Extrait de parfum vs eau de parfum: what's the difference?
In short
- The names describe how much fragrance oil is in the bottle.
- Extrait de parfum has the most, typically 20 to 40%.
- More oil usually means a richer scent that lasts longer and sits closer to the skin.
- You need fewer sprays of an extrait than of an eau de toilette.
Eau de toilette, eau de parfum, extrait de parfum. The names sound like different products, but they're really a scale of strength. Knowing where a fragrance sits on that scale tells you a lot about how it will wear, how long it will last and how much of it to use.
The names are about strength
A perfume is a blend of fragrance oils dissolved in alcohol, sometimes with a little water. The name on the bottle tells you roughly what share of that blend is fragrance oil. The more oil, the stronger the perfume.
| Name | Typical fragrance oil | How it wears |
|---|---|---|
| Eau de cologne | 2 to 5% | Light and fresh, fades quickly |
| Eau de toilette | 5 to 15% | Bright and easy, needs topping up |
| Eau de parfum | 15 to 20% | Fuller, lasts most of the day for many people |
| Extrait de parfum | 20 to 40% | The richest, closest to the skin and the longest-lasting |
These are typical ranges across the industry. Every perfume house sets its own, so treat them as a guide rather than a rule.
How each one wears
An eau de cologne is a quick, refreshing splash, made for a hot day or after the gym. An eau de toilette is brighter and lighter, and leans on the sparkling notes at the top of a scent. You'll usually find yourself reapplying it.
An eau de parfum is where most fragrances live today. It has more body, and more of the heart and base of the scent comes through.
An extrait de parfum (sometimes just called parfum) is the richest of all. It unfolds more slowly, the deeper notes have more presence, and it tends to stay on the skin longest. It's the most concentrated form a fragrance comes in.
Does stronger mean louder?
Not necessarily, and this surprises people. It helps to separate two ideas:
- Longevity is how long a scent lasts on your skin.
- Projection is how far it carries from your skin into the room.
Because an extrait has less alcohol to lift it off the skin, it often wears closer and more intimately than an eau de toilette, even though it lasts longer. People notice it when they're near you rather than across the room. Many people find that more elegant.
Why every Immortal Extraits scent is an extrait
We only make extrait de parfum. It's the richest version of a fragrance, it rewards you as it changes through the day, and you need just two or three sprays, so a bottle goes a long way. Coco Vanille, our first scent, is a 50ml extrait.
How to wear an extrait
Less is more. Two or three sprays on your pulse points is plenty: the sides of the neck, behind the ears or the inner wrists. Let it dry on the skin without rubbing. Our guide to pulse points covers exactly where to spray, and 10 ways to make your perfume last longer has more tips.
