Perfume extract

In perfumery, there are many variations of fragrances with different olfactory concentration: perfume extract, eau de parfum, eau de Cologne, eau de toilette, eau fraîche, eau de senteur. Perfume extract is the richest and most concentrated product available today.

What is perfume extract? 

In the beginning of the 20th century, perfume was often designed in the form of an extract, a substance in which essential oils are weighed, combined, and diluted in alcohol to form a product particularly rich in essences. 

The perfume extract reveals the true soul of the fragrance thanks to its very high concentration.

The raw materials of the perfume extract are orchestrated in a way to obtain very intense heart and base notes. Most perfume extracts contain 20-40% concentrate in 98° vol. alcohol. 

However, there are no specific regulations and each brand is free to name its product as they wish (eau de parfum, eau de Cologne, etc). The only condition is that the perfume extract must be powerful and tenacious.

The perfume extract has, in fact, a lot of volume and presence, a few drops are enough to give a perfect, long-lasting and stable scent. Perfume extract is often applied directly to the skin.

Perfume extracts are becoming rare today, but they still exist in large perfume houses.

Extracts for women are more common than extracts for men, the latter have been created and recently launched on the perfumery market.

When to apply the perfume extract?

To perfume yourself with perfume extract, you only need to apply a very light touch. 

Indeed, a small dose of this fragrance will be more present, but also more intimate and discreet than a large spray of eau de toilette. 

The perfume extract, when well chosen, will be difficult to identify by the specialists themselves, in fact the alchemy with the skin can be particularly harmonious and surprising.

In general, you will be advised to perfume yourself with the perfume extract in the evening. However, do not hesitate to use it also at the beginning of the day. The perfume extract is a very good alternative if you want to smell your perfume all day long and let the people around you enjoy it. All you need to do is to wear your perfume extract in the morning then. 

The perfume extract will thus unite with your skin in an inimitable alchemy, and exhale a unique scent all day long. If used properly, the perfume extract will never be too strong or heady. 

If you have a large bottle of perfume extract, it is better to pour it into a spray bottle. Otherwise, simply apply the perfume extract with the cap on the skin.

To make your trail perfect, you can spray yourself with eau de parfum or eau de toilette after applying the perfume extract. Spay your fragrance in the form of a triangle, start from your hair, then on the inside of your jacket, and up to its hem. You can also spray a cloud of scent and walk in a few seconds later. Don't forget to apply the other beauty products (cream, body lotion, deodorant) that will help the fragrance to hold. 

If you want to go even further in the perfection of your wake, add a few drops of eau de toilette to the rinse water of your lingerie, or wash your lingerie with your shampoo. These steps will guarantee you a perfect wake and unparalleled refinement for the whole day.

Why is the perfume extract different on every skin? 

It is important to know that perfume extract, just like eau de parfum, eau de toilette, or eau de Cologne, will act differently on each person. 

Indeed, the scent of your skin blends with the base notes of the perfume and creates a magical fusion. However, each skin has its own scent, which will vary according to many factors (its pH, the person's diet, activity, medication, etc). Each skin is truly unique (see Choosing a perfume according to skin type).

Moreover, a perfume extract, or any other fragrance, will not offer the same scent depending on the city or country you are in, as well as the quality of the air and atmosphere (polluted, humid, dry, hot, air-conditioned).

If the alchemy does not work, the meeting between your skin and the fragrance will not be conclusive. The best thing to do is to try another one, until you find your signature perfume extract.

Perfume extract and other fragrances

Perfumers usually say that perfume extracts are denser in natural raw materials than other fragrances, such as eau de toilette, eau de Cologne or eau de parfum. Indeed, perfume extracts are particularly rich and more concentrated in noble natural materials and base notes than other perfume derivatives. 

If an eau de parfum contains few very expensive materials such as iris, rose, or jasmine, the extract may contain more. Ambergris, for example, can only be used for the extract. Musk, bergamot, woody notes such as cedar, vetiver or patchouli can be found in all concentrations. Perfume extracts therefore have real added value and are often elaborated in a spirit of excellence. 

Each type of perfume has a different concentration:

• The perfume extract is generally concentrated from 20% to 40%, so it remains discreet and is only smelled by the person wearing it or by people close to them. 
• The eau de parfum can be concentrated from 7% to 30%. It therefore offers both a good tenacity and a great trail. 
• The eau de toilette, in a concentration of 6% to 20%, will be less tenacious, but more extroverted, and often better perceived by the entourage in the wake than by the person wearing it.

There are no specific regulations concerning the degree of concentration of each fragrance. Thus, each product has very variable concentrations, which will be similar between an eau de toilette, an eau de parfum and a perfume extract. Moreover, each type of fragrance will be orchestrated in a different way. 

The tenacity and the trail are proof that the fragrance has been perfectly orchestrated and proves the perfumer's talent. Be careful though, some brands do not orchestrate perfume extract, eau de parfum or eau de toilette differently, and will simply vary the concentration from one product to another.

The role of fragrance

Whether it is an eau de parfum, an eau de toilette or a perfume extract, the fragrance must work as a mirror of your soul and be in perfect harmony with your deepest self. Indeed, a fragrance will convey a message to those around you, and act as your reflection. If it is badly chosen, the perfume risks making you feel unbalanced with yourself. 

Why are we always attracted by the same style of perfume?

The pleasant smells and tastes you experience on a daily basis throughout your life will constitute your olfactory memory, which will play an essential role when it comes to choosing your perfume. If you wish to find a perfume that suits you, there are real perfume consultations with specialists who will help you find a fragrance that suits your deepest identity.

Conclusion

The perfume extract can be applied in the morning, on the skin, and on the places of pulsation, where you want to be kissed. A perfume extract will never be too strong or too aggressive, quite the contrary. It is very intimate for oneself and one's entourage, while being more tenacious than other types of fragrances. Finally, perfume extract is to eau de toilette what haute couture is to ready-to-wear, a work of art in its own right. 

Sylvaine Delacourte fragrances

Discover Sylvaine Delacourte's brand with her Orange Blossom, Musk and Vanilla Collections. You can try them thanks to the Discovery Boxes (5 Eaux de Parfum x 2 ml) and rediscover these raw materials as you have never smelled them before.