Everything you need to know about fragrance concentrations
You’ve probably seen “EDT”, “EDP” or “Extrait de Parfum” on fragrance bottles, but what do they mean?
Perfume concentrations define the perfume’s identity, but they also affect its performance.
This post will cover all types of fragrance concentrations in detail and help you figure out what you’re getting.
There are different kinds of fragrance concentrations
A fragrance’s concentration is just as important as the scent when it comes to choosing one.
Think twice before ignoring concentration labels the next time you’re buying a perfume, because concentration affects longevity, projection, scent, and price.
Concentration just means how much essential oil is in the perfume compared to alcohol.
In fragrances, there are 7 types:
- EDT (Eau de toilette)
- Perfume (EDP)
- (EDC) Eau de Cologne
- Perfume
- An extra shot of perfume
- Parfum Senteur
- Water made from whipped cream
- Aftershave and splash
- An EDT is an eau de toilette.
The EDT concentration is one of the most popular fragrance concentrations, containing between 5 and 15% of essential oils.
You can choose EDT if you don’t mind reapplying a scent a few times a day for longer lasting fragrance.
In spite of the general rule that fragrances with EDT concentrations are not high-performing fragrances, Dior Sauvage is an example of an EDT that performs well in terms of longevity and performance overall.
EDT’s wide versatility is another reason why people choose it. As a result of their light composition, EDT scents are very wearable and appealing for almost any occasion and season.
Since you will need more sprays and reapplications throughout the day, EDT usually comes in larger bottles. They are also cheaper.
A perfume (EDP) is a fragrance.
The Eau de Parfum or EDP has 15-25% oil concentration, making it one of the most popular fragrance concentrations in the world.
In general, EDP has a stronger scent and performance (stronger than EDT), but as the industry evolves, it doesn’t have to be.
Despite the concentration, not every EDP scent lasts forever – the composition and quality of the scent are also important. Therefore, even if two EDP scents have the same oil concentration, they’ll perform differently.
EDP’s versatility is unmatched – it’s a strong, personalized scent, some of them are ideal for chilly, snowy days to keep you warm, and others are better for hot, summer days to boost your mood. With so many EDP fragrances to choose from, you can easily pick your signature scent and wear it year round.
For people who like to stand out and get lots of compliments, I recommend EDP over other scents.
It’s a perfume
Perfumes that are strong, long-lasting, and powerful are usually called Parfums. The scent and performance of parfum fragrances are particularly strong because they have a high oil concentration and less alcohol.
This is a general rule, but sometimes it doesn’t apply to certain fragrances, such as Dior Sauvage Parfum – EDT and EDP last longer than Parfum!
Because of its strong composition, some people find it too harsh or robust, so they stick with EDP, which can also last forever but stays soothing.
As fragrances with Parfum concentration tend to have very intense scents, I would recommend wearing them on occasions where you don’t want your perfume to be drowned in a sea of other scents – thanks to its powerful concentration, Parfum will be able to remain present through the most extreme conditions I can imagine.
This is a perfume extrait
It is safe to assume that extract de parfum is the most concentrated form of the scent available on the market (35-45% of essential oil concentration) and we can safely say, one of the best performing and longest-lasting fragrances out there. The reason for this is that they are usually the most expensive ones on the market.
The essence de parfum scents are unique not only due to its strength, but also due to the fact that they are usually crafted from natural, rare and precious ingredients with more complex formulae, which automatically raises the price. Such a quality composition allows you to apply only 2 to 3 drops of the strong liquid and you’ll get the best results.
Using the most expensive floral essences makes Extrait de parfum so unique that they’re usually sold in splash bottles/falcons to make sure no drop is wasted.
Extrait de parfum fragrances are made for special occasions, but if you can afford to wear it every day as your signature scent, it’s fine to do so.
The Tiziana Terenzi Kirke and Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540 Extrait de Parfum is one of the best Extrait de Parfum fragrances – its sillage and projection are enormous, its longevity is literally eternal, and you can’t wash it off.
(EDC) Eau de Cologne
Have you been looking for a refreshing, light scent for the warmer weather? Check out the EDC concentration.
They’re weaker, lighter, and not as long-lasting – normally up to 3 hours – because EDC fragrances have a low oil concentration (2-4% essential oil) and more alcohol. Sometimes they’re called sprays, but they’re cheaper than Eau de toilette.
This is a scent you wear for a short, spring walk or a casual day activity where you don’t need to smell seductive. Keeping your EDC fragrance alive will require many reapplications throughout the day.
