Quick answer: An eau de parfum usually contains more perfume oil than an eau de toilette, so it generally lasts longer. An eau de toilette tends to feel lighter and to project more at the start. One step above both is extrait de parfum. Our range has no eau de toilette: we sell extraits de parfum and eaux de parfum.
Eau de toilette vs eau de parfum is the question almost everyone meets when the same scent name sits on the shelf in two versions. At heart the words describe one thing only: how much perfume oil is dissolved in the alcohol. Longevity, projection and character follow from that only in part, and that is where the misunderstandings start. We are an authorized Mykonos retailer for Europe; what we say about our own scents comes from the brand's product data and handbook, and the concentration bands are the usual industry conventions.
Eau de toilette vs eau de parfum: what is the difference?
Perfume is perfume oil dissolved in alcohol. The higher the share of oil, the higher a fragrance sits on the concentration ladder. Four rungs are in common use:
| Name | Usual oil concentration | Typical character |
|---|---|---|
| Eau de cologne | around 2–5% | Very light and refreshing, soon gone |
| Eau de toilette (EDT) | around 5–15% | Light and airy, the classic daytime strength |
| Eau de parfum (EDP) | around 15–20% | Fuller and rounder, the all-rounder |
| Extrait de parfum (parfum) | around 20–40% | Dense, close to the skin, long-lasting |
These bands are industry conventions, not legal definitions. No regulation forces a house to put a particular share behind a particular word, which is why one brand's eau de parfum can feel richer than another brand's extrait. Read the label as a strong hint, not a measurement.
Which lasts longer: eau de toilette or eau de parfum?
As a rule, the eau de parfum. More oil means more material to evaporate, so the scent generally stays noticeable on skin and clothing for longer. Of all the differences, this is the most reliable one. The rule carries on upwards: an extrait de parfum generally lasts longer still than an eau de parfum.
Three things qualify it:
- Longer is not louder. Alcohol is what throws scent into the air, so a higher concentration often sits closer to the skin: an eau de toilette announces itself and fades, an extrait stays and keeps its voice down. We explain the terms in sillage and projection explained.
- The notes count too. Citrus notes are fleeting; woods, resins, vanilla and musk cling. A citrus eau de parfum can fade before a woody eau de toilette does. How a scent is built is covered in fragrance notes explained.
- Skin and climate. One perfume lasts different lengths of time on different people, and less in high summer than on a cool day. What you can influence yourself is in how to make your perfume last longer.
We deliberately give no number of hours per concentration. It would be a guess.
Does an eau de parfum smell different from the eau de toilette?
Often, yes. When a scent is offered in two concentrations, the stronger version is rarely just the louder one. As the concentration rises, the base notes come forward, meaning woods, resins, vanilla and musk, while the top notes get more room in the lighter version. The eau de parfum therefore often reads deeper and less sparkling, the eau de toilette brighter and fresher. It is worth smelling both on skin rather than buying by the word on the box.
Parfum vs eau de parfum vs eau de toilette: the four rungs
Eau de cologne
The lightest rung. Traditionally citrus and herbs, meant as a refreshment you apply generously and renew when you feel like it.
Eau de toilette
The classic daytime concentration: airy, with the top notes to the fore. It suits warm weather, the office and anyone who would rather top up a scent than wear it all day.
Eau de parfum
The middle of the ladder and, for many scents today, the standard version. Fuller than an eau de toilette without the density of an extrait.
Parfum or extrait de parfum
In everyday speech every scent is a "perfume". As a concentration, parfum or extrait de parfum means the top rung: a lot of oil, little alcohol. An extrait needs fewer sprays and usually stays closer to the skin.
Which concentration for which occasion?
- Daytime, warm weather, the office: lighter concentrations and fresh families. If you wear an extrait, simply use one spray fewer.
- Evenings, cold weather, when the scent should have presence: eau de parfum or extrait, with a heavier family.
- When a scent has to see you through a working day: the higher concentration, applied sparingly.
Concentration says nothing about quality. A well-built eau de toilette beats a badly balanced extrait every time.
Which concentrations do we sell?
Our range has no eau de toilette. Of the 77 perfumes, 56 are extrait de parfum and 20 are eau de parfum. You will find them in the Extrait de Parfum and Eau de Parfum collections.
The brand's ratings show what the ladder looks like in practice. Mykonos Inception, an extrait de parfum, is rated by Mykonos as strong for sillage with a longevity of 12+ hours; for Mykonos Dreamscape, also an extrait, the handbook gives strong sillage, strong projection and 12+ hours. Among the eaux de parfum, Mykonos Baby Love is rated moderate for sillage with 9+ hours, and Mykonos Stilettos moderate with 7+ hours. These are ratings, not guarantees: how long a scent lasts on you depends on skin and climate.
The next step up, comparing the two rungs we actually sell, is in extrait de parfum vs eau de parfum.
Frequently asked questions
What type of perfume lasts the longest?
In general the most concentrated one: extrait de parfum, followed by eau de parfum, eau de toilette and eau de cologne. The notes, your skin and the weather also play a part, so a woody eau de toilette can outlast a citrus eau de parfum.
What is the difference between parfum and eau de parfum?
As a concentration, parfum or extrait de parfum sits one rung above eau de parfum: more oil, usually longer lasting, often closer to the skin. In everyday use "perfume" is the word for any scent.
Is eau de toilette lower quality than eau de parfum?
No. Concentration describes strength, not quality. An eau de toilette is lighter, which can be exactly right in the heat or at the office.
How many sprays of an eau de parfum do you need?
The more concentrated the scent, the fewer. Two to three sprays is enough for most extraits; with a lighter eau de parfum, three or four is reasonable. The full rule of thumb is in how many sprays of perfume.
Can you buy Mykonos as an eau de toilette?
Not in our store. None of the 77 perfumes we sell is an eau de toilette; 56 are extrait de parfum and 20 are eau de parfum.