Eau de Toilette vs. Eau de Parfum: What To Know About The Two

Ah, little is more exciting than finding your signature scent—something that just suits you. And with all the variety that comes with fragrance, wading the waters of perfume can often feel like a daunting task. From scent profiles to notes hierarchy—not to mention deciphering between "clean" and "natural" labels—the semantics surrounding fragrance aren't always totally clear. 

Enter: eau de toilette and eau de parfum (sometimes written as EDT and EDP). These two labels are often slapped on after the fragrances' official name and actually can help you decode a lot about the product. 

The primary distinction between the two is how strong they smell and how long they last. These differences are due to the percentage of fragrance in the juice: "The key difference is the concentration of fragrance oil and therefore how long it will last on the skin," says Margot Humbert, senior vice president of global at philosophy (the brand is in the process of removing select ingredients from their fragrances, like parabens, and moving toward cleaner formulas).

In short: sometimes. Given eau de parfums have a higher concentration of oils, their scent will be stronger, as we've noted; but as for the overall scent profile, if the notes and relative strength of the notes are the same, then the two EDP and EDT will smell very similarly—just to varying potency. 

Well, this comes down to taste, like all matters of fragrance really. "[Eau de parfums] tend to be for the woman who is feeling bold and wants to make a statement with a longer-lasting scent," says Humbert. While eau de toilettes are more for the person who enjoys subtle scents or even is perhaps sensitive to strong smells.  

The difference between the two is nothing to get hung up about: If you like the way a fragrance smells, then that should be all the motivation you need to wear it. However, it does help to understand the difference between the two so you know what to expect in terms of price point, potency, and longevity. And if you need help finding one, here are our favorite clean perfumes and exactly how to apply them—plus how to make it last longer.