Is it really just toilet water mixed with some fruit and flowers? Actually, no. If you’ve ever wondered what Eau de Toilette, Eau de Parfum, Elixir, and all those terms mean – this is your moment to tune in and read on.
Eau de Toilette, Eau de Parfum, Parfum, Elixir and so on are known as dilution classes, and they refer to how concentrated a fragrance is.
To understand concentration, you first need to know what a perfume is made of. A fragrance typically consists of three main components: essential oils (aromatic compounds), aroma molecules, and a solvent. These are blended together to create what we know as perfume. When we talk about "concentration," we’re referring to the percentage of essential oils in that mix.
When a fragrance is labeled Eau de Parfum, for example, it tells you how much essential oil is present compared to the other two components – usually expressed in percentages. So as a general rule, concentration tells you how strong or intense a fragrance is.
There are no perfumes with 100% concentration – that would be way too strong and potentially harmful to your skin.
In most cases, higher concentration means higher price, longer wear time, and stronger scent. But not always – there are plenty of Eau de Toilette fragrances out there that last forever and pack a serious punch.
Here’s a breakdown of the most common dilution classes, from weakest to strongest:
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Eau Fraîche, Splashes, Mists, and Veils are all names for the lightest category, typically containing up to 3% concentration. Eau fraîche literally means "fresh water," which fits, since these fragrances are mostly made with water instead of alcohol or oil. They’re great for sensitive skin and usually more affordable. Fresh and breezy, they’re perfect for summer.
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Eau de Cologne (EDC) or simply Cologne usually contains 3–4% concentration, but can range up to 8%.
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Eau de Toilette (EDT) has about 5–15% concentration.
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Eau de Parfum (EDP) ranges between 15–25%.
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Parfum sits at around 25–35%.
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Extrait de Parfum, Perfume Extract, Elixir, Pure Perfume, or just Perfume refer to the most concentrated category, usually 35–45%. These are often the most expensive and luxurious fragrances – sometimes just 2–3 drops are enough to project scent all around you. They’re often sold in splash bottles without spray heads, though many modern extrait perfumes do come with atomizers.
You can explore our full fragrance selection by clicking here, or discoover your next signature scent by using our perfume test.
