have huge consequences on your favorite cologne’s safety and usability.

How To Make Your Cologne Last Longer?

So, fragrances do expire. Sad, but this is how it is. However, the silver lining of this cloud is that you can do things that can help prolong the life of your favorite scents. This would not help a cologne live beyond its natural life, but they can surely make sure that your cologne lives up to that time.

The secret to making your cologne last longer is storing it correctly. Without the proper storage practices, even the best long-lasting cologne can start smelling bad long before it is due to expire.

Many people stock their colognes in the bathroom shelf to easily apply them right after the shower. This is absolutely the worst place to keep a bottle of cologne. Greatly varying temperatures, humidity, and moisture – all of these are bad news when it comes to life of a fragrance.

Another popular place to keep your perfume bottle is atop your vanity. This is just as bad as storing the bottle in the bathroom, especially if it is in a spot where the sunlight hits it directly.

Well, then where exactly should all your cologne bottles go? If you want them to survive the longest possible for them, you should be seeking a cool, dry spot and do not experience a lot of temperature fluctuation. This ideal spot should also be away from direct sunlight. 

Keep the same container’s perfume that it came in instead of decanting it into a fancier bottle just for the looks. While this may be tempting, doing so allows impurities to mix into the formula and make it go back sooner than it otherwise would. To ensure minimum oxygen exposure, always recap your cologne right after use and never leave it lying open.

The Final Word

Fragrance is a super important – but often neglected – part of your entire outfit. The right scent can give an otherwise ordinary look just the thing that it needs to become extraordinary. It also allows you to express yourself and establish a unique identity for yourself with a signature scent.

A good quality cologne can instantly raise your confidence level, make you seem more attractive, and increase the chances of someone you meet liking you after the very first interaction. Simply putting on a cologne can make you much more approachable and open up a number of new doors for you. It can totally transform the way how others, and even you, perceive yourself.

Some scents are also shown to reduce the levels of the stress hormones in your body and make you more cool-headed. With so many benefits, investing in a good cologne for everyday wear just makes sense.

So, what fragrance are you putting on today?

You might want to checkout the difference between Eau De Parfum and Eau De Toilette here!

Other interesting articles on men’s grooming can be found here:

• Hair Care: Best Smelling Shampoo to refresh your day, or Best Hair Wax for Your Hairstyles or Best Hair Products to add more volume to your hair,
• Colognes: Best colognes to attract females or Best colognes for young men to smell great or Best Natural Deodorant
• Body Care: Best Trimmers for Balls
• Shaving: Best Electric Razor for Sensitive Skin or Best Shaving Blades

Like our reviews? Follow us on our Instagram and Facebook to get the latest men’s grooming product reviews and buyers guides!