Eau de toilette facts for kids

Bottles of eau de toilette

Eau de toilette is a type of perfume that helps you smell nice. People often call it "toilet water" or "aromatic waters." It's mostly made with alcohol and special scented oils. You usually put it on your skin after you've had a bath or shower, or after shaving. It's like a lighter, more affordable version of strong perfumes.

What is Eau de Toilette?

Eau de toilette is a light and refreshing scent. It's made by mixing a small amount of fragrant oils with a lot of alcohol and some water. This makes it less strong than pure perfume, but still enough to give you a pleasant smell. The word "toilette" comes from a French word meaning "grooming" or "getting ready." So, "eau de toilette" literally means "grooming water."

How is it Made?

The main ingredients in eau de toilette are alcohol and different kinds of essential oils. These oils come from plants, flowers, or other natural sources, and they give the scent its unique smell. The alcohol helps to spread the scent and makes it evaporate quickly, leaving the nice smell on your skin. Sometimes, a little bit of water is also added to the mixture.

Eau de Toilette vs. Perfume

You might wonder how eau de toilette is different from other perfumes. The main difference is how much scented oil is in it.

• Perfume (also called "parfum" or "extrait de parfum") has the highest amount of scented oils, usually between 15% and 40%. This makes it very strong and long-lasting.
• Eau de parfum has a bit less, usually 10% to 20% scented oils. It's still quite strong and lasts for several hours.
• Eau de toilette has even less, typically 5% to 15% scented oils. This means it's lighter and doesn't last as long, usually for about 2 to 4 hours.
• Eau de cologne is the lightest, with only 2% to 5% scented oils. It's very refreshing but fades quickly.

Because eau de toilette has less concentrated oils, it's often more affordable than stronger perfumes.

A Little History

The idea of using scented waters goes back a very long time. Ancient civilizations used fragrant oils and plants for personal hygiene and religious ceremonies. In Europe, especially in France, scented waters became very popular in the 17th and 18th centuries. People used them to freshen up and to mask odors before daily bathing was common. Over time, these "toilet waters" became more refined, leading to the eau de toilette we know today.

How to Use It

Using eau de toilette is simple! You can spray or dab it on your skin, usually on "pulse points" where your blood flows close to the surface. These spots include your wrists, neck, and behind your ears. The warmth from these areas helps the scent to spread and last longer. It's a great way to feel fresh and confident throughout the day.

Images for kids

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  Bottles of eau de toilette

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  Perfume formulas 1910