Eau de Parfum or Eau de Toilette: What’s the Difference?

Written by Jamie Phan

Edited by CHIQIO

Keywords: Eau de Parfum, Eau de Toilette, perfume guide, fragrance intensity, types of perfumes

Meta description: Discover the differences between Eau de Parfum and Eau de Toilette in our comprehensive guide. Learn about perfume oil concentrations, fragrance intensity, and how to choose the perfect scent for your style and personality.

Perfumes are a way for people to express themselves, their style, or aesthetic. Not only do you need to figure out what types of scents match the vibe that you are going for, but the level of intensity from the fragrance. Perfume oils and alcohol are the main ingredients in perfumes. We tend to assume that fragrances labeled as “perfume” or “parfum” are exclusive for women and “cologne” is only for men, when really that’s not the case. Let me give you a guide on what these terms mean, and help you choose the fragrance that’s right for you!

1. Perfume (Parfum)

Containing 20-30% of oil concentration, perfumes are the most long-lasting fragrance with up to eight hours. The Orebella collection by Bella Hadid, Miss Dior Parfum, or a pure perfume oil are great products if you are looking for a scent that lasts all day and will be very noticeable. Keep in mind the strength of the fragrance oil and the amount you’re applying so that it doesn’t become too overwhelming.

2. Eau de Parfum (EDP)

The next level of perfume oil concentrations is eau de parfum, containing 15-20%. Most perfumes on the market are made with this amount of oil concentration and EDPs typically last around four to five hours. They are still noticeable like perfumes but are less likely to give you a headache or be too intense. If you are wondering what type of perfume to buy, you cannot go wrong getting an EDP. 

3. Eau de Toilette (EDT)

The difference between an eau de parfum and eau de toilette is that an EDT has 5-15% perfume oils. It lasts for about two to three hours and is cheaper than an EDP. Eau de toilette comes from the French term “faire sa toilette”, which means getting ready. This is a wonderful choice if you’re looking for a perfume that is a bit less intense and can easily be worn every day. There are tons of eau de toilette fragrances, but some popular ones are Marc Jacobs Daisy, Chanel, and YSL Libre.

4. Eau de Cologne (EDC)

Eau de cologne contains 2-4% of oil concentration and a higher alcohol content than EDT, making it even cheaper. Eau de cologne lasts up to two hours. It’s normally sold in a larger sized bottle, since more fragrance is needed to be worn throughout the day. EDCs are a little harder to find on Google or maybe they aren’t as popular. 4711 by Muelhens seems to be a top pick on Amazon. There is also Colonia Acqua Di Parma and Le Monde Gourmand Beau Bleu.

5. Eau Fraiche

Eau fraiche is similar to EDC, where it has a low oil concentration of 1-3% and lasts up to two hours. What makes this type of perfume much different from the rest is that it doesn’t contain a high amount of alcohol, rather it’s mostly water. This is a good option for those who have sensitive skin, yet still wanting to enjoy wearing a fragrance. While these are also slightly difficult to find, two products that can be found on Google are Versace Man and YSL Y.

Those are the five basic terms to describe the percentage of oil in a fragrance, but it’s not limited to this list. Examples being body mists and aftershaves. In addition to fragrance types, there are also fragrance notes. It might seem like there are a lot of information about perfumes that makes it intimidating to understand. I hope you follow along, as I share my knowledge to help you understand the world of perfumes and find your signature scent.

References:

• https://medium.com/@charlesmanimbo/the-difference-between-perfume-cologne-eau-de-toilette-and-more-34ac21281226
• https://carnerbarcelona.com/blogs/journal/eau-de-parfum-fragance-difference