Eau Fraiche
Eau fraîche can describe a light format or appear in a perfume’s name. Learn why the words alone do not establish its concentration, alcohol content or wear.
Updated
Eau fraîche means fresh water in French. In fragrance writing it can describe a light format, but it also appears in product names. Those two uses make it an unreliable shortcut for identifying what is in a bottle.
Chanel sells Chance Eau Fraîche as an eau de parfum as well as an eau de toilette. Here, Eau Fraîche belongs to the fragrance’s name; the separate concentration label identifies the version. Check the full name rather than assuming everything called eau fraîche has the same strength.
The name also does not guarantee a water-based or alcohol-free formula, gentleness on sensitive skin, or a fixed wear time. Consult the product’s ingredient list and directions for those details. Choose it because you like the fragrance’s character, then assess its wear on your own skin.
- Eau fraîche as a format
- A term used for light fragrances; do not assume an exact percentage or carrier from the name alone.
- Eau Fraîche in a product name
- Part of the name of a scent or version. A separate label such as eau de toilette or eau de parfum may identify its concentration.
- Eau de toilette (EDT)
- A concentration designation usually positioned below eau de parfum. An EDT can have a distinct formula and should be sampled in its own right.
- Eau de parfum (EDP)
- A concentration designation usually positioned above eau de toilette within a range. The exact percentage and composition depend on the product.
- Alcohol-free
- A formulation claim that must be checked in the product information. It cannot be inferred from the word eau.