Two bottles sit side by side. Same name, same brand, almost the same picture on the box. One says Eau de Toilette, the other Eau de Parfum, and the second costs noticeably more. The shop assistant says the expensive one lasts longer. Is that true, and is it worth the difference?
Mostly yes, and here is what the words actually mean.
It is a measure of strength, not quality
Perfume is aromatic oil dissolved in alcohol. The name on the bottle tells you roughly how much of it is oil. That is the whole distinction. It is a concentration, not a grade, and a well-made Eau de Toilette can smell far better than a poorly made Eau de Parfum.
| On the label | Roughly how much oil | Typical wear |
|---|---|---|
| Parfum (or Extrait) | 20 to 30 per cent | Six hours and beyond |
| Eau de Parfum (EDP) | 15 to 20 per cent | Six to eight hours |
| Eau de Toilette (EDT) | 5 to 15 per cent | Four to six hours |
| Eau de Cologne (EDC) | Under 5 per cent | About two hours |
These are ranges, not rules. Houses do not publish exact figures and two EDPs from different brands can differ considerably.
What the difference feels like
Strength changes more than how long a scent survives. A higher concentration usually smells rounder and closer to the skin, and it develops more slowly, so the fragrance you smell after three hours is noticeably different from the first spray.
A lighter concentration is brighter and more immediate. It projects well for the first hour, then fades. That is not a flaw. For a hot working day it is often the more comfortable choice.
Which to buy in Kampala
Heat matters here more than it does in the countries where most fragrance advice is written. Warmth speeds up evaporation, so everything you own will project harder and fade faster than the label suggests.
In practice:
- For the office or daytime, an Eau de Toilette is usually enough, and is less likely to become overwhelming in a packed matatu or a warm room.
- For the evening, or anywhere you want the scent to still be there late, an Eau de Parfum earns the extra money.
- If you reapply anyway, buy the EDT and spend the difference on a second bottle you like.
Reading the price properly
Compare by millilitre, not by bottle. A 100ml EDT and a 50ml EDP at the same price are not the same purchase, and depending on the concentration the smaller bottle may well be the better value per wear.
Size is printed on the front of every bottle we sell, and it is in the title of every listing for exactly this reason.
One thing the label will not tell you
Concentration says nothing about whether the bottle is genuine. A counterfeit will print Eau de Parfum on the box as happily as anything else. If you are unsure, our guide to telling a real perfume from a fake covers what to check.
You can browse what we hold in men’s perfume and women’s perfume, where the concentration and size are on every listing.
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