The difference is the share of perfume oil in the bottle. Eau de toilette (EDT) is the lighter version, eau de parfum (EDP) holds more oil and usually lasts longer, and parfum or extrait is the most concentrated. Higher concentration tends to mean a richer, closer and longer-lasting scent, but the formula matters as much as the label.
What the names mean
Brands do not publish exact percentages and there is no legal standard, so the ranges below are typical rather than fixed. They describe the share of aromatic compounds dissolved in alcohol.
| Type | Typical oil content | How it usually wears |
|---|---|---|
| Eau de cologne | About 2-5% | A fresh splash; fades within a couple of hours |
| Eau de toilette (EDT) | About 5-15% | Brighter opening, lighter trail, a few hours of wear |
| Eau de parfum (EDP) | About 15-20% | Fuller heart and base, often most of a day |
| Parfum | About 20-30% | Dense and close to the skin, long wear |
| Extrait de parfum | About 20-40% | The richest version a house makes, applied in small amounts |
"Parfum" on its own is a different, stronger grade than "eau de parfum". Some houses also use names like "elixir", "intense" or "absolu". These usually signal a stronger or darker version, but they are marketing names, not concentration grades.
Does a higher concentration really last longer?
Aromifo members rate longevity and sillage for every perfume on a 1 to 10 scale. Grouping rated perfumes by the concentration in their name shows what wearers actually experience.
| Concentration | Perfumes rated | Avg. longevity /10 | Avg. sillage /10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eau de cologne | 169 | 6.5 | 6.1 |
| Eau de toilette (EDT) | 2,359 | 6.7 | 6.3 |
| Eau de parfum (EDP) | 2,336 | 7.3 | 6.8 |
| Parfum | 1,109 | 7.7 | 7.1 |
| Extrait de parfum | 389 | 8.1 | 7.5 |
EDPs average 7.3/10 for longevity and EDTs 6.7/10. That 0.5-point lead shows up on average, yet a well-built EDT can still outlast a light EDP.
Why the label is only part of the story
Longevity depends on which materials are in the formula. Citrus, aquatic and green notes evaporate quickly at any concentration. Woods, resins, vanilla, amber and musks stay on skin for hours. An EDT built around a heavy base can outlast an EDP that is mostly fresh top notes. The guide to perfume longevity explains the other factors, from skin type to temperature.
Same name, different perfume
When a house releases an EDT and an EDP under one name, they are rarely the same formula at two strengths. The EDP often has more vanilla, amber or woods and a softer opening, and some versions share little beyond the name and bottle. Treat each one as its own perfume: read its notes and compare the ratings on both pages before assuming the stronger one is simply "more" of the scent you know.
Flankers and reformulations
Flankers (variations such as "Intense", "Night" or "Sport") change the composition too, and their strength varies widely. Formulas also change over the years as ingredients are restricted or replaced, so an older bottle can wear differently from a current one with the same label.
How to tell which version you have
The concentration is printed on the front or base of the bottle and on the box, usually as the full French name or an abbreviation such as EDT, EDP or EDC. The cap, juice color and bottle shape often change between versions as well, sometimes only slightly. If a listing does not state the concentration, treat it with caution: a lower price can mean the lighter version. On Aromifo each concentration has its own page, with its own notes, ratings and reviews, so you can check that the version you are reading about is the one you plan to buy.
Which one should you buy?
- For hot weather and daytime: an EDT or cologne is easier to wear in heat, where strong perfumes can become overwhelming. The best summer perfumes lean this way.
- For offices and close quarters: a lighter concentration, or fewer sprays of a stronger one, keeps the scent personal.
- For evenings and cold weather: an EDP, parfum or extrait gives the base notes room to develop.
- For value: compare cost per wear rather than bottle price. An extrait needs fewer sprays, so a smaller bottle can last as long as a larger EDT.
- If you like the opening most: EDTs often keep a brighter, more noticeable top; parfums tend to skip ahead to the warmer heart.
The surest way to choose is to test both versions on skin for a full day, or to compare their longevity and sillage votes side by side. The sillage guide covers how far each version is likely to project.