Eau de cologne isn’t for night activities like clubbing or formal events when you want to smell confident and catch everyone’s eye. Nevertheless, it’s great for a walk in the park.
Senteur eau de toilette
Among the fragrance types you might not know about is the Eau de Senteur, a scent made for kids under 3 years old.
Instead of alcohol, Eau de Senteur uses a different solvent to blend the ingredients, which makes it sticky when applied.
Don’t put Eau de Senteur on the child’s skin, but on his clothes. While they’re alcohol-free, it’s still a good idea to be extra careful when it comes to a baby’s sensitive skin.
Generally, they’re made with natural ingredients, so they’re sought-after products.
Fraiche water
As with Eau de Cologne, Eau Fraiche only contains a small amount of fragrance oil (1-3%), but unlike Eau de Cologne, it doesn’t contain alcohol. It’s basically fragrance oil and water concentrated into a small bottle.
Unlike EDC, they’re aromatic, but less violent; since they don’t have alcohol, they won’t last long.
If you have sensitive skin, you should probably pick Eau Fraiche over EDC since they are great refreshers and daytime scents.
Calvin Klein came up with the idea first – the CK One was a musky, citrusy, woody scent that many gentlemen liked. Other houses followed Calvin Klein and started making their own Eau Fraiche.
Spritz and aftershave
The splash and aftershave scents are great for men who want something to freshen up with after shaving or showering. Because they contain so little fragrance oil, they’re affordable and great for everyday use.
Aftershaves and splashes are cost-effective, and the alcohol in them tightens pores and makes skin look good.
You have just found the answer to your question if you are shaving frequently and would like a fragrance that is not overpowering, but subtle enough for everyday use.
Choosing the Right Fragrance Concentration
Depending on your needs and what you want from your fragrance, you can choose from the different fragrance concentration types.
When it comes to a signature scent that you can wear every day without feeling like it’s going to be aggressive or punch-your-face, I suggest an Eau de toilette or Eau de parfum.
There’s no doubt that these two fragrances will make you feel desirable and splendid, EDT will be cheaper, but EDP will last longer and separate you from everyone else.
In case you’re into strong fragrances and want a scent that’s dominant, powerful, and superior, then Parfum and Extrait de Parfum are for you. Obviously, the Parfum is more affordable, but if price isn’t an issue for younger performance, you’ll have to reapply them frequently.
Think about what you want from your next precious scent before you buy it; it all depends on what you want!
How do I choose the right fragrance concentration?
We can’t really tell you what the best fragrance concentration is because we need to consider the season, the occasion, and the price when comparing them, but we always recommend Eau de Toilette (EDT) or Eau de Parfum (EDP).
A good EDP would work well in any environment if you’re one of those people who want one signature scent. An eau de parfum is like a golden middle, both in concentration and value. Use it every day and get a breath-taking, long-lasting scent. With beautiful scents and great performance, there are dozens of excellent, high-quality EDP fragrances to choose from.
In addition, EDP isn’t too strong or offensive like Parfum or Extrait de parfum. Parfum is for people who want their perfume to be impulsive and dominant.
There’s no point in having a signature scent if you have a lighter scent, like EDC or Eau Fraiche. You might prefer EDT over the two mentioned ones if you like lighter shades.
If I had to choose only one fragrance type, EDP would win. It all depends on your taste, so experiment with different concentrations and see what works!
Here’s the summary
As you learn more about fragrance types, you realize what mistakes you’ve been making when buying new scents. Those are mine too!
When you try and explore new types of fragrances, you’ll learn how your skin reacts to certain products and what those, now not so strange, labels mean, so you don’t waste your money on something that won’t work.
The next time you’re at a fragrance haunt, remember this post and pick a fragrance that will evoke your deepest desires and become your new passion!
While I am passionate about perfume, I live in a rural area of the Bronx, New York, far from any perfume stores that are close by. It is straightforward: I do not have any credentials to provide as the author of this blog. I just love perfume, that’s all I have to offer.
In addition to wearing male, female, and unisex fragrances, I also enjoy wearing perfumes containing woods, incense, citrus, flowers, spices, vetiver, and green notes. As well as chypre perfumes, I enjoy fragrances with oakmoss, especially chypres. Patchouli and amber are not particularly appealing to me, and with some notable exceptions, perfumes that smell very clean, oceanic, or are too sweet are not particularly appealing to me.
I also have an addiction to expensive chocolates and teas, and I spend a great deal of time browsing the Internet, reading blogs primarily written by others.