Eau de Parfum vs Eau de Toilette Explained

The terms on a perfume bottle describe how concentrated the fragrance oils are. There is no legal definition, so ranges vary between brands, but the usual guide is below.

The main concentrations

Parfum (or extrait) is the most concentrated, commonly around 20% or more. Eau de parfum (EDP) is typically around 15 to 20%. Eau de toilette (EDT) is typically around 5 to 15%. Eau de cologne is lighter still. Higher concentrations generally last longer and cost more per millilitre.

Same name, different scent

An EDP and EDT with the same name are often different compositions, not just stronger and weaker versions. Dior Sauvage is an example: the eau de toilette and eau de parfum share a name but have noticeably different notes.

Which should you choose?

EDT suits warm weather, offices and people who prefer a lighter scent. EDP suits cooler weather, evenings and people who want fewer reapplications. Try both on skin where possible, since the difference in smell can matter more than the difference in strength.