Eau de toilette, eau de parfum, extrait: concentrations explained
What the label actually tells you about strength, longevity and price — and which concentration to buy for which use.
January 26, 2026 · 6 min read
The only thing the label measures
Concentration names describe the percentage of perfume oil dissolved in alcohol and water. Roughly: cologne 2–5%, eau de toilette 5–12%, eau de parfum 12–20%, extrait de parfum 20–40%. Houses set their own numbers, so treat these as ranges, not rules.
More oil generally means longer wear and a heavier, closer trail. It does not automatically mean better: a well-built eau de toilette can outperform a thin eau de parfum, and some compositions are designed to be airy.
- Cologne / Eau Fraîche — 1 to 2 hours, best in heat, made for reapplying
- Eau de Toilette — 3 to 5 hours, the daily workhorse
- Eau de Parfum — 5 to 8 hours, the default for evenings and cold weather
- Extrait / Parfum — 8 hours plus, one dab, skin-close
Same name, different perfume
When a house releases a scent in several concentrations, it usually reformulates rather than simply adding oil. The eau de parfum of a fragrance is often sweeter or more floral than its eau de toilette, which may be sharper and greener.
That means you cannot assume you will love the stronger version because you love the lighter one. Check the notes listed for the exact bottle and size you are buying.
Testers, sets and travel sprays
Testers are the same juice as the retail bottle, supplied in plain packaging for counter use. If the box does not matter to you, they are the cheapest route to a full-size fragrance.
Gift sets and travel sprays are the low-risk way into an unfamiliar family — a 10ml atomiser is enough wearings to know whether a scent suits you before committing to 100ml.
How to spray
Two to four sprays for an eau de toilette, one to three for an eau de parfum, one dab for an extrait. Aim for pulse points — neck, chest, inner elbows — where warmth pushes the scent outward, and do not rub, which breaks up the top notes.
Fragrance also lives on fabric far longer than on skin. A single spray on a scarf or jacket lining gives a softer, longer trail than doubling the dose on your neck.
Family guides referenced here
Fresh Citrus
Bright, clean and immediate
Citrus fragrances open on cold-pressed peel oils — bergamot, lemon, mandarin, grapefruit, neroli — which give an instant lift the moment the spray lands. They are the most legible perfumes on skin: nobody has to work out what they are smelling.
Wear it: Daytime, heat, offices and travel. Reapply once around midday — citrus is meant to feel freshly sprayed.
Bergamot · Lemon · Mandarin · Grapefruit · Neroli · Petitgrain · White musk · Vetiver
Amber & Spice
Warm, resinous, opulent
Often labelled oriental, this family is built on resins and balsams — labdanum, benzoin, myrrh, tonka — lit up by warm spices such as cinnamon, cardamom, clove and pink pepper. The effect is enveloping rather than sharp.
Wear it: Autumn and winter evenings, dinners, cold air. Spray on clothing for a softer, slower reveal.
Amber · Labdanum · Benzoin · Tonka bean · Cinnamon · Cardamom · Clove · Myrrh