Last updated: April 2026 · Written by Katie Johnson, founder of The Fragrance World
Perfume concentration is the percentage of fragrance oil dissolved in alcohol and water. The five standard levels are Parfum (20-40% oil), Eau de Parfum (15-20%), Eau de Toilette (5-15%), Eau de Cologne (2-5%) and Eau Fraiche (1-3%). Higher concentration means a richer scent that lasts longer on skin, projects further, and costs more per millilitre. The UK market today is dominated by Eau de Parfum, which sits at the sweet spot of longevity and value.
The five concentration levels at a glance
| Concentration | Oil % | Longevity (skin) | Projection | Best for | Typical UK price (50ml) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parfum / Extrait | 20-40% | 8-24 hours | Close to skin, intimate | Evening, special occasions, cool weather | £80-300 |
| Eau de Parfum (EDP) | 15-20% | 6-10 hours | 1-2 metres | Everyday, work, date night, all seasons | £45-120 |
| Eau de Toilette (EDT) | 5-15% | 3-5 hours | Light cloud | Daytime, summer, office | £30-80 |
| Eau de Cologne (EDC) | 2-5% | 2-3 hours | Skin-only | Refreshing, after a shower, hot days | £25-60 |
| Eau Fraiche | 1-3% | 1-2 hours | Barely there | Body spritz, post-gym, fragrance layering | £10-25 |
The Fragrance World formulates every fragrance at 22-30% oil. That sits at the upper end of Eau de Parfum, near Parfum territory, and it’s why a £29.95 TFW bottle outlasts a £50-90 designer Eau de Toilette.
What perfume concentration actually means
Every fragrance is built from three ingredients:
- Aromatic compounds (the fragrance oil): the actual scent. A blend of natural extracts and synthetic aroma chemicals.
- Alcohol (denatured ethanol): the solvent. It carries the oil, helps it evaporate, and sterilises the formula.
- Water: a small percentage, used to balance and modulate.
“Concentration” is the ratio of fragrance oil to alcohol and water. A 30% concentration means 30 ml of every 100 ml is fragrance oil; the remaining 70 ml is alcohol and water.
The percentage matters because the oil is what your nose smells. More oil per spray means more scent molecules releasing into the air and binding to your skin, which means stronger projection and longer wear time.
The percentage is not a measure of quality. A poorly composed Parfum will smell worse than a well-composed Eau de Toilette. Concentration is volume; quality is craft.
Parfum (also called Extrait de Parfum, Pure Parfum, or just Parfum)
Oil concentration: 20-40% Longevity on skin: 8-24 hours Projection: intimate. Sits close to the skin and reveals as people approach.
Parfum is the original concentration. It’s how perfume was made when Coco Chanel commissioned Ernest Beaux to create No. 5 in 1921. Modern Parfum often sits around 25-30% oil, with the most concentrated formulations (Roja Parfum, certain Tom Ford Privates) reaching 35-40%.
Because the alcohol percentage is lower, Parfum projects less aggressively. You get a dense, almost wet scent that develops slowly over hours. Many fragrance collectors prefer Parfum for evening wear because it reads as expensive and considered, not loud.
Famous Parfums: Chanel No. 5 Parfum, Tom Ford Tuscan Leather Parfum, Frederic Malle Portrait of a Lady Parfum, Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540 Extrait.
Eau de Parfum (EDP)
Oil concentration: 15-20% Longevity on skin: 6-10 hours Projection: 1-2 metres. The “scent bubble” that fills the room when you walk in.
Eau de Parfum is the dominant concentration in the modern UK fragrance market. Almost every recent designer launch (Dior Sauvage EDP, YSL Libre EDP, Carolina Herrera Good Girl EDP) is sold at this level. EDP is the format that built the inspired-by category, because it offers the longest wear time at a price the average buyer will pay.
Most niche houses (Parfums de Marly, Initio, Xerjoff) also work in EDP, often pushed to the top of the band at 18-22%.
