Eau de Parfum vs Eau de Toilette vs Extrait: The Difference Explained
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The words on a perfume bottle - parfum, eau de parfum, eau de toilette - are not just branding. They tell you roughly how much fragrance oil is in the bottle, which drives strength, longevity and price.
The concentrations, strongest to lightest
- Parfum / Extrait de Parfum - around 20-30% oil. The richest and longest-lasting; applied sparingly.
- Eau de Parfum (EDP) - around 15-20%. The sweet spot: strong projection, 6-8+ hours, still wearable day to day. Most Perfume Nest fragrances are EDP.
- Eau de Toilette (EDT) - around 8-12%. Lighter and fresher, 3-5 hours, great for hot weather and the office.
- Eau de Cologne (EDC) - around 3-8%. A splash-style refresher, 2-3 hours.
- Body mist - around 1-3%. Very light all-over spray for layering and quick top-ups.
Does higher concentration always mean "better"?
No. It means stronger and longer-lasting. In summer heat an EDT can be more pleasant than a heavy EDP. For an evening out or cold weather, EDP or parfum makes more sense. Concentration also changes the balance - extraits often push the base notes forward, so the same fragrance can smell a little different across concentrations.
What about price?
More oil usually costs more. This is one reason Arabian eau de parfums are such good value - you get EDP-level concentration and longevity without the designer markup.