eau de parfum vs eau de toilette: what actually changes

eau de parfum (edp) and eau de toilette (edt) are the same idea at different strengths. edp carries roughly 15 to 20 percent fragrance oil; edt carries about 5 to 15 percent. that single difference cascades into how long a scent lasts, how far it projects, and what it costs.

concentration is the whole story

the rest of the bottle is mostly alcohol and a little water. a higher oil concentration means more raw material per spray, so edp generally lasts longer and sits closer to the skin in a richer way. edt is lighter and brighter, often built around the fresh top notes that read as "clean".

longevity: hours on skin

as a rule of thumb, edp lasts six to eight hours and edt lasts three to five. these are ranges, not guarantees — a citrus edp can fade faster than a resinous edt because note type matters as much as concentration. but within the same fragrance, the edp almost always outlasts the edt.

when to choose which

reach for edt in heat, for the office, and for daytime when you want presence without a cloud. reach for edp in cold weather, for evenings, and whenever you want a scent that stays with you. many people own both versions of a fragrance they love for exactly this reason.

does stronger mean better value?

not automatically. edp costs more per bottle but you use fewer sprays, so cost-per-wear can land close. the smarter move is to sample both concentrations of a scent on your skin before deciding — the right answer depends on the fragrance and how you wear it.