The Fragrance World fragrances are formulated at 22-30% oil. That puts them at the upper boundary of Eau de Parfum, which is why TFW customers report 8-12 hour wear from a £29.95 bottle.
Eau de Toilette (EDT)
Oil concentration: 5-15% Longevity on skin: 3-5 hours Projection: light cloud, fades to skin scent within an hour.
Eau de Toilette was the standard format from the 1960s through the early 2000s. Most “classic” men’s fragrances (Chanel Allure Homme Sport EDT, Acqua di Gio EDT, Le Male EDT) launched as EDTs because their fresh, citrus-led structures don’t need the density of EDP.
EDT is right for hot weather, the office, and any setting where you want presence without dominating. Many fragrances that launched as EDT have since been reformulated as EDP, and the EDP version always lasts longer.
Rule of thumb: if you’re choosing between an EDT and the EDP version of the same fragrance, EDP is the better value despite the higher up-front price. You apply less, it lasts longer, the cost-per-wear is lower.
Eau de Cologne (EDC)
Oil concentration: 2-5% Longevity on skin: 2-3 hours Projection: skin-only. Detectable in a hug, not across a room.
Eau de Cologne is the original light fragrance category, invented in 1709 by Giovanni Maria Farina in Cologne, Germany (hence the name). Traditional Eau de Cologne is built around bergamot, lemon, neroli, lavender and rosemary in a light alcohol base.
Modern usage of “cologne” is confused. In the United States, “cologne” became a generic term for any men’s fragrance, including EDPs. In the UK and Europe, “cologne” still refers to the light, citrus-led concentration. When buying, check the label rather than the marketing.
EDC is best applied liberally and reapplied through the day. It’s a refreshment, not a statement.
Eau Fraiche
Oil concentration: 1-3% Longevity on skin: 1-2 hours Projection: barely there.
Eau Fraiche is the lightest commercial concentration. It’s mostly water with a small percentage of oil and minimal alcohol. The format is uncommon; most products marketed as “fresh” or “splash” sit somewhere between EDC and Eau Fraiche.
Eau Fraiche is useful for fragrance layering (spritz over an existing perfume to refresh it mid-day), as a body splash after the gym, or for sensitive skin where alcohol-heavy formulations cause irritation.
Which concentration is right for you?
| If you want… | Choose | Example |
|---|---|---|
| All-day wear from one morning spray | EDP at 18-25% oil | Most modern designer EDPs, all TFW fragrances |
| Maximum projection without re-application | EDP at the top of the band, or Parfum | TFW Five Forty, Imagine, Imperial |
| A scent that fades into the day | EDT | Chanel Allure Homme Sport, Acqua di Gio EDT |
| Refreshment after a workout or shower | EDC or Eau Fraiche | Traditional 4711 cologne, Jo Malone colognes |
| To layer over an existing fragrance | Eau Fraiche or body mist | TFW body mists |
If you’re buying your first serious fragrance, start with an Eau de Parfum. It is the highest-value format on the modern market: long enough to make it through a workday, cheap enough not to gamble.
Why concentration matters more than price
A common buyer mistake is paying for a brand name on a low-concentration product. A £80 Eau de Toilette at 7% oil contains less actual fragrance than a £30 Eau de Parfum at 22% oil. The £80 bottle is paying for the name, the bottle, the marketing, the department-store margin, and the boxed-up fragrance house markup. The £30 bottle is paying for the fragrance.
This is the gap inspired-by brands have built their entire business model inside. A TFW bottle at £29.95 is formulated at 22-30% oil. A Dior Sauvage EDT at £79 is formulated at around 7-12% oil. The TFW bottle contains roughly two-and-a-half times more fragrance oil per spray, lasts longer on skin, and projects further. The Dior bottle contains a Dior box.
This is not a knock on Dior. It’s the maths of how the industry prices fragrance.
If you remember one thing from this guide: read the concentration before you read the price.
How to read a concentration label
UK fragrance labels are required to display the concentration in small print on the back of the box, usually near the ingredients list. You’ll see one of:
- “Parfum” or “Extrait de Parfum”, the highest concentration
- “Eau de Parfum” or “EDP”, the modern default
- “Eau de Toilette” or “EDT”, lighter, fades faster
- “Eau de Cologne” or “EDC”, light, citrus-led, original cologne format
- “Eau Fraiche”, barely scented, mostly water
The exact percentage is not legally required to be displayed. Brands that voluntarily publish their oil percentage (often niche houses and inspired-by brands) tend to be the ones with nothing to hide.
The Fragrance World publishes the formulation range on every product page: 22-30% oil, sitting at the upper end of Eau de Parfum.
FAQ
What is the strongest perfume concentration? Parfum (also called Extrait de Parfum or Pure Parfum) is the strongest, with 20-40% fragrance oil. It lasts 8-24 hours on skin and projects close to the body. Eau de Parfum is the second-strongest at 15-20%, and is the standard format for modern designer and niche fragrances.
What does EDP mean on perfume? EDP stands for Eau de Parfum, which contains 15-20% fragrance oil. It is the most common concentration sold today. EDP fragrances last 6-10 hours on skin and project 1-2 metres.
Is Eau de Parfum better than Eau de Toilette? Eau de Parfum lasts longer and projects more than Eau de Toilette because it contains 2-3 times more fragrance oil. EDP is “better” for value and longevity. Eau de Toilette is “better” for hot weather, office wear, and any setting where you want a lighter scent presence.
How long does Eau de Parfum last on skin? Eau de Parfum typically lasts 6-10 hours on skin, depending on the fragrance composition, your skin type, and the weather. Oily skin holds fragrance longer than dry skin. Cool weather slows evaporation and extends wear time.
Why is perfume so expensive? Designer perfume is expensive because of brand premium, packaging, retail markup, marketing, and distribution. The fragrance oil itself is typically 5-15% of the retail price. Inspired-by brands like The Fragrance World remove the brand premium and packaging cost while keeping (and often increasing) the oil concentration. That is why £29.95 inspired-by EDP can outperform a £80 designer EDT on longevity.
What concentration are The Fragrance World fragrances? Every Fragrance World fragrance is formulated at 22-30% oil concentration, which sits at the upper end of Eau de Parfum. That is the same concentration band as Parfums de Marly, Initio, and most modern niche houses. It is roughly 2-3x the oil concentration of a typical designer Eau de Toilette.
Does higher concentration always smell better? No. Concentration is volume, not quality. A poorly composed Parfum at 30% oil will smell worse than a well-composed Eau de Toilette at 8%. Higher concentration means longer wear and more projection. It does not mean better craft.
What is the difference between cologne and perfume? “Cologne” historically refers to Eau de Cologne, a light citrus-led fragrance at 2-5% oil. In the United States, “cologne” became a generic term for any men’s fragrance. “Perfume” is either a generic term for any fragrance, or a synonym for Parfum (the highest concentration). In the UK, the formal answer is concentration; the common usage answer is gendered marketing.
Is parfum the same as perfume? “Parfum” on a label is the highest concentration (20-40% oil). “Perfume” in everyday speech is a generic word for any fragrance. The two are not interchangeable on a label, but they are interchangeable in conversation.
What is the lightest perfume concentration? Eau Fraiche (1-3% oil) is the lightest commercial concentration. It is mostly water and lasts 1-2 hours on skin. Below that you have body sprays and splash colognes, which are not technically perfumes.
Can I tell the concentration from the bottle size? No. A 100 ml Eau de Cologne contains less fragrance oil than a 30 ml Parfum. Always check the concentration label, not the bottle size, when comparing two products.
Try before you commit
Not sure which fragrance to back? The TFW Discovery Set is the lowest-risk way in: eight 5ml samples for £14.99, redeemable as a £15 voucher towards your first 50ml bottle. Try at home, then commit.
Shop the Discovery Set (£14.99) →
For fragrance lovers who already know what they like, the Build Your Own Bundle is any 3 × 50ml bottles for £59.99 (saves £30 versus buying separately).
