Here Is The Real Difference Between Eau De Parfum And Eau De Toilette
When selecting perfumes, the biggest buying factors are the scent, the way the fragrance blends with your skin, and, let's face it, even the bottle design and packaging. Rarely do we ever look at a bottle and choose it because it's an eau de parfum or eau de toilette. After all, what do these French terms even mean? Historically, the French made some of the most extraordinary fragrance developments and are known as pioneers in the modern perfume world we know today (via Carrement Belle). Marie Antoinette herself had a personal perfumer who made customized scents for her riding gloves and baths (via Alpha Aromatics). It's said that even when fleeing for her life from Tuileries Palace, she demanded to have perfume with her. We stan an aromatic queen.
But while this explains the use of French terminology in perfumes, what is the distinction between an eau de parfum and an eau de toilette? Does it make a difference which you pick when buying your fragrance of choice? We're breaking down everything you need to know about these two types of perfumes.
They have different chemical proportions
The science behind the art of perfume is pure chemistry. Perfumes are made from an extraction of plant oils blended with alcohol to dilute the solution (via Perfume.com). The main difference between an eau de toilette, or EDT, and an eau de parfum, or EDP, is very simple and comes down to the proportions of oil and alcohol.
According to experts at YSL Beauty, understanding the difference between an EDT and EDP is very important to knowing how long your scent should last. An eau de toilette contains anywhere from 8% to 15% fragrance oil, while an eau de parfum contains about double that amount with up to 30% fragrance oil. Because of its higher oil content, an EDP's scent lasts longer and isn't expected to wear off until after eight hours. An eau de toilette, on the other hand, will give you around four to six hours of aromatic wear.
One is lighter and the other packs a punch
It's really up to your nose when deciding which perfume is better. If you're looking for a more noticeable, longer-lasting scent with a strong voice, an eau de parfum is your best bet. However, that doesn't mean you have to count out eau de toilettes, as lighter fragrances can be just as captivating. It really comes down to personal preference and wearability.
When comparing the costs of the two scents, eau de toilettes tend to be cheaper because they're made with fewer oils (per Anuket Luxury Apothecary). But this doesn't mean they are less worthy than eau de parfums. Though there is a difference between strength and lasting power, the lightness of eau de toilettes is well-suited to daytime wear, and they are actually the most popular scent option on the market (via FragranceX). The best way to make your decision is to try the fragrance on and see how it connects to your skin. Different skin types absorb oils differently, so trying on the perfume and seeing what aromatic marriage it creates is imperative. Your skin may decide for you which is the best fragrance option.