The difference between EDT, EDP and extrait is concentration: how much perfume oil is dissolved in the alcohol. More oil means a richer, longer-lasting and often warmer scent. EDT (eau de toilette) is the lightest and freshest, EDP (eau de parfum) is stronger and lasts longer, and extrait de parfum (also just called parfum) is the most concentrated of all. It is the single most useful thing to understand before you buy a bottle, or a dupe of one.
What the letters actually mean
Every version of a fragrance is the same basic formula diluted to a different strength. Roughly, from lightest to strongest:
- Eau de cologne (EDC): about 2 to 5% oil. The lightest and shortest-lived, splash-on fresh.
- Eau de toilette (EDT): about 5 to 15% oil. Fresh and bright, the classic daytime strength.
- Eau de parfum (EDP): about 15 to 20% oil. Richer and longer-lasting, the most common modern strength.
- Extrait de parfum / parfum: about 20 to 40% oil. The most concentrated, deepest and closest to the skin.
How concentration changes the smell
Higher concentration is not just the same scent turned up louder. As the oil load rises, the balance shifts: an EDT usually leans fresher and more citrus-forward up top, while the EDP of the same fragrance rounds out sweeter and deeper, with the base notes doing more of the work. An extrait pushes furthest into that rich, warm, skin-close territory. That is why the EDT and EDP of a fragrance you love can smell noticeably different, not just stronger, but built differently.
Which lasts longer
As a rule of thumb, an EDC lasts 2 to 4 hours, an EDT 3 to 5, an EDP 6 to 8, and an extrait 8 to 12 or more. But concentration is only half the story: longevity depends just as much on the notes. Heavy base molecules like amber, oud, vanilla, tobacco and musk cling to skin for hours, so a fragrance built on them can outlast a higher-concentration scent built on light citrus and fresh notes. A well-made EDP of a warm, ambery scent will often beat a thin EDT every time.
Does concentration matter when you buy a dupe?
It matters a lot, and it trips people up. Most Arabian and high-street dupes are sold as EDP, which is part of why they last so well for the price. But the original they are copying might be an EDT, an EDP or an extrait, and those can smell different from each other. So when you compare a dupe to an original, check you are comparing the same version: a great dupe of Sauvage EDT is not automatically a great dupe of Sauvage Elixir. On Dupejoy we match on the notes of a specific version, which is why the same designer name can point to more than one dupe.
Which should you buy?
Choose EDT for fresh, citrusy and aquatic scents, hot weather, the office, and anything you are happy to reapply at lunch. Choose EDP for the best all-round balance of richness, longevity and value, it is the sweet spot for most people and most fragrances. Save extrait for cold weather, evenings and special occasions, or for when you want a scent that stays close and lasts all day. And remember that a cheaper EDP built on heavy base notes can easily out-perform a pricier EDT, so read the notes, not just the letters.