The letters on a fragrance box — EDT, EDP, Parfum — aren’t marketing. They tell you how much perfume oil is in the bottle, and that single number shapes how strong the scent is, how long it lasts, and when you should wear it.
The four you’ll actually see
Eau de Cologne (EDC) — roughly 2–5% oil. Light and citrus-led, lasting about two to three hours. Made for splashing on generously in heat.
Eau de Toilette (EDT) — roughly 5–15%. The most common format, lasting around three to five hours. Brighter and airier than an EDP, which makes it the better choice in Jordanian summer.
Eau de Parfum (EDP) — roughly 15–20%. Richer and rounder, typically five to eight hours. If you only own one bottle of a fragrance, this is usually the version to get.
Parfum / Extrait — 20–30% or more. The deepest and longest-wearing, and the most expensive per millilitre. Often sits closer to the skin rather than projecting across a room.
Stronger isn’t automatically better
This is the part people get wrong. A higher concentration is not an upgrade — it’s a different fragrance. Raising the oil content changes the balance, and the heavier base notes come forward while the bright top notes get buried.
Dior Sauvage is the clearest example. The EDT is sharp, fresh and citrus-driven. The EDP is softer and warmer, with vanilla rounding it off. The Elixir is a dense, spicy thing that barely resembles the original. Same name, three genuinely different experiences.
Which one should you buy?
- Hot weather, daytime, the office: EDT. You want something that doesn’t crowd the room.
- Evening, winter, dinner: EDP. The extra warmth works when it’s cold.
- Special occasions, or you want it to last all day: Parfum. Apply less than you think.
A note on price
A parfum costs more per millilitre, but you use less of it. Two sprays of a parfum may outlast six of an EDT. Judge value on how many wearings you get from the bottle, not on the sticker price.
Every listing on our site states the concentration, so you always know which version you’re buying.