Does Perfume Have Alcohol In It? [Know The Truth]

We all love the magical aura of perfumes. But have you noticed on the bottle that sometimes there is alcohol mentioned as one of its ingredients?

Now the question is, do perfumes actually contain alcohol, and if so what’s the reason?

I was curious too and dug deeper to find the answers. If you are interested to know what I have uncovered, tag along till the end.

Does Perfume Have Alcohol In It?

Yes, perfume has alcohol (ethyl alcohol) in it. Normally while making a fragrance, 70-85% alcohol is mixed with 12-15% of perfume oils as a diffusing agent. It dilutes the components together and strengthens the scent. However, the concentration of alcohol varies from EDP to EDT.

The ratio of alcohol is highest in perfumes and in Eau de toilette, and EDC, is the lowest.

For more clearer concept, take a look at the table:

As you can see various concentrations of alcohol and odorous ingredients define the lasting capability and strength of a fragrance. Another thing that you must know is that to make perfume, denatured alcohol is mostly used.

So, what is denatured alcohol?

Denatured alcohol is a bitter alcohol that is used in fragrances to hold and dissolve the perfume oils in the solution. It is made unfit to consume by adding chemicals that also change its color and taste.

Now that you know that alcohols are used in fragrances, it’s time to understand what’s the reason behind it.

Why Is Alcohol Used In Fragrance?

The ingredients used in perfumes are very concentrated, which makes them challenging to smell. So, it’s important to dilute them to make them suitable for use and smell pleasant.

That’s what alcohol does; it helps to merge the perfumes without changing their formula.

The purpose of alcohol in perfumes:

Solvent: Alcohol acts as the carrier for the perfume oils and other components. It bends the aromatic ingredients and helps them dissolve and blend efficiently.

Volatility: High alcohol concentrations in perfumes help to release the molecules spread in the air by breaking down the ingredients.

Performance: Denatured alcohol lifts perfume notes. It increases the silage in the perfumes, which means it helps to keep the scents long-lasting.

Perfumes that are not diluted in alcohol have lower sillage, so the scent stays close to the body, and even though it’s strong, it’s not as strong as alcohol-diffused ones.

Stability: Alcohol makes the fragrance stable. It works as an ideal base for perfumes and also prevents microbial growth and preserves perfume’s shelf life as well.

Does Alcohol In Perfume Affect Its Shelf Life?

Yes, alcohol’s quantity affects the shelf life of perfumes. Those fragrances that contain higher alcohol concentrations last longer than the ones that have lower amounts of alcohol.

Normally alcohol-free perfumes last around three years after their production. However, the actual shelf life depends on the formulation of each aroma.

To understand the shelf life you need to check the PAO (Period After Opening) label. It tells you how long you can use your aroma after opening the bottle.

With time perfumes can get oxidized and become acidic, sour, or can have plastic obertones without losing their intensity.

So, you can prevent and extend your fragrance’s shelf life by following the instructions of the PAO and storing it in a dry, cool place.

Anyway, perfumes can still get damaged and cause unpleasant smells. So you should know how to neutralize perfume odor.

And if the aroma is tolerable, use it to freshen your car, handbag, shoes, and even your home. I have done that several times because I don’t wanna waste my perfumes even though I can’t use them on the skin.

Types Of Alcohol Used In Fragrance

Alcohol is one of the key ingredients in perfumes. It is an excellent solvent for dissolving all the ingredients in a fragrance. Not only does it help to dissolve the components to give us crystal clear perfume, but it also maintains the mixture by keeping them all together.

Furthermore, when you apply perfume to your skin, the alcohol helps bring out the scent notes.

Here are the alcohols used in perfumes:

Ethanol (denatured): It is the most common alcohol used in perfumery. It is the main carrier for fragrance oils and is used with rectified spirit or water.

The best part of ethanol is that when it touches the skin, it evaporates quickly because this gets warmed up by skin temperature. Thus it releases the fragrance evenly.

Isopropyl Myristate: It has a light texture which makes it suitable for spray bottles. Also, it has good absorption and is an ideal choice for a perfume base.

Mono Propylene Glycol: It is an excellent co-solvent. It allows the perfume oils to blend properly in the carrier alcohol. It also controls evaporation so that the fragrance doesn’t evaporate quickly.

To make the best cologne, perfumers need to choose the alcohol with the best solvent quality. It not only gives the perfect smell but also enhances the quality.

Does Alcohol-Free Perfume Exist?

Yes, non-alcoholic perfumes exist. Alcohol-free fragrances don’t have alcohol as their base ingredients. Instead, you will find carriers like oil, water, wax, or resin as an alternative.

The main essential oils are mixed with these substances to create fragrances and that is alcohol-free perfume.

As I have mentioned oil is a substitute for alcohol in these scented compositions. Sweet almonds, wheat germ, or sesame oil can also be used to make such a composition.

However, several odorant ingredients are not soluble in oils. In such cases, wax, vegetables minerals, or wax are used.

These perfumes are greasy and called “concretes”. They come in solid form and you can easily apply them.

Perfume wax is getting very popular day by day because they are convenient and easy to carry. All you need to know is how to use solid perfume and you can skip carrying a fragrance bottle while traveling or going out.

Why Switch To Alcohol-Free Perfume?

Nowadays alcoholic perfumes are the most used fragrances. Because they are cost-effective and give a more vibrant scent. But through research, it’s evident that alcohol-based colognes have damaging effects on our skin and overall health. Which doesn’t happen with non-alcoholic scents.

These are the reasons why you should avoid alcohol-based perfume:

Does Perfume Oil Contain Alcohol?

Perfume oils are normally alcohol-free. However, alcohol is one of the elements among the many ingredients used in perfume oil. Carrier bases, esters, aldehydes, and other synthetic compounds are also used.

These ingredients are either derived from nature or created by scientific methods in laboratories.

A perfume oil also contains neutral and odorless carrier oils like coconut or jojoba. These are highly concentrated, which makes them last longer, and the scent is more constant.

Also, oil-based perfumes are more affordable and keep the fragrance close to your skin.

Such perfumes are typically used in roll-on applicators. When applied, the carrier oil is absorbed into your skin and leaves the scent on top.

FAQs

How much alcohol is in perfume?

Overall, perfumes consist of up to 70-90% alcohol (ethyl alcohol). The concentration of alcohol in perfume varies according to the type such as EDT, EDC, and EDP.

Do all perfumes contain alcohol?

No, all perfumes don’t contain alcohol. Though most fragrances are made with alcohol, there are alcohol-free aromas and perfume oils as well.

Can you get alcohol-free perfume?

Yes, you can get non-alcoholic perfumes nowadays. These are either water-based or fragrance oils which normally suit every skin type.

Is drinking alcohol used in perfume?

Drinking alcohol is not used in perfumes instead perfumers use denatured alcohol which is processed to to make it non-consumable.

Can you use rubbing alcohol for perfume?

You can use rubbing alcohol or Isopropyl alcohol in perfumery but it’s not an ideal element because it dilutes and evaporates very quickly.

Parting Thoughts

Perfumes are our dearest companions as they splendidly complement our personality. It’s no wonder a lot of creativity goes into making the fragrance of our dreams.

Alcohol is one of the basic ingredients that helps fragrances spread their magic and also brings out the fantastic factors in perfumes like airing the scent and dissolving the ingredients well.

However, there are oil-based perfumes that don’t use alcohol at all. I am certain, you got all the information you needed in this context.

For additional queries, comment below.