What Are Parfum Extraits? The Difference Between Perfume, EDT, and EDP

If you've shopped for fragrance and seen terms like EDT, EDP, and parfum extrait and wondered what actually separates them, you're not alone. The difference comes down to one thing: concentration.

Fragrance concentration, explained

Fragrance products are diluted in alcohol and water at different ratios. Eau de toilette (EDT) typically contains around 5–15% fragrance oil, eau de parfum (EDP) around 15–20%, and parfum extrait — sometimes just called "extrait" or "perfume" — sits at the top, often 20–30% or more. The higher the concentration, the richer, longer-lasting, and closer-to-skin the scent tends to be.

Why extraits last longer

Because extraits carry a much higher ratio of pure fragrance oil to alcohol, they evaporate more slowly off the skin. A spritz of EDT might fade within a couple of hours; a parfum extrait can still be noticeable well into the evening.

How to apply for maximum longevity

Apply extraits to pulse points — wrists, neck, behind the ears — where body heat helps release the scent gradually throughout the day. A little goes further than you'd expect; because the concentration is higher, extraits generally need fewer sprays or dabs than an EDT.

Introducing Simple Nature's personal fragrance line

Our parfum extraits were built with the same philosophy as our candles: real, layered scent stories rather than a single flat note. From coastal and earthy to citrus and woody, each one is designed to travel with you from morning until night.

Find your new signature scent in the personal fragrance collection.