Parfum vs EDP vs EDT vs Cologne: The Perfume Concentration Chart
By Alaa Allam, home perfumer ·
The words on a perfume bottle — Parfum, Eau de Parfum, Eau de Toilette, Eau de Cologne — describe its concentration: what share of the liquid is fragrance concentrate (the blend of aromatic materials) and what share is alcohol, plus sometimes a little water. Knowing the ranges helps you shop, and it is essential once you start mixing your own.
Perfume concentration chart
| Type | Concentrate | Typical wear | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parfum / Extrait de Parfum | 20–30% | 6–12+ hours | Rich, close to the skin, the most expensive per ml |
| Eau de Parfum (EDP) | 15–20% | 5–8 hours | The everyday “full strength” of most modern launches |
| Eau de Toilette (EDT) | 5–15% | 3–5 hours | Brighter and lighter; often a different formula, not just a weaker EDP |
| Eau de Cologne (EDC) | 2–5% | 1–2 hours | Fresh citrus splash; meant to be reapplied |
| Eau Fraîche / body mist | 1–3% | Under 2 hours | Very light, often with more water and less alcohol |
These are typical industry ranges, not legal definitions. Brands set their own, and wear time depends heavily on the formula and on your skin.
Why concentration is not the whole story
Longevity comes mostly from which materials are in the blend. Citrus and light aromatic top notes evaporate within an hour at any strength; woods, resins, musks and amber materials can last all day even in an EDT. That is why a fresh citrus EDP can fade before a woody EDT. If you want a scent to last, build a stronger base, as explained in perfume notes explained.
Brands also reformulate between versions. An EDT is frequently a brighter, fresher take, with more top notes, while the EDP or Parfum shifts towards the heart and base. Treat them as related perfumes, not the same perfume at different volumes.
How to mix each strength at home
At home, work by weight with perfumer’s alcohol (high-proof ethanol made for fragrance). The table below makes a 50 g batch of the same concentrate at four strengths. Lighter strengths can take a little distilled water, which softens the alcohol; too much makes the mix cloudy.
| Strength | Concentrate | Perfumer’s alcohol | Distilled water |
|---|---|---|---|
| Extrait (25%) | 12.50 g | 37.50 g | — |
| EDP (18%) | 9.00 g | 41.00 g | — |
| EDT (10%) | 5.00 g | 43.50 g | 1.50 g (optional) |
| EDC (4%) | 2.00 g | 45.50 g | 2.50 g (optional) |
After mixing, seal the bottle and let it macerate for two to four weeks somewhere cool and dark. Many makers then chill the perfume for a day and filter it through a paper coffee filter to remove any haze before bottling.
What is on an EDP or EDT label?
The ingredients list on a bottle of perfume usually reads something like this:
- Alcohol denat. — ethanol, denatured so it is not drinkable. The main ingredient.
- Parfum / Fragrance — the whole concentrate, which can contain dozens of materials, declared as one word.
- Aqua — water, more common in EDTs and colognes.
- Allergens — names like limonene, linalool, citronellol, geraniol, coumarin and eugenol, which must be listed in the EU above set thresholds. The list of declarable allergens was expanded by EU Regulation 2023/1545.
- Other — sometimes a UV filter to protect colour, and colourants shown as CI numbers.
Which should you choose?
For buying: EDP if you want one application to last a working day, EDT or cologne for heat, the gym or office settings where a lighter trail is better. For making: start your trials around 15–18% (EDP strength). It is strong enough to judge the formula honestly, and it is easy to dilute down to an EDT afterwards. Prefer oil to alcohol? See how to make perfume oil.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between EDP and EDT?
Eau de Parfum (EDP) typically contains about 15–20% fragrance concentrate and lasts around 5–8 hours. Eau de Toilette (EDT) typically contains about 5–15% and lasts around 3–5 hours. Brands often adjust the formula between versions too, so an EDT can smell brighter and fresher, not just weaker.
Which perfume concentration lasts the longest?
Parfum or Extrait de Parfum, at roughly 20–30% concentrate, usually lasts longest. However, the materials matter as much as the percentage: a citrus-heavy EDP can fade faster than a woody, musky EDT.
Is there a legal definition of Eau de Parfum?
No. The terms are industry conventions, not legal standards, so each brand decides its own percentages. The ranges in this chart are typical, and you will find products outside them.
What ingredients are in eau de toilette?
A typical EDT label lists alcohol denat. (ethanol), parfum or fragrance (the concentrate), aqua (water), and then any declared allergens such as limonene, linalool, citronellol or coumarin. Some also contain a UV filter to protect the colour and colourants listed as CI numbers.
How do I make Eau de Parfum at home?
Weigh about 15–20% fragrance concentrate and 80–85% perfumer’s alcohol. For a 50 g batch at 18%, that is 9 g concentrate and 41 g alcohol. Seal it, rest it for at least two weeks in a cool dark place, optionally chill and filter it, then bottle it.
Want the rest of the guide?
This page is a free sample from The Home Perfumery Guide, a 44-page working guide with 52 material profiles, 6 formula studies, 64 glossary terms and 3 printable bench records. It also includes the full calculation lessons, from stock dilutions to adjusting a formula between strengths, with worked examples and printable batch records.
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