Eau De Parfum Vs Eau De Toilette: What's the Difference?

Ever sprayed on your favorite scent in the morning, only for it to disappear by lunchtime? Or maybe you've caught a whiff of someone's perfume hours after they applied it and wondered — how do they make it last so long?

The secret is in the formula.

Fragrances are made from a blend of alcohol, water, and scented oils. The more oil, the stronger and longer-lasting the scent. That’s also why some perfumes come with a heftier price tag.

There are five main types: Parfum, Eau de Parfum (EDP), Eau de Toilette (EDT), Eau de Cologne (EDC), and Eau Fraîche (EF). Parfum is the most intense, while EDC and EF are the lightest and fade the fastest.

The ones you'll come across most? Eau de Parfum and Eau de Toilette. They often come in the same scent, which makes choosing tricky.

Eau de Parfum (EDP)

Stronger and longer-lasting, EDP has around 15-20% fragrance oil and sticks around for 6-8 hours. It’s more intense but still balanced; subtle enough for the day, yet deep enough for the evening. If you want something that lingers without constant reapplication, EDP is the way to go.

Eau de Toilette (EDT)

Light, fresh, and easy to wear, EDT has 5-15% fragrance oil and usually lasts 3-4 hours. It’s perfect for daytime, whether you’re heading to work or just want something subtle. The scent fades faster, so you might need a touch-up, but that also makes it less overpowering.