When you enter a perfume store, you’re often confronted with a variety of terms: perfume, eau de parfum, eau de toilette, extract… These names are not simply marketing terms: they refer to the concentration of fragrance oils contained in the bottle. Understanding these differences is essential to making an informed choice, adapted to your needs, your skin and the desired hold.
An eau de toilette, for example, generally contains between 5% and 12% fragrance concentrate. It’s often fresher, more volatile and ideal for hot days or for people who prefer a discreet trail. Eau de parfum, on the other hand, is more intense (between 12% and 20% concentrate), with better staying power and more pronounced projection. Finally, perfume extract or pure perfume can contain up to 30% (or more) concentrate: this is a luxurious version, often more intimate and profound, worn close to the skin.
Why do these concentrations change everything?
Each concentration doesn’t just change the way it holds: it can completely transform the perception of a fragrance. The same juice can be interpreted differently in eau de toilette and in extract. One will highlight the more sparkling top notes, while the other will reveal more of the softer, more sensual base notes.
The choice depends as much on your tastes as on the occasion. For a morning meeting or a moment in the office, an eau de toilette is often more appropriate. For a dinner party or an evening out, an eau de parfum or an extrait will be more effective and last all night long. It’s also important to consider your skin type: dry skin retains light fragrances less well, while oily skin can make a fragrance last longer.
Understanding the differences between perfume, eau de parfum, eau de toilette and extract will help you master your olfactory wardrobe. Each concentration has its own purpose, time and effect. Adapting your choice to the situation and your skin type means optimizing your fragrance so that it reveals its full potential – with elegance and precision.