Parfum, eau de parfum, eau de toilette, eau de cologne and body mist describe how much fragrance is in the bottle. The rest is mostly alcohol and a little water. The more fragrance, the longer the scent lasts and the more it usually costs. Perfume oils and attars are a separate category: fragrance with no alcohol at all. Here is how they compare.
The quick comparison
| Type | Typical fragrance concentration | Typical wear on skin |
|---|---|---|
| Parfum / extrait de parfum | 20% to 40% | 8 hours or more |
| Eau de parfum (EDP) | 15% to 20% | 6 to 8 hours |
| Eau de toilette (EDT) | 5% to 15% | 3 to 5 hours |
| Eau de cologne (EDC) | 2% to 5% | About 2 hours |
| Body mist / body spray | 1% to 3% | 1 to 2 hours |
| Perfume oil / attar | Varies; alcohol-free | Often longest, close to the skin |
These are typical industry ranges, not legal definitions. Each brand sets its own concentrations, so one brand's eau de toilette can be stronger than another's eau de parfum. Wear times depend on the notes, your skin and the weather as much as on the label.
Parfum (extrait de parfum)
The most concentrated form, also sold as "extrait", "pure perfume" or "elixir". It has the least alcohol, so it projects less in the first minutes and stays close to the skin for most of the day. It is usually sold in small bottles and applied in dabs rather than sprays.
Eau de parfum (EDP)
The most common strength for modern designer and niche perfumes. Eau de parfum has enough fragrance to last a full working day for most people and usually a richer heart and base than the same scent as an eau de toilette. Our inspired perfumes are 100ml eau de parfum sprays.
Eau de toilette (EDT)
Lighter and fresher than an eau de parfum, with more emphasis on the top notes. The name comes from the French faire sa toilette, to get washed and dressed, and eau de toilette was traditionally the morning, everyday scent. It suits hot weather, offices and anyone who finds eau de parfum too heavy, but expect to reapply in the afternoon.
What does "eau de toilette spray" or "natural spray" mean? Just that the eau de toilette comes in a spray bottle. "Natural spray" means a mechanical pump rather than an aerosol can with a propellant gas. It says nothing about the ingredients.
Eau de cologne (EDC)
The original cologne, first made in Cologne in the early 1700s, was a light, citrus-heavy splash, and eau de cologne still means a very light concentration built around fresh top notes. In everyday English, especially in the Gulf and the US, "cologne" is also used loosely to mean any men's fragrance, whatever its strength, which causes a lot of confusion. Check the label for the actual concentration.
Body mist and body spray
The lightest option: a small amount of fragrance in a lot of water and alcohol, meant to be sprayed generously over the body and reapplied through the day. Body mists are often softer on skin and cheaper per bottle. They don't last long, so they work best as a layer under a stronger perfume in the same scent.
Perfume oils and attar
Perfume oils contain no alcohol. The fragrance is either worn as a concentrated oil or diluted in a carrier such as a light oil, and usually applied with a roller or a glass wand. Without alcohol there is no burst of projection in the first minutes: the scent sits closer to the skin, develops slowly and often outlasts an eau de parfum. Oils are a long tradition in the Gulf and South Asia, and they suit people whose skin reacts to alcohol.
Attar (also ittar or itr) traditionally means a natural perfume oil made by distilling flowers, herbs or woods into a base oil, most often sandalwood. The word is now also used for any concentrated, alcohol-free perfume oil, including modern blends.
You can wear any of our perfume oils or inspired perfume oils this way. Dilute the oil into a roll-on bottle, as our guide to making roll-on perfume explains, and check each oil's usage table on its product page where it has one.
Which should you choose?
- For a full day on one application: eau de parfum, parfum or a perfume oil.
- For heat, the office or a light touch: eau de toilette, or a perfume oil, which projects less.
- For a quick refresh after the gym or the beach: body mist or eau de cologne.
- If alcohol irritates your skin: a perfume oil or attar, after a patch test.
Whatever you choose, how you apply and store it matters too. See how to make perfume last longer.