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Fragrance basics · Guide 19 of 21

EDP vs EDT vs Extrait: perfume concentration explained

The letters on the box tell you how much perfume oil is in the bottle, which decides how long it lasts and how far it projects. Here is the plain-English version.

5 min readUpdated 5 September 2026By the Scent n Blush team, Karachi
Teriaq bottle on a warm stone plinth

The four concentrations

LabelPerfume oilTypical wearFeel
Eau de Cologne (EDC)2 to 5 percent1 to 2 hoursA splash of freshness
Eau de Toilette (EDT)5 to 15 percent3 to 5 hoursLight, bright, daytime
Eau de Parfum (EDP)15 to 20 percent6 to 12 hoursFull-bodied, the standard for Arabian houses
Extrait de Parfum20 to 40 percent10 hours and moreDense, close at first, very long lasting

The percentages are guides rather than rules. A well-made EDP with heavy base notes can outlast a thin Extrait. But as a rule of thumb, more oil means more hours and more presence.

Why almost everything we sell is EDP or Extrait

Gulf perfumery grew up in heat, where a light EDT is gone by mid-morning. Lattafa and Ahmed Al Maghribi build their ranges almost entirely as Eau de Parfum, and Ahmed Al Maghribi releases its signatures like Kaaf and Ignite Oud as Extrait. That is the single biggest reason a Rs. 8,000 Arabian fragrance outlasts a Rs. 25,000 designer EDT.

How to use each concentration

  • EDT: four or five sprays, reapply in the afternoon. Good for the gym and very hot days.
  • EDP: two or three sprays on the chest and neck. One application for a working day.
  • Extrait: one or two sprays. It sits closer to skin for the first hour then blooms, and it will still be there at midnight.
Two Extraits and two Eau de Parfums from the catalog.

Does concentration mean the same scent?

Not always. When a designer brand releases an EDT and an EDP of the same name, the formulas often differ, with the EDP usually deeper and sweeter. Arabian houses rarely do this, they pick one concentration per fragrance. So Khamrah is Khamrah, there is no lighter version to confuse you.

Questions about this

Yes. Eau de Parfum has roughly two to three times the perfume oil of an Eau de Toilette, so it lasts longer and projects more. Almost all Lattafa and Ahmed Al Maghribi fragrances are EDP or stronger.
The most concentrated form of perfume, usually 20 to 40 percent oil. It lasts the longest but often stays closer to skin in the first hour. Kaaf and Ignite Oud from Ahmed Al Maghribi are Extraits.
Usually Lattafa, because it is EDP with heavy Arabian base notes, while many designer bestsellers are EDTs. Compare like for like and the gap narrows, but the price gap does not.